Dental care discussions and local services.
adam_rider
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RE: How many meds are messing with your mouth?
It’s wild how much more complicated dry mouth gets once you’re on a couple of meds. I remember thinking, like you did, that it’d just be a matter of drinking more water and maybe chewing gum. But after a few months, I st...
RE: Weirdly, chewing on the other side after a root canal can make your jaw sore
Yeah, that “foreign mouth” thing is real. I remember after my second root canal, I tried to eat a sandwich and it felt like my jaw was on a whole new learning curve - like, chewing 101 all over again. I kept biting my ch...
RE: Why is post-extraction care so confusing?
I totally get the paranoia about stuff getting stuck - after my wisdom teeth came out, I avoided anything remotely mushy for days. But honestly, I found bread way riskier than mashed potatoes. Tiny crumbs got everywhere ...
RE: Creamy, Gritty, or Gel? What’s Your Toothpaste Texture Go-To
I hear you on the long ingredient lists - sometimes I wonder if half of it is just for show. I tried a couple of those “advanced” pastes myself (the ones promising to whiten, remineralize, and basically do your taxes), a...
RE: How often do you actually need to get braces tightened?
I can totally relate to that “off” feeling after missing an appointment. I remember once I had to push my visit back by almost two weeks and it was like my teeth just stalled out - no progress, just more soreness than us...
RE: Tackling decay in 13 teeth
That chalky feeling always throws me off a bit, but I’ve had dentists tell me it’s just the fluoride doing its thing, like you said. Honestly, after dealing with a bunch of fillings over the years, I’ll take chalky over ...
RE: Electric vs manual toothbrushes for kids - what's actually easier?
I hear you on the noise issue - my nephew hated the electric toothbrush at first too. Honestly, half the time it sounded more like a power tool than a toothbrush. We ended up sticking with manual for a while. I’d double-...
RE: How did you get your kid to ditch the binky?
We had to tackle the binky thing after my kid’s dentist pointed out the changes in her bite - nothing too dramatic, but enough to make me rethink letting her keep it much longer. I’ll be honest, I was dreading it. We tri...
RE: Surprised by how much gum health affects diabetes and heart issues
Funny, I actually had the opposite happen after my first deep cleaning. My dentist kept telling me about the diabetes connection, but honestly, I didn’t notice much change in my blood sugar numbers right away. For me, it...
RE: WHY DOES A ROOT CANAL NEED A DO-OVER? UGH.
Totally get the frustration - been there more than once. My first root canal was done without any fancy stuff, and sure enough, pain crept back a year later. The endodontist used a microscope for the redo and found a can...
RE: Does mouthwash with alcohol actually work better, or nah?
Honestly, I’ve tried both - those alcohol mouthwashes always made my mouth feel like the Sahara, especially when I was dealing with canker sores or after dental work. The “gentler” ones don’t give that harsh tingle, but ...
RE: Weird sensations after getting braces off - how to make it less awkward?
Man, I totally relate to being weird about crunchy stuff after braces. Took me months before I could bite into an apple without flinching. I remember trying both salt water and fluoride rinses, and honestly, the salt wat...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually noticed the metallic thing myself, and I’m way past the “kid” stage. Maybe it’s not just kids? I tried a stainless steel tongue scraper once because everyone raved about ...
RE: Best way to get the most out of fluoride: paste or rinse first?
I know the “spit, no rinse” thing is all the rage now, and I get why - my hygienist gave me the same spiel about fluoride sticking around longer. But honestly, I just can’t get used to leaving all that toothpaste foam in...
RE: Would you wait or go straight for an implant after losing a tooth?
Totally get this. I lost a lower molar and suddenly every meal felt like a treasure hunt for leftovers. I didn’t notice much with my speech, but my smile definitely felt “off.” It’s wild how one missing tooth can mess wi...