Dental care discussions and local services.
cjackson76
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RE: Weirdest Thing You’ve Learned About Braces Tightening?
The thing that surprised me most is how random my “safe” foods are after a tightening. I used to think soft = easy, but that’s not always true. Mashed potatoes actually made my teeth feel worse, too - almost like the pre...
RE: Little things that helped me avoid post-surgery infections
Totally get this. I was the same after my braces came off and I had minor gum surgery - constantly analyzing every little change. Did you find any specific signs that actually meant trouble? I always wonder if I’m overre...
RE: Quick fix for brighter teeth - baking soda vs activated charcoal?
I’ve actually asked my ortho about this during one of my visits - she was pretty blunt that neither charcoal nor baking soda is dentist-approved for regular use. She mentioned both can scratch enamel, which is a big deal...
RE: Do bridges ever actually feel “normal” in your mouth?
I totally relate to the “chunk in my mouth” feeling. It’s weird how your tongue just can’t leave it alone at first, right? For me, it was probably three months before I stopped noticing it every single day. Did you have ...
RE: Why does it feel like dentists only want to throw antibiotics at gum problems?
I get what you mean about the paperwork - sometimes I leave the ortho with a stack of instructions and barely any memory of what we actually discussed. When my gums started acting up after getting bands, I was just told ...
RE: Tricks to get kids excited about brushing teeth
Totally get what you mean. I’ve noticed with my niece, she’ll pick the sparkliest brush but still barely does a real cleaning. I’m in braces now and honestly, technique matters way more than the novelty factor. Do you th...
RE: Hypothetically, if you tried extracting some herbal stuff at home - like oils or tinctures - and it went kinda wrong (maybe too strong or weird smell or something), how would you fix it?
Had a similar experience with my first herbal oil extraction - ended up smelling like some weird combo of grass clippings and antiseptic wipes. Not exactly what I was going for, haha. Did you use fresh herbs or dried on...
RE: Water flossers showdown: cordless vs countertop, what's your pick?
I've been using a cordless model for about six months now, and honestly, it's pretty decent even on stubborn spots. Pressure isn't countertop-level intense, but it's enough to get the job done comfortably... might be wor...
RE: My experience with getting teeth whitened professionally
Interesting point about alcohol-free mouthwash... hadn't considered that. Has anyone noticed if whitening strips cause less sensitivity compared to professional treatments, or is it about the same?
RE: Quick hacks to brighten teeth by morning?
I've tried the baking soda thing too, and yeah, it does help somewhat - but doesn't it leave your mouth feeling kinda weird afterward? Like, even after rinsing thoroughly, I still get that gritty aftertaste lingering aro...
RE: Surviving gum surgery: ice packs are my new best friend
Blueberries sound nice in theory, but weren't you worried about the condensation making them mushy and leaking juice? I stuck with peas precisely because they're bulky - seemed to hold the cold longer. Did anyone else fi...
RE: my dentist warned me vaping could mess up my smile, but I didn't think much of it until yesterday.
Alcohol-free mouthwash helped me too, but honestly, flavorings never seemed to make much difference for me. Could it be more about vaping frequency rather than the flavors themselves? Curious if he's tried cutting back a...
RE: The Great Mouthguard Mystery: A Tale of the Vanishing Case
Have you tried soaking it in denture cleaner tablets instead? I had the same chemical taste issue, and airing it out didn't really help much for me. Someone suggested denture tablets, and honestly, they worked surprising...
RE: The Great Mouthguard Mystery: A Tale of the Vanishing Case
I've never heard of mouthguards turning jellyfish-like, but mine definitely started to warp after soaking too long. Didn't realize plain water could do that... thought it was just me somehow messing up. Curious though, d...
RE: Quick trick my dentist shared to keep cavities away
Hmm, good point about the sugars, but wouldn't grating apples at least stop bits from getting stuck between brackets as much? I mean, cavities aside, less picking apple bits outta braces is always a win, right?