You're right about stress and grinding being sneaky culprits for cracked teeth. I've had friends who've worn night guards religiously and still ended up with dental issues—sometimes life just throws curveballs, you know? I think preventive care is mostly about stacking the odds in our favor rather than completely dodging every possible problem.
Personally, I've noticed that even small lifestyle tweaks can help a lot. Like, I used to clench my jaw without realizing it when I was stressed at work, and just becoming aware of that habit made a difference. Of course, genetics plays its part too—my mom has always been meticulous about dental hygiene, yet she's had her share of unexpected dental surprises. It's frustrating, but at least regular checkups can catch things early and make treatments easier overall.
I've always wondered how much genetics really plays into it. My dad barely flosses, yet never has issues, while I'm super careful and still get cavities... feels like a dental lottery sometimes, doesn't it?
"feels like a dental lottery sometimes, doesn't it?"
Haha, totally get that feeling... my sister's exactly the same—never flosses, rarely brushes before bed, yet zero cavities. Meanwhile, I'm brushing religiously and still end up needing fillings. My dentist mentioned genetics can definitely play a role in enamel strength and saliva composition. Still, being thorough probably saves us from even worse issues down the line. Hang in there, you're not alone!
Ugh, I feel this so much... my wallet definitely lost the dental lottery. I swear, every time I go in thinking I'm good, my dentist finds something new to fix. Meanwhile, my roommate skips checkups for years and just casually strolls back in with zero issues. Genetics must be laughing at me. Still, I keep reminding myself that being proactive probably saves me from bigger (and pricier) problems later on... at least that's what I tell my bank account. Hang in there, friend—solidarity in dental struggles is real.
I totally get where you're coming from—some of us just seem to draw the short straw with dental genetics. I've noticed that proactive care really does pay off in the long run, though. A friend of mine skipped checkups for years and felt fine, but ended up needing extensive work later that cost way more than regular visits would have. So even if it feels like your dentist is always finding something new, you're probably saving yourself from bigger headaches down the road... small comfort, I know, but still something!
