Dental care discussions and local services.
amandataylor681
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RE: Making dentist visits less scary for little ones (and parents too)
Letting kids take the lead is such a shift, isn’t it? I remember when my niece was little, her mom would try to talk through every step of the dentist visit - like, “First you’ll sit in the chair, then the light goes on,...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
I hear you on the lighter pressure thing, but I’ve actually found that some people (myself included) need a little more pressure to feel like anything’s happening. The trick is not to go overboard, but I get why folks ar...
RE: Kicked gum disease’s butt - anyone else turn things around?
I hear you on the gadgets. Funny thing, I used to roll my eyes at all those extra tools - felt like overkill. But after working with patients who have bridges or tight contacts, I’ve seen firsthand how floss just doesn’t...
RE: Which works better for whiter teeth: Crest 3D White mouthwash or Listerine Healthy White?
That lines up with what I’ve seen, honestly. Patients get excited about whitening mouthwashes, but after a few weeks, most say they’re just “meh” for actual whitening. I’ve tried both out of curiosity - couldn’t see a re...
RE: Baking soda vs. coconut oil: which one actually works for a whiter smile?
Honestly, I’ve seen this happen more than once. Back when I was in school, a friend got really into DIY whitening - baking soda, lemon juice, you name it. Her teeth did feel “squeaky clean” at first, but after a while sh...
RE: SEDATION FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION - IV OR LAUGHING GAS?
Funny thing - I once had a patient who swore up and down that IV sedation would “knock him out cold” like general anesthesia. He was so convinced he’d wake up hours later with no memory. Turns out, he woke up mid-procedu...
RE: SEDATION FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION - IV OR LAUGHING GAS?
Funny thing is, I’ve seen some folks actually feel more “off” after nitrous than IV. Had a patient last month who bounced back from IV sedation like nothing happened, but nitrous always makes him foggy for hours. It’s wi...
RE: Toothbrush showdown: electric vs manual for older folks
Pressure sensors definitely made a difference for me. I used to brush like I was scrubbing pots and pans, and my dentist always pointed out my gum line was receding a bit. Switched to an electric brush with a sensor, and...
RE: Finally figured out how to get stains out like the pros
I've noticed the same thing about coconut oil being easier. When I first tried oil pulling myself, sesame oil made my jaw ache after just a couple minutes, and honestly, the taste wasn't my favorite either. Switched to c...
RE: Sugar overload and your teeth: a bittersweet truth
My dentist actually brought up xylitol gum last time I was in with my daughter (she's 6). He said it's generally safe for kids as long as they're old enough not to swallow it constantly, lol. We've been using it for a fe...
RE: Sugar overload and your teeth: a bittersweet truth
Haha, glad I'm not alone in the cookie struggle. I've tried green tea too, but honestly, some days it just doesn't cut it... ever experimented with cinnamon tea or something spicy instead? Curious if stronger flavors hel...
RE: Toddler teeth trouble - what would you do?
My daughter was super attached to her bedtime bottle too, and honestly, it took forever to wean her off. Diluting milk definitely helped us...but have you thought about brushing his teeth after the bottle instead? Might ...
RE: Water flossers showdown: cordless vs countertop, what's your pick?
Interesting take on the countertop model feeling dentist-level clean. I've actually found my cordless does just fine - maybe it's technique or something? I remember when I first switched from countertop to cordless, I wa...
RE: my dental implants still feel amazing after 8 years - here's what worked for me
Interesting you mention gum recession - I had a similar experience, but mine was more about flossing technique. I was always super careful brushing around my implants, but honestly never thought much about how I flossed....
RE: how thorough are you with dental checkups?
Podcasts can be great - I’ve had a few young patients who swear by them. One kid in particular used to be super anxious, but he got hooked on a silly sci-fi podcast about aliens running a pizza shop (seriously, kids' ima...