I hear you on the “doing everything right” and still getting weird dental stuff. I’m super careful, mostly because I can’t afford surprise dental bills, but even then, things pop up. One time I had this ache and was convinced it meant a deep cleaning (read: $$$), but it turned out to be a tiny cut from a tortilla chip. Makes me question if all the fancy products are worth it, or if it’s just luck sometimes. I still stick with the basics—floss, brush, rinse—but I’m not buying every new gadget out there anymore.
I totally get what you mean about the basics. I went through a phase of buying every “miracle” toothpaste and fancy water flosser, but honestly, my gums didn’t really improve until I just focused on brushing and flossing right. Still, I’m always paranoid I’ll miss something—like, how do you even know if you’re actually getting under the gumline enough? Anyone else feel like it’s just trial and error sometimes?
I’ve wondered the same thing—sometimes it really does feel like guesswork, even after all these years. My hygienist once showed me with disclosing tablets where I was missing spots, and it was eye-opening. I still use them occasionally just to check myself. I’ve found that gentle but thorough flossing, curving the floss around each tooth, seems to make the biggest difference for my gums. Those “miracle” products never did much for me either... just sticking to basics and being consistent worked better than any gadget.
Those “miracle” products never did much for me either... just sticking to basics and being consistent worked better than any gadget.
Totally agree on the “miracle” stuff—my kid begged for one of those fancy water flossers after seeing a YouTube ad. Used it twice, then it became a very expensive bathtub toy. We’re back to old-school brushing and flossing, and honestly, her dentist is way happier now. Disclosing tablets are a lifesaver though... nothing like a purple mouth to keep you humble.
Disclosing tablets are a lifesaver though... nothing like a purple mouth to keep you humble.
Couldn't agree more about those disclosing tablets—they really do keep you honest. I’ve tried all sorts of gadgets over the years, and while some had their moments, nothing ever replaced just being thorough with brushing and flossing. Consistency is key. My hygienist says she can always tell when I slack off, so those little reminders (and purple stains) help keep me in check. It’s not fancy, but it works.
