I know this seems weird, but maybe it's not. I swear my teeth feel cleaner since I restarted. I have been very careful this time around because I have health issues that I am working on. I have noticed that my teeth feel cleaner even after I eat. I also don't wake up with that horrible dragon breath (well at least not as bad) and "cotton" mouth. Is that a low-carb thing or is it probably something else?

Yup. My teeth are usually sqeeky clean. If not, then it's a tell tail that a food had food for the bacteria. Cheese is such.

If you are interested....

https://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=480733

Same. I'm a dentist chicken and I procrastinated on going for a checkup for well over a decade. I finally went about 6 or 7 years after being LC, and he said my teeth were in great shape. I had to get a filling, but that cavity had been there for over 10 years - I knew about it, but it never bothered me.

I had an epiphany and decided to get braces. I have a congenitally-missing tooth, declined the implant or braces as a teen, and by age 27, my teeth shifted a lot and were getting really crooked. My orthodontist and the staff always complimented me on how clean my teeth were. They probably think I worked my butt off to clean them every day, but... not really. 😏

I brush with baking soda.

Kristine, what do you brush with, if you brush...

I go to the dentist every year and get teeth cleanings twice a year, which my insurance pays for. The hygenist always marvels at how little tartar I accumulate because many patients need more than two cleanings per year (not covered by insurance). A colleague who eats low calorie carbs all day has to go every 2 months and would rather pay out of pocket than give up sugary & starchy carbs. I remember furry teeth from my pretzels, Snackwells, and 6 minimeals per day days. No thanks!

That was an interesting thread!

I always told my husband that there was more to cavity prevention than brushing and flossing. We do that everyday and yet we still went through a period when we had to get several cavities filled.

Whatever freebie sample toothpaste my DH brings home from the dentist. He actually goes, he's not bothered by it. Needs it more than I do, though, as a high-carb guy.

Actually, I haven't bought toothpaste in years. For the last year or two, we had Colgate Total or something. There's a dental hygenist program at the school where I work and an actual clinic, right across the hall from us. The instructors gave us a case of nearly-expired full-sized tubes of whichever high-end $4 toothpaste it was. I said, "are you trying to tell us something? " LOL.

(The irony isn't lost on me that the dental clinic is directly across from the Tim Hortons.)

I also use a minty antiseptic mouthwash, whatever generic knockoff brand of Listerine is on sale. I hate toothpaste grit and like the minty burn. If I skip brushing, I still like to use that.

Years ago I was introduced to a simple study of native people's on Alaskan islands who had their teeth examined island by island for cavities. Back in 1920's. The people who ate subi dized diets had far more cavities than those eating only a traditional diet.

Having a truly good hygienist matters. Son had an active cavity covered by a sealant.......grrrrrr. She didn't clean tooth correctly . Hard to trust hygienists now.