Dental care discussions and local services.
apaws40
Discussion activity
Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Keeping those stitches clean after a tooth pull - what worked for me
I get what you mean about the gravity rinse - everyone swears by it, but honestly, I had a totally different experience. My oral surgeon was pretty adamant about avoiding the whole “swish and spit” thing, but they actual...
RE: Snacking without guilt: why is it so hard to find treats that don't wreck your teeth?
Freeze-dried fruit is a bit of a mixed bag for me. Texture-wise, it scratches that crunch itch, but I noticed my teeth feel kind of chalky after eating them, almost like the powder sticks around. My dentist mentioned the...
RE: How often do you actually swap out your retainer?
That’s pretty much my approach too - if it fits and isn’t cracked, I keep using it. I’m at about two and a half years with my current one. My ortho mentioned that the plastic can get microscopic wear even if you can’t se...
RE: Why is it so hard to get consistent aftercare for a chipped tooth?
The back-and-forth between dentists is honestly the most confusing part for me. Had a small chip on my front tooth last year - one dentist said it was no big deal, just polish it out. The next guy was all about a crown, ...
RE: Tricks for feeling good about a “toothy” smile?
Mirror practice was my go-to for a while, too. I’d try out different smiles - full teeth, half teeth, closed mouth - until I found one that didn’t make me cringe. It helped a bit, but honestly, sometimes I still overthin...
RE: Keeping old bridges in shape - what actually works?
Those syringes can actually work pretty well under bridges, especially if you fill them with warm salt water. I found them less messy than a water flosser - just go slow and keep your mouth mostly closed while rinsing. I...
RE: What should I have asked before my root canal?
That metallic taste is so strange, right? I always thought it was just me being weird about the numbing gel or whatever they use. The bite thing threw me off too - felt like my teeth didn’t line up for days, and nobody r...
RE: Back to business after wisdom tooth removal: the saga continues
I totally get what you mean about wanting your life back but not wanting to mess up the healing. When I had mine out, I thought mashed potatoes were safe - nope, got some stuck and panicked. Honestly, I don’t buy the piz...
RE: Which one actually gets your teeth cleaner: blasting with water or good ol’ string floss?
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing - water flossers are super gentle, but they just don’t get those really stubborn pieces out, especially after popcorn or sticky stuff. I remember one time I had a popcorn kernel wedged i...
RE: Battle of the water flossers: Waterpik or Philips Sonicare?
I totally get the mess complaint - my Waterpik used to leave water all over the place, even when I tried to lean over the sink just right. The AirFloss is definitely less splashy, but I’ve always felt like it doesn’t qui...
RE: WHICH WAY DID YOU GO WHEN REPLACING A MISSING TOOTH?
I totally get where you’re coming from. When my youngest needed a partial after an accident, I thought we’d settle into a routine with it, but honestly, it’s still a bit of a circus some mornings. She’s left it on her lu...
RE: Finding the right dentist for dental implants: my step-by-step approach
Yeah, the “it depends” answer drives me nuts too. I get that every mouth is different, but c’mon, at least give a ballpark. When I was hunting for my implant dentist, I started asking super specific questions - like, “Wh...
RE: Knocked-out tooth: milk or saliva - what’s actually better?
I’ve actually had to deal with this when my kid knocked out his front tooth during a soccer game. I panicked and just grabbed a clean cup, filled it with milk, and tossed the tooth in. I remember the dentist saying, “You...
RE: New pain relief options after root tip surgery - anyone else see this?
Frozen yogurt definitely gets my vote - ice cream was my go-to after my last root tip surgery. Those patches never stayed put for me either, and honestly, I found the taste kind of gross. I did try dissolvable strips onc...