I hear you on the cost thing—those little bottles of rinse start to feel like a subscription service you never signed up for. I used the fluoride rinse for a few months after my dentist suggested it, but honestly, I can’t say I noticed any dramatic difference. Maybe my teeth felt a bit less sensitive? Hard to tell. As for cleanings, I tried stretching them to once a year instead of every six months, but then I got paranoid about plaque and booked an extra one anyway. It’s such a balance between saving money and not freaking out about cavities...
I totally get the paranoia about plaque—I keep thinking I’m gonna wake up with a mouthful of cavities if I skip a cleaning. I’m new to all this, and honestly, the cost of those rinses adds up way faster than I expected. My dentist said every six months is ideal, but I can’t tell if that’s just the “dentist answer” or if it actually makes a difference. Anyone else feel like you’re just guessing what’s enough? Sometimes I wish teeth came with a warning light or something…
I totally relate—my kid’s only seven and I’m already stressing about whether we’re doing enough. We brush, we floss (well, I try to help), but every checkup I worry they’ll find something. Do you ever wonder if the six-month thing is more for adults than kids?
I get where you’re coming from—my kids are grown now, but I remember those early days of worrying every time we went in for a cleaning. Even now, as someone who’s, let’s just say, had a lot of dental work over the years, I still get nervous before appointments. I always did the six-month thing with my kids, mostly because that’s what my parents drilled into me. But honestly? Sometimes I wondered if it was overkill, especially when their teeth looked fine and they weren’t eating a ton of sweets.
Now that I’m older, skipping those checkups isn’t really an option for me—my teeth just don’t bounce back like they used to. But with little ones, it probably depends on their habits and what your dentist says. I used to stress every time they’d find even the tiniest cavity, thinking I messed up somewhere. Looking back, I wish I’d relaxed a bit more. You’re doing your best—sometimes that’s all you can do.
Can definitely relate to the stress over tiny cavities—parents always feel like it’s a reflection on them, but honestly, genetics play a bigger role than most folks realize. Did your dentist ever suggest stretching out the checkups, or was it always the standard six months?
