That’s exactly what made the difference for me too. I kept trying to eat like I always had and just ended up frustrated. Slowing down and taking small...

Funny you mention the spare toothbrush thing—I actually started packing a couple after a trip to Mexico years ago. I brushed with the tap water out of...

Funny you mention the saltwater rinse—my dentist swore by it, but I couldn’t stand the taste either. I tried using warm water and just a pinch of salt...

Those temp kits are a pain, aren’t they? I tried one years ago when I cracked a molar after biting into a popcorn kernel. The instructions made it sou...

Tracking on your phone sounds efficient—I’m more old-school and jot everything in a little notebook. I do wonder, though, how folks remember to check ...

I totally get the impatience—after my second root canal, I was practically counting down the hours for the pain to go away. Ended up calling my dentis...

I get where you’re coming from. The price tag made me pause, too. In my case, I weighed it out step by step: first, I asked about what was actually in...

I’ve always found it helps to list out my questions before the appointment—makes me feel a bit more in control when things get stressful. Ice cream is...

I’ve always been told to just spit and not rinse, too—my dentist even gave me a little handout about it years ago. I get why some folks hate that text...

Clove chewing is hardcore—props for trying it. I did that once back in the ‘80s when my dentist suggested “natural antiseptics” before my first deep c...

I get where you’re coming from on that—had a partial for a while and honestly, it felt like more trouble than it was worth. I also noticed my teeth sh...

Letting the pizza sit out is a solid move—I've done that myself after some bridge work. I used to nuke slices for a few seconds, but even that tiny bi...

That “slimy” feeling is so familiar. I’ve tried just brushing and water when I forgot my cleaner, and honestly, it never feels quite right. Even if th...

I hear you on the saltwater—it’s cheap and does the job, but man, the taste really is something else. After my second root canal, I tried both. Here’s...

I’d say it’s more of a background thing for me, but it definitely flares up after chewy stuff—bagels, for example. My tongue just can’t leave the edge...