My orthodontist actually gave me a tip that helped me stop chewing mine (yep, guilty here too). She recommended switching to an electric toothbrush—said the vibrations kinda discourage chewing and make you more aware of how you're brushing. I was skeptical at first, but honestly, it worked pretty well for me. Might be worth a shot if your daughter's toothbrush habit is anything like mine was...
Interesting, never thought about electric toothbrushes helping with chewing habits. I've always been a bit nervous about switching—do you find it harsh on your gums at all? Heard mixed things, so I'm still on the fence...
"I've always been a bit nervous about switching—do you find it harsh on your gums at all?"
I totally get where you're coming from—I'm pretty cautious myself and held off switching for ages because my gums are sensitive. At first, I did find the electric toothbrush a bit intense, honestly. But after tweaking the settings (mine had a gentle mode) and using a softer brush head, it felt way better. Now I actually prefer it, but it definitely took some experimenting to get comfortable... everyone's gums are different, so might be worth easing into it gradually.
I was pretty hesitant too, especially since my gums tend to flare up easily. Like you said:
"everyone's gums are different, so might be worth easing into it gradually."
That's exactly what worked for me. I started by using the electric brush just once a day, and stuck with my manual toothbrush at night until I felt comfortable. Honestly, after a week or two, my gums adjusted surprisingly well. Just take your time and listen to your body... you'll probably find your own sweet spot soon enough.
That's pretty similar to what I did. My gums were super sensitive at first, and I almost gave up on the electric brush entirely. But then I figured out a little trick—using the gentlest setting and barely applying pressure at first. Just lightly gliding it along the gumline instead of pressing down made a huge difference. Took me about two weeks before I could comfortably use it twice a day without irritation.
Also, if you're budget-conscious like me, you don't necessarily need those fancy brush heads marketed for sensitive gums. The regular ones worked fine once I learned to ease up on the pressure. Just be patient with yourself... gums can be finicky, but they usually adapt if you give them a chance. Glad to hear you're making progress though—it feels pretty satisfying once you get past that initial stage.
