Waiting after OJ is such a weird one to get used to, right? I had no idea the acid could soften enamel that much—our dentist showed us how brushing right after actually made things worse. We switched to using a timer for 30 minutes after breakfast, and it’s helped a bit, though my son still sneaks in a quick brush sometimes. Have you tried switching to a straw for juice? It sounds odd, but it seemed to cut down on some of the sensitivity for us. Still, getting kids to change routines is like pulling teeth... pun intended.
Waiting after OJ is such a weird one to get used to, right? I had no idea the acid could soften enamel that much—our dentist showed us how brushing right after actually made things worse.
That really hits home for me. After my last set of crowns, I got so paranoid about anything acidic touching my teeth, I pretty much stopped drinking orange juice altogether. I didn’t realize you’re supposed to wait after having it—my dentist never mentioned that until I complained about sensitivity. Do you ever worry you’re missing other little things like that? Sometimes I feel like I’m just waiting for the next bit of bad news.
I tried the straw trick, but honestly, it just felt awkward. Maybe I’m too old-fashioned, but sipping juice through a straw at breakfast made me feel ridiculous. Did your son actually stick with it, or was it just a phase? I can’t even get my grandkids to rinse their mouths, let alone change how they drink.
The timer idea is interesting. I set alarms for my meds, but I never thought to do it for brushing. Do you find that helps with your own routine, or is it just for the kids? I get anxious if I don’t brush right after eating—like, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m letting stuff sit on my teeth too long. But then, I read what you said and start worrying that I’m making things worse by brushing too soon. It’s hard to know what’s right.
Honestly, after my “makeover disaster”—if you can call three crowns and a botched veneer that—I second-guess everything. I even switched to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, but I keep thinking maybe I should just give up juice and coffee completely. Is that too extreme? Or am I just being overly cautious?
I guess I’m just wondering how much is too much. At what point do you just accept that you can’t control every little thing?
I really get where you’re coming from. After my bridge work, I went down a rabbit hole of “should I eat this, should I brush now, am I ruining everything?” It’s exhausting. The straw thing felt silly to me too—I tried it once and just laughed at myself. I think there’s a point where you have to give yourself a break. You can do all the “right” things and still have setbacks. For me, switching to sensitive toothpaste helped a bit, but honestly, I still drink my coffee. I just try not to stress over every sip. Sometimes good enough really is good enough.
I hear you on the straw thing—it always felt like more trouble than it was worth. I’ve had crowns and bridges over the years, and honestly, at a certain point, you just need to live your life. Sure, I avoid biting into jawbreakers (not that I’m tempted), but I’m not giving up my morning coffee ritual. Sensitive toothpaste helped a bit for me too, though I’ll admit, sometimes I just use whatever’s on sale. Perfection’s overrated... consistent effort matters more in the long run.
Perfection’s overrated... consistent effort matters more in the long run.
Totally agree—daily habits make a bigger difference than stressing over every little thing. I’d just add, swapping to a soft-bristled brush helped my crowns last longer. Coffee’s non-negotiable for me too, by the way.
