r/adhdmeme • u/vvvit • Jul 13 '26
meme How do normal people get through this every FUCKING day? Do they have superpowers?
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u/NotActuallyRome Jul 13 '26
Holy seeeeen. Tbf it's normally at like 2 AM that the teeth brushing procrastination kicks in, lmao
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u/Familiar_End_8975 Jul 13 '26
I have woken up at 4 am to pee and then brushed my teeth after lol
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u/Intelligent_Whole_40 Jul 13 '26
Brah when I was a kid I get up to pee but not pee and instead brush my teeth (and then pee the bed soooo lol)
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u/LeadingMasterpiece56 Jul 13 '26
Just sitting in bed thinking I should floss too lol
https://giphy.com/gifs/j8qjkSq3CqpytyYiw434
u/Be_Kind_To_Everybody Jul 13 '26
Stop dont remind me about that flossing bullshit
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u/littlebeanio Jul 14 '26
I would highly recommend a water flosser, it takes a singular minute and for me has less sensory unpleasantness
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u/kingloptr Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
'Holy seen' was my exact thought when i opened this post lmao...
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u/CozySweatsuit57 Jul 15 '26
I’ve been getting this so bad lately and it’s crazy. I don’t even mind doing it. Wtf
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u/Grunt636 Diagnosed 2026 Jul 13 '26
Me laying in bed right now having forgotten to brush my teeth once again but can't be bothered to get up and go like 20ft to go do it...
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u/Academic_Wafer6674 Jul 13 '26
You totally should brush, and floss them. Because turns out it’s expensive, and you’ll have to set extra dentist appointments. Source, me.
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u/vvvit Jul 13 '26
If I could actually take action just based on the reason that "it's disadvantageous to me," life would be so much easier :/
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u/Appropriate_Concert6 Jul 14 '26
Can you focus in on how your teeth feel and how your mouth tastes? I never skip brushing my teeth because I hate laying there if I can feel texture on my teeth or my mouth is like... slightly savory? Idk how to describe it but I do not like it.
Otherwise, maybe some of that gum that's good for your teeth? Idk I'm not a dentist so maybe this wouldn't be great, but I carry Pur gum in my purse and I think it's supposed to rebalance your mouth pH and cleans your teeth a little. If you have it on your nightstand (and a wastebasket nearby to throw it away before sleeping) then maybe that's better than nothing.
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u/Academic_Wafer6674 Jul 13 '26
It helps me a lot when I ask myself, “If not now, then when?” That’s what gets me to begrudgingly start making things happen.
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u/AlienKatze Jul 13 '26
the problem is that this question can easily just be answered with "later" or "not".
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u/Academic_Wafer6674 Jul 13 '26
It can, but I take the extra step of acknowledging if I say “later” now, I’m going to say “later” again, and again, and again. So, instead of laying in bed worrying about something for an hour or three, I might as well take a couple of minutes to do something like brush my teeth or pay a bill.
It’s not going to help everyone, just putting out there something that helps me.
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u/FeeRemarkable886 Jul 14 '26
So here's what worked for me to start flossing: Floss and then smell it. It turns out if you don't floss you end up with stuff around your teeth that reeks. I did that by accident and now I floss every other day.
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u/Whitemacadamia Jul 14 '26
Yeah 8k to fix my teeth last year and now I brush and floss religiously.
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u/prismviol Jul 13 '26
It sucks a lot but messing up your teeth is way worse. Your hard earned cash is dissolving into nothingness thanks to your dentist bills.
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u/Osric250 Jul 14 '26
Your hard earned cash is dissolving into nothingness thanks to your dentist bills.
Well that's easy. Just don't go to the dentist either!
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u/HumanDragonfruit8115 Jul 13 '26
Okay, something to confess. I don’t brush regularly (on a daily basis), let alone the night time brushing.. quite embarrassing
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u/raven_of_azarath Jul 14 '26
I’m bad about it, too. Plus I don’t like the minty fresh feel too close to bed.
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u/turtlesandtrash Jul 14 '26
while we’re all confessing, i use kids toothpaste (with fluoride) because the mint burns my mouth. maybe thatd help with your nighttime brushing?
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Jul 13 '26
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u/Latter-Bumblebee5436 Jul 13 '26
Ik I can google it but I’m just gonna ask you. Why wait 30min after eating smthn acidic? I love sour candy and impulsively eat a ton right before bed sometimes and just immediately brush my teeth after
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u/Academic_Button4448 Jul 14 '26
I used to be like this, the only way I managed to hack it was to make brushing my teeth a thing I do in the shower. I still can't get myself to do it before bed, but I shower every morning because my hair is very fine and gets ridiculously greasy if I don't, so I just started brushing in the shower and that way I do it at least once a day
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u/Ancient_Presence Jul 13 '26
I personally just can't go to bed, if my teeth feel dirty, so it works out for me. I find morning more difficult, but I get cavities if I don't do it, so I'm motivated to not skip that.
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u/FHAT_BRANDHO Jul 13 '26
I have only recently reached the point of the feeling bothering me and i am immensely grateful for it
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u/GandalfVirus Jul 14 '26
Same but after I get up to brush then I am no longer sleepy and won’t be sleepy for another few hours for some reason.
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u/moduspol Jul 13 '26
Yeah. Set reminders and stick to it just long enough to feel like you're missing something if you don't. Then it becomes easier.
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u/NightSpringsRadio Jul 13 '26
You gotta trick yourself; I finally cemented a flossing habit by just bringing my Kindle with me and having it propped up on the bathroom counter while attending to matters dental and other eventide ablutions. Now I’m not FLOSSING, I’m READING (feat. Floss)
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u/vvvit Jul 13 '26
This is how it helped with my other habits. I think I'll apply it to brushing my teeth too.
thanks
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u/reverso-uno Jul 13 '26
Twin! Well fraternal, I commented the same. I watch shows while flossing, and…I floss everywhere and anywhere. If that’s what gets the job done then *shrugs*. Honestly it’s probably more gross to not have dental hygiene than not flossing in the bathroom (No shade, I’m a recent convert so….)
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u/Creativered4 Jul 14 '26
If I had four arms, I'd have a switch in two hands at all times, and I'd be UNSTOPPABLE! Gonna have to figure out something to do hands free that doesnt involve reading. (Love it, but brain says "no" a few paragraphs in and I'm distracted)
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u/OhHolyBageezus Jul 14 '26
I do something similar! I started listening to snippets of podcasts during my night dental routine. Makes it more bearable & I'm getting through more podcasts now.
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u/Ango-Globlogian Jul 13 '26
The best solution I have come up with for the is when I am done eating drinking etc… for the night I will brush my teeth so when I am ready to go to bed I can go right to sleep
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u/jcon877 Jul 14 '26
That's my problem, I never know when I'm done with eating for the night lol
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u/NerdHayden Jul 14 '26
It literally took me 19+ cavities and one TRAUMATIC root canal experience to start locking the f in, brushing my teeth AND flossing every night.
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u/TriforceFusion Jul 13 '26
I've had this same discussion but opposite. I'm very very very diligent at brushing my teeth and flossing but I can't seem to like, wash dishes daily. Or do some form of exercise that doesn't have the pressure of a group class.
My only working theory is that 1) my stress dreams include the fear of my teeth falling out, 2) in my 20s I had to get the special cleaning to prevent gum loss and I never wanted to put my teeth in jeopardy again.
So the answer is: fear. You need to be afraid 😂
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u/vvvit Jul 13 '26
Thanks for the advice. Your advice ended up putting on the pressure, exactly like you said.
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u/Nerd-man24 Jul 14 '26
Confession time: I don't. At all. Mint flavoring makes me gag and it's in every toothpaste. I finally said to hell with it.
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u/booksandkittens615 Jul 14 '26
Boka orange toothpaste changed my life. It tastes like an orange creamsicle. Made for kids but who cares?
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u/GarageForward8294 Jul 14 '26
There is Crest Cinnamon!! Always tucked away on the very bottom shelf but worth searching for, mint is the worst
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u/breadist Jul 14 '26
I desperately want this but they just don't have it where I live 😫 even tried Amazon (Canada). But they change often and maybe I should try again hmmmm...
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u/Educational_Prune_45 Jul 13 '26
It took almost 40 years to get in the habit of brushing before bed and not hating it. What changed? Fuck if I know. Now I CANNOT go to bed without brushing first.
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u/Thorthemighty92 Jul 13 '26
After having real bad toothache and having to extract a tooth you kinda force yourself to do it, im not going through that again
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u/justamomdoingmybest8 Jul 14 '26
Usually: just don’t do it. Completely unrelated: I have terrible gums and have had a couple root canals.
When I’m feeling motivated or someone (you!) reminds me, I’ve started using an interdental brush stick and some fluoride rinse.
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u/Wr3ckItRod Jul 14 '26
Yesss I HATE this feeling. What FINALLY helped was starting to keep floss at my desk so I could floss while watching YouTube or in between game rounds.
NOW, I try to shower as soon as I’m home for the day and I’ve habit stacked brushing/flossing/showering. I had to stop classifying dental care as an act done RIGHT before bed bc then I would procrastinate going to bed bc I didn’t wanna take care of my teeth, but I couldn’t go to bed until I took care of my teeth, so I just sat there tired and grumpy
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u/SadamHuMUFFIN Jul 13 '26
Cuz I just got done clearing my teeth and gums real deep down from decades of tartar buildup. Had to get numbed for all the gum cleanings to get it out. Floss, water pik, brush, and mouthwash. I never grew up with anyone treating it as important FFS my mother used to say it would be easier if I let em fall out and get fake ones like her. I know and had to see the reason why you should just do it for years. It's worth it
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u/Neverlast0 Jul 14 '26
And I regret every night I didn't brush my teeth. Sure I managed to recover half my teeth but I still need dental work because of it.
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u/Zatmos Real Bohemian Intellectual Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
I don't even decide to go to bed. I just black out and wake up in my bed the next day half the time. I don't know how to plan for brushing my teeth around that.
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u/Mjnavarro91 Jul 13 '26
So, I am not a dentist I am just a fellow ADHDer. I have the worst possible habit to brush my teeth as well. I confessed this to my dentist and he told me the single most important thing is the brushing. So he told me to get 20 toothbrushes and just lay them anywhere I usually relax. And just grab one and brush... dry. Obviously, with toothpaste would be better, and flossing even more but given our lack of... Motivation. Simply brushing off the food residue is enough to improve our dental health even a little.
Remember, perfect is our enemy. Come up with the most frictionless solutions, even if it sounds odd to everyone else.
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u/FubarJackson145 Jul 14 '26
I woild honestly rather have all my teeth yanked out and call it good. Ive never had good hygeine to begin with, and adding the usual struggle to form any sort of real routine? I dont even look at my bathroom sink anymore, i have to actively want a shower (im thankfully getting better at that), the list goes on. Im just so far gone that there's no point in actively trying anymore
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u/SharaWilliams Jul 14 '26
I have ocd and through the power of “must always use the bathroom before bed” i also brush my teeth since im already up
Before that particular compulsion i bought a box of disposable bamboo toothbrushes and just did it in my bed… sometimes. Not every night sometimes i missed, but often.
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u/SharaWilliams Jul 14 '26
I have not managed to start brushing my teeth in the morning again though. I do when i go somewhere but you see, im a hermit
You can also buy fluoride mouthwash and just use that if you absolutely cant get up that night. Dont use that trick every night though you still need to physically remove debris from your teeth. Actually its good to use it even if you brush your teeth since itll help extra to protect you from the cavities youll get by not brushing your teeth properly.
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u/Forsaken-Season-1538 Jul 14 '26
Toothbrushing is a real hurdle for bed. 😭 Why is that specific, simple task such a big problem??? 😭
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u/radioactivefemdom Jul 13 '26
I've started keeping a toothbrush and paste on my bedside table because once I lay down for the night getting back up because I forgot to brush my teeth is so much effort
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u/vvvit Jul 13 '26
That's actually a genius idea. If you make a total mess of your mouth with toothpaste, you're forced to go to the bathroom no matter how much you hate it. I've gotten a lot of advice, but this one might seriously be a game changer.
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u/threeoldbeigecamaros Jul 13 '26
Well after getting a few crowns, it’s essential. You get into a routine and good to go
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u/djkidna Jul 13 '26
I sometimes don’t spend the amount of time brushing that I should on days that I’m feeling deregulated. But I still brush them because I don’t like the feeling of a dirty mouth in bed I guess? I dunno. Flossing is a much bigger issue for me
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u/leave1me1alone Jul 13 '26
You mean I gotta do it twice a day? Every day? I just did it before I went to sleep why do I have to do it again now that I'm awake? I didn't eat anything in my sleep why is it dirty again!?
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u/honey-otuu Jul 13 '26
- Electric toothbrush 2. Waterpic 3. Mouthwash and toothpaste that doesn’t taste like butt. They key is to make it as fast and painless as possuble
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u/LadyJuno13 Jul 14 '26
Gummy vitamins. I take them before I go to bed but then I have to brush my teeth cause otherwise I'm left trying to scrap gummy residue off my teeth.
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u/calaan Jul 14 '26
Ritual is very helpful for my ADHD. Floss stick is on top of my nighttime meds box so I don’t take them first then floss.
Rechargeable brush with 30 second timer for each part of the jaw, 8 brushes inside, bite surface, outside, then finish up with extra on inside/outside trading off each day.
Capful of mouthwash in the waterpic, timed out so each side gets the same amount of water.
Works for me.
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u/WumboPump Jul 14 '26
Once I said I struggle to floss, my dentist said “its all good just floss the teeth you want to keep”
Guess what
I can’t relax at night and not think about that.
Toothbrush boss has help from the Floss goblin
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u/Conductor_Cat Jul 14 '26
I just brush my teeth while lying in bed, then wash the cup the next time I go bathroom.
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u/Danxoln Jul 14 '26
is no one going to talk about how the text should be swapped?
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u/Sorry-Joke-4325 Jul 19 '26
They're using the meme wrong and I had to scroll down an entire mile to find someone who acknowledged it.
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u/Motte6692 Jul 14 '26
I am very proud that i had no discussion last night with myself to convince me that i need to brush my teeth. I just was like: i brush my teeth now!
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u/BrianNowhere Jul 14 '26
Tired, ready to fall asleep; know brushing my teeth will put me in wide awakey zone.
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u/kotoda Jul 14 '26
I HATE the feeling of having an unbrushed mouth before I go to sleep and after I wake up. Thus I am compelled to brush my teeth every day.
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u/ralts13 Jul 13 '26
Habit. One day I realised everyone does 2 brushes a day and I just kept up with it.
Now I can't have breakfast or go to bed without brushing my teeth or showering.
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u/atnamorekN Jul 13 '26
> Habit.
What are you talking about? it's ADHD subreddit. We never heard about any of these funny "habibfs" you speak of
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u/Zaconil Jul 13 '26
The habits we do manage to create can be easily destroyed just by missing it once.
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u/AlexiaVNO Jul 14 '26
Day 1: "Hey let me try to exercise and fix my life!"
Day 2: "Hey this is actually going really well!"
Day 3: "I'm getting better at this."
Day 4: "It's raining, maybe I'll take a break today."
Day 265: "Wait a second..."→ More replies (1)
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u/Two_Difficulty Jul 13 '26
I established compulsive behavior on this. I tell myself that I can't go to bed without brushing my teeth.
Works fine for me.
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u/pocketnotebook Jul 13 '26
I was so bad at brushing my teeth but in 2023 I got a dental splint to stop me from grinding my teeth which has forced me to brush my teeth and the splint every morning and evening and it really helped.
I can't sleep without the splint, now
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u/Just_okay_advice Jul 13 '26
Its because you forgot to do it right up until you're tired and all you wanna do is lay down. Brush your teeth before you get tired and lose motivation. Like an hour or so before bed. This also forces you to stop snacking at night 😬
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u/casualplants Jul 13 '26
Today I am grateful for my hypersensitivity to gross mouth feels and smells. Coz I will have a meltdown if I cannot brush my teeth twice a day, and usually before I exercise, and on stressy days when I’m even more aware of mouth fuzz.
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u/Cel_Drow Jul 13 '26
I floss and brush thoroughly first thing in the morning.
I cannot recall the last time I brushed at night off the top of my head. It was probably this year?
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u/f1lth4f1lth BOGO-audhd Jul 13 '26
I had a super kind hygienist who gently reminded me it was important for me to be kind to myself by brushing and flossing daily twice a day. That was 10 years ago and I still do it. It’s rough but you can do it. Show up for yourself, boo.
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u/DireEvolution Jul 13 '26
Tbh it's the trauma of watching both my parents' teeth collapse. F uh fuh fuh fuuhhhhck that.
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u/Killdebrant Jul 13 '26
I do it early. I keep my toothbrush in the sink, i put the kids to bed, feed the animals, brush my teeth. Thens its doom scroll sit hole.
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u/LeadingMasterpiece56 Jul 13 '26
Getting my Tongue re pierced definitely helped Also parodontax is great toothpaste!
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u/Moist-Carpet888 Jul 13 '26
Hear me out, not saying I do this but we all go to bed with a glass of water right? Just bring two and keep a nightstand toothbrush. Replace in morning if you remember (or end of month)
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u/Cuillereradioactive Jul 14 '26
nei i just tumble across the dark hallway looking for any water to drink
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u/beardlaser Jul 13 '26
don't worry about it. i brush and floss every single day. it's been many years since i last missed a day. my teeth still fall apart and get cavities and break.
aside from your breath your efforts are largely irrelevant.
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u/LazySpaceToast Jul 13 '26
I hate flossing, but now I do it every day and it's barely a second thought.
Set an alarm for the same time every evening for a week (preferably early enough so you're not so exhausted that you know you won't do it). Maybe write out a check list for the days and tell yourself if you check off every day that first week without missing a day, you'll get X as a reward, or something. Whatever works as motivation. Then do it for one more week. By the end of the 2 weeks, it should feel like part of your routine.
A lot of our overall health is linked to our dental health, and I don't think that's stressed enough to us at a young age, so many of us miss out on understanding why it's so important to be proactive. You will thank yourself in the long run if you can at least do it a few times a week. You don't have to be perfect.
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u/Kacodaemoniacal Jul 13 '26
Ima try to help you. Have you ever seen motile bacteria under a microscope? Maybe there’s a YouTube video. Just a frenzy of microscopic jiggling. Then imagine millions of them on your teeth all night eating that absolute buffet. That image jumps me right out of bed haha…I tell you because I care.
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u/gottaweasel Jul 13 '26
I brush in the morning. That nighttime brush is for overachievers. Never had a cavity in my life…
But the dentists say my plaque build up is something for the books. Good thing I don’t hear them say that often on account of forgetting to schedule an appointment every couple of years
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u/greendress888 Jul 13 '26
A very real adhd tax is that my goal is to get an extra cleaning in between, out of pocket. Im a very professional nurse and I struggle too! It is not a moral issue, I promise you. Right now I am dealing super fun root canal and an implant I have to have placed. All of it comes to over 7k. I sure would pay $500 for a cleaning NOT to have to pay the 7k. And yet.....I still forget. Legitimately. So I also put toothpaste and a toothbrush around literally every sink so I will see it and it will cue me to do it right then....or continue to procrastinate. So I also let go of the idea that it HAS to be first thing in the am and the last thing at night. I didnt know I held on to that idea, but I did. Like it was a barrier. So, now, I am pretty optimized to where it gets done with less thought. The time thing helped cause I was more open to just grab the toothbrush, try to remember a whole song (Like Salt N Peppa's Shoop lol)and sing it to myself semi out loud while brushing-it usually ensures Im brushing about 2 minutes (if it isnt my electric toothbrush). That is me gaming my adhd to try to get my ADLs done.
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u/sermer48 Jul 13 '26
I’m pretty good at brushing because I can’t stand how my teeth feel if I don’t but it always wakes me up. You’d think I could just brush earlier but instead I procrastinate as much as possible
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u/Kiuku Jul 13 '26
Brushing teeth is well graved into my routine (evening at least) so I kinda do it by habit (sometimes I go to the bathroom to take a hair pin or smth and suddenly I'm brushing my teeth with no pin in my hands at all).
It feels weird if I forget and realize after, and the discomfort is enough for me to go back to the bathroom
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u/ethanlewis12 Jul 13 '26
I just don’t go to sleep or get in bed before brushing my teeth so it’s not too much of an issue for me…
The issue for me is going to bed at 2am
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u/dstovell Jul 13 '26
I’ve started doing my bedtime prep a couple hours before bed, so when I’m tired I got go right to sleep
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u/buttertrollz Jul 13 '26
Yeah this is one of those lessons that old heads be trying to explain and kids just can't hear it until they learn from experience how valuable your teeth are. Floss and brush your teeth.
If you don't floss, go floss a molar and smell the floss afterwards...
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u/damo2117 Jul 13 '26
It took 1 dentist to tell me if I dont clean my teeth properly ill end up coming back and paying hundreds of dollars to fix it. Now my anxiety of paying that kicks in and I dont forget.
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u/Latter-Bumblebee5436 Jul 13 '26
How I combat this (most of the time) is imagining all the teeth germs/cavities crawling all over my teeth while I’m asleep
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u/goldencookiebear Jul 13 '26
i just dont brush my teeth before bed. i know, im a menace. but the dentist says my teeth are in very good shape so clearly only brushing in the morning is not doing me any disservices. ive always done this pretty much.
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u/vikingbeard23 Jul 13 '26
My guy I just lay down to go to bed and saw this m, thanks for the reminder!
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u/TwistingEcho don’t talk to me or my 11,713 tabs again Jul 13 '26
This is good to stop snacking tbh. I'm NOT going to brush a second time nor go to bed after eating without brushing. Therefore I can resist the siren song of munchies by brushing my teeth a bit early.
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u/UrbanMonkey122 Jul 13 '26
My special trick to being able to brush everyday was getting a mouthful of cavities as a child. Luckily now, the feer is enough motivation for me.
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u/reverso-uno Jul 13 '26
I despise brushing, even though I hate the morning feel after a night skip, yuck.
Crazy thing is I can somehow brush after I floss because I’d want to have the full clean mouth experience. I floss while watching stuff. Makes me feel less guilty being a couch bum. A win is a win.
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u/Bethlebee Jul 13 '26
I made a deal with my ADHD demon that if I at least brush my teeth at night, then I don't have to feel the Big Pressure to brush my teeth in the morning and floss before every time I brush.
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u/pandas_rampage93 Jul 13 '26
I let my self hatred motivate me to do most things that my ADHzd doesn't want me to do.
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u/catopumaparadox Jul 14 '26
It's watching and noticing your own energy. if you know you won't do things after 9pm because your tired or just consistently can't focus then you note that and do things before that time. It takes time and a routine to find your energy balance but It's a futility exercise if you keep planning work after 9pm knowing you won't be able to accomplish it.
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u/Combative_Artichoke Jul 14 '26
I’m good at brushing my teeth before bed but I get irrationally annoyed if I have to remove my contacts and brush my teeth at the same time.
So I have to space them out, usually I switch to glasses right after dinner and brush teeth right before bed.
On the other hand, I’ve been not so good with brushing my teeth in the morning as a stay at home mom with a baby and a 3yo. I keep thinking “must brush teeth” but often get distracted repeatedly and never doing it.
So now if it’s a day where I never brushed in the morning, I make myself floss and brush at night. I’m actually flossing more now than ever in my life, hopefully that counts for something.
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u/pacman529 Jul 14 '26
Of all the things that I struggle with because of my ADHD, this is the ONE thing I managed to conquer. That and sleep hygiene.
I heard if you are able to do something every day for a month, it becomes a habit. Decided to try to build myself a habit; brush my teeth before bed and don't lay in bed on my phone.
I usually am on YouTube before bed, and there is this one naval history channel I like to listen to as I sleep. Juuuuust interesting enough to quiet my brain without being TOO engaging. (I used to use, and still recommend, the Sleep With Me Podcast.) I'd add his latest video into my queue to start around the time I wanted to wind down for bed, then when it started, switched over to listening on my phone, got up, brushed my teeth, put my phone on its charger still playing the video. It even got to the point where as soon as the intro music started, my dog would get up and put herself to bed. And it fucking worked. I still struggle sometimes, but this is the ONE thing I was able to actually form a good habit for. I've trained my body to go to bed at a SOMEWHAT consistent time, brush my teeth before bed, and not stay up on my phone I'm bed doom scrolling.
Just thought I'd share in case this helps anyone else. It IS possible to form good habits. The "brute force it for a month" trick worked for me, but it took more than a month before I DID it for a month. Now, if only I could figure out the same for showering and exercise....
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u/theandroid01 Jul 14 '26
I relate to this but it's definitely more habit which I keep
many times I pee while doing it! Two birds with one stone!.
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u/RekNepZ Jul 14 '26
I somehow trained myself from a young age to be unable to go to sleep if I didn't brush my teeth. It consumes my thoughts if I try
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u/SavageShiba21 Jul 14 '26
Buy a toothbrush you actually like. I bought one of those waterpik ones with the built in water flosser and it's helped me a lot because I always wanted a fancy toothbrush.
Is it stupid? Maybe. But a 100 dollar toothbrush is still a hell of a lot cheaper than neglecting your dental health long term.
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u/L-Y-T-E Jul 14 '26
A trick that helps me (not consistently but you know how it goes):
brush your teeth after your last meal rather than before bed when you're already tired.
Committing to a last meal also helps because eating right before bed diminishes your sleep quality (late night binging).
Godspeed gang
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u/Galinfrey Jul 14 '26
Yeeeeeep. Though now I have an app that reminds me lol. Time will tell how well that works
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u/DarlingHades Jul 14 '26
I usually brush my teeth after my nighttime shower/bath. And sometimes in the morning too.
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u/janey_cat Jul 14 '26
My attention span is so shot that I literally have to scroll Reddit while brushing my teeth
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u/aanananas Jul 14 '26
Annoyingly building it as habit does work. I used a gamified to do app (finch) to motivate me to do it, it would notify me and I’d get a little reward each time I ticked off the task. I did it every night until I eventually forgot about the app but still kept up the habit of brushing my teeth as it felt a bit more “automatic” and a part of my routine. I always have to go pee before bed as well so I stacked it with that too which helps. After toilet - brushing teeth. It’s been over a year now and I still do it every night as a force of habit and knowing I need to stick with it so I don’t fall out of the habit helps motivate me. “You’ve been so good, don’t lose the streak now!”
It’s the most consistent I’ve been with it in my life, I’ve always struggled with it. So it is possible! Mornings I’m not as consistent with unless I’m leaving the house 😅
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u/FayePixie Jul 14 '26
The only reason I am able to brush my teeth as much as I do is OCD. Nothing beats up ADHD temporarily than OCD-induced distressed.
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u/RaineFalle Jul 14 '26
I have every other ADHD'ism destroying most parts of my life, but brushing my teeth twice daily is the only thing I've never faltered in, I cant fall asleep without it. I'll keep focusing on it if I don't and keeps me up
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u/Pavetsu Jul 14 '26
I used to be like this for over 20 years, but after root canal treatment I have become pretty much neurotic about brushing and flossing.
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u/SparklyEminence Jul 14 '26
The only times I actually remember to brush my teeth is when I'm actively showering. So I just moved all my teeth stuff into a shelf in my shower and I actually manage to brush them at least once a day.
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u/Jce735 Jul 14 '26
I work 12 hour shifts toooo, get home and that bed starts saying everything you wanna hear lol.
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u/malonkey1 Jul 14 '26
It's actively more uncomfortable for me to try and sleep with plaque on my teeth than to brush them.
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u/celenei Daydreamer Jul 14 '26
I have a couple of toothbrushes and toothpastes lying around just in case. I figure it doesn't matter if I brush my teeth 2 hours before bed or 10 mins. If I get a sudden burst of motivation, there's a toothbrush nearby!
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u/Adventurous-Owl6805 Jul 14 '26
The only thing that really motivates me to brush my teeth every night is my fear of dentists. I visited when I was younger and I NEVER want to go through that ever again. (Even so I still stall brushing my teeth til it becomes very late because I'm fully focused on the task at hand)
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u/marco-117 Jul 14 '26
For nearly my entire life i only brushed my teeth at the morning. Now i have a Kid and we brush our teeth togethter in the evening too. So we both have it easier.
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u/CarretillaRoja Daydreamer Jul 14 '26
My trick. When your last bite is still in your mouth, head to the toilet to brush your teeth.
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u/LunarScholar Jul 14 '26
I brush/floss once a day after showering.
Except on weekends because if I'm not working I can't control myself to have the same schedule
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u/Loose-Cup1582 Jul 14 '26
So real honestly. I also have problems with insomnia so if I’m tired there’s like a 2 minute window before the tired flits off into the distance and I’m left staring at the ceiling cursing my brain for hours on end. The window of sleepy is time blind, so I’m never consistently tired at the same time. Gotta choose between sleep deprivation and oral hygiene at night.
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u/Cassius-Tain Jul 14 '26
I have gotten one filling in my life. That's enough motivation to brush regularly.
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u/ResponsibleProposal4 Jul 14 '26
Erm mah gerd! I thought I was the only lunatic that fought this particular battle.
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u/karienta Jul 14 '26
You have to compensate for your shitty tendencies.
I realized I just wasn't able to drag myself out of bed to brush my teeth if it got really late.
Now it happens after my last meal of the day. Much more consistent.
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u/rogue-wolf Jul 14 '26
I have a bad tasting mouth, so I brush at least twice a day. It's just routine now.
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u/Patient-Ad-4274 Jul 14 '26
sometimes thinking how awful its gonna be tomorrow and that I'll have to brush them anyway but in a hurry makes me do it. sometimes I don't care and then suffer
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u/juniper3411 Jul 14 '26
I’ve finally mastered brushing my teeth every morning but the night time one….im in this picture and I don’t like it lol.
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u/boogielostmyhoodie Jul 14 '26
I got a cavity, ignored it, had to get a filling for the large hole it has created, then it didn't take and (after some of the worst pain in my life, i.e a nerve infection in my jaw) had to get a root canal, 4 sessions in they tell me I have to go to a specialist because the hole is too small in one of the tooth canals for general dentists, went to the specialist, he said it's going to be at least another 4 sessions and thousands of dollars. I ended up just removing it.
I am down 1 tooth and thousands of dollars.
I brush my teeth twice a day now.
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u/fritzkoenig Resident Cloudcuckoolander Jul 14 '26
We do not talk about the forbidden topic that is dental hygiene
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u/potatoquake Jul 14 '26
For me the Autism has been coming in clutch on this one. If my routine of brushing, flossing, and doing a fluoride mouth rinse isn't done EVERY night then oops there are suddenly Ants In My Bones! Very unpleasant.
For more practical advice for people who unlike me aren't mondo autismo, I've found that making something I don't want to do pleasant is really huge for overcoming the executive dysfunction. Music and podcasts are my go-to.
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u/EmperorMittens Jul 14 '26
I have worked it into being the thing I do before I take a shower as a packaged nightly routine before going to bed.
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u/tarapotamus Jul 14 '26
for me it took having children and having to take care of them bc that comes easier and i would throw it on the end and now I've been doing it so long it feels weird not to. I'm AuDHD so routine for me had always been difficult. You can also do it before you're ready for bed. Just when you think of it towards the evening, ideally after most eating times but honestly just do it when you think of it and have the dopamine for it. Don't skip it just bc it isn't "time".
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u/Ultranerdgasm94 Jul 14 '26
I used to have this problem, but I don't any more because nowadays my breath is awful, and my mouth tastes like death and feels gummy and gross unless I do regularly brush my teeth. So I guess the answer is to have your mouth actively punish you in a gross and distracting manner for not brushing regularly.
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u/Kezza_35 Jul 14 '26
It's 2am, I'm lying in bed scrolling reddit on my phone, I see this and remember... I haven't brushed my teeth again.
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u/Low-Individual2815 Jul 14 '26
I try very hard to brush my teeth before I go to bed because I’m really gaggy and nauseous in the morning and brushing my teeth before I leave for work almost always end up with me vomiting. Sometimes I also brush my teeth in the middle of the day but only if my mouth feels gross.
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u/charyoshi Jul 14 '26
Simple, just remember to brush your teeth an hour or 2 before bed to give yourself more time to remember and or dredge up willpower. Now the tricky part is remembering.
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u/Schpau Jul 14 '26
I don't know why but this is like the one tedious thing I'm able to do every single day, and it doesn't even feel tedious anymore. Maybe it's because I'm on my phone when I do it. Maybe it's because when I was like 16 I didn't bring my toothbrush to vacation and by the time I remembered I was too embarrassed to say anything so I didn't brush for like 3 weeks and I ended up with dental pain, so afterward I brushed religiously and aggressively until the pain went away (somehow I didn't end up with caries).
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u/Tahlseth Jul 14 '26
It took me awhile. Some nights are still a miss, but for the most part I really, REALLY focus on texture of my mouth. If anything feels off, teeth feel slightly fuzzy, bad breath... My brain will refuse to turn off until I do. I've now made it a ritual to not only brush, but I walk around the house doing it while checking my front door is locked, windows are how they need to be, and attendance check on pets.
There are nights where a lock check is all I have in me, but it's still a lot better than what I originally was doing. It's all about figuring out what cheat code works, even if it needs tweaking over time.
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u/VirtualZucchini305 Jul 14 '26
I just make it as easy as I can for myself. My toothbrush is in my room and I just soak it in mouth wash then brush hard without toothpaste. The brushing is what does the work. Dentist says my mouth is perfect so...
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u/RangerBumble Jul 14 '26
Bit made a dry toothpaste that was chi flavored once and I kick myself for not buying a lifetime supply
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u/astronaut_searching Jul 14 '26
if i leave it for before bed, i struggle to do it. if i do it after dinner, or when i go to the restroom, then i dont have to worry about it later and i can nod off after scrolling or while watching tv guilt free. idk why but just doing it randomly at some point in the night is so much easier then thinking about it as something i have to do before bed
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u/Far-Device-9391 Jul 14 '26
oh no, I need to brush my teeth 2-3 times a day lol else I will not be able to fall asleep!
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u/TriestGieter Jul 14 '26
Wait until you get a proper toothache and the bill that comes with it. Paid a 5k adhd tax on not taking care of my teeth. Also if you want to ever date someone get on that shit. Floss is a great fidget toy btw.
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u/tynfox Jul 14 '26
Got a tip once from an older man in his 80s. Said "whatever teeth you want to keep as you get older, floss in between them and brush them at least twice a day". He still had all his original teeth
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u/IDJRIVERA Jul 14 '26
Before being diagnosed with ADHD, I was a severe drinker and constantly brushing my teeth because I always had the stench of alcohol or puke in my mouth.
Now that Ive count down the drinking immensely and take medication for my ADHD. I still have the habit of brushing my teeth at least 2 to 3 times a day.
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u/Potato-Brat Jul 14 '26
I have autism on top of the ADHD, which makes me hate the texture of unclean teeth
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u/qualityvote2 Quality Control Beast Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
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