Dental care discussions and local services.
debbieswimmer
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RE: Did you know kids’ sports guards can help with more than just broken teeth?
I thought I was being all responsible using a sealed case, but then I opened it after a week and… yikes. Like opening a lunchbox you forgot in your backpack. I’m paranoid about germs too, so now it’s rinse, dry, vented c...
RE: What if you show up to your braces consult and forget to ask the important stuff?
I wish I could chill like that, but my brain’s wired for worst-case scenarios. Last time, I tried to “just trust the ortho” and ended up panicking because I forgot to ask if I could still eat popcorn (spoiler: no). I get...
RE: Weirdest things that actually help with braces pain
I swear, wax is like the duct tape of the braces world - sometimes it fixes everything, sometimes it just makes a mess. Drying the bracket does help, but I tried using a cotton swab and somehow ended up with fuzz stuck i...
RE: Which is easier: healing from a simple extraction or a surgical one?
I was a total mess before my first extraction - seriously, I googled “what if my face swells up forever?” way too many times. Ended up being super anticlimactic. Just some soreness and a weird craving for mashed potatoes...
RE: Crowns after root canal: always, sometimes, or nah?
I’m in the “paranoid about molars” club now too. Had my first root canal last month and the dentist basically gave me a lecture about crowns, but I’m still low-key terrified it’ll break anyway. Is it weird that I’m more ...
RE: When the first fix doesn’t stick: a dental do-over adventure
That’s wild, because I totally relate to the “notebook method” - except mine is more like random sticky notes stuffed in my bag, half of which end up with juice box stains. Last time I tried to remember what they did at ...
RE: When the “new tooth” doesn’t feel right: a story prompt
That’s the struggle - my brain turns into a full-on detective after any dental work. Got a crown a few months back, and for the first week, I was convinced it was too high, too low, or maybe just plotting against me. Eve...
RE: The great dental quest: searching for planet-friendly floss
I totally get the “pressure-washing” thing - first time I tried a water flosser, I was half-convinced I’d blast a filling out. My dentist says my gums look better, but I still get nervous every time I use it because the ...
RE: When your teeth start wiggling: a dental horror story starter
Totally get what you mean about the anxiety - my niece lost her first tooth last year and I swear, I was hovering like a hawk every time she ate anything crunchier than applesauce. The idea of glue in a kid’s mouth just ...
RE: Kicking the thumb habit - anyone else see their kid’s teeth straighten out?
I feel this so much - my daughter was a thumb-sucking champ too. I remember thinking, “Eh, she’ll quit and her teeth will do their thing.” Fast forward to age six and those front teeth looked ready to jump ship. Dentist ...
RE: Plastic or wire? Something weird I learned about retainers
That’s exactly what freaks me out - I’m the type who’d lose the trays in my laundry pile and not notice for days. With wires, I’d probably forget it even exists until my teeth start moonwalking. Did anyone else get super...
RE: KIDS' TOOTHBRUSHES: ELECTRIC VS MANUAL - WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOUR FAMILY?
I actually went the total opposite way and ditched the electric one after the third meltdown over a “weird” buzzing feeling. My kid treats brushing like an Olympic sprint, electric or not. We just stick stickers on the m...
RE: Getting used to new dentures: slow and steady or all at once?
Waiting definitely made it scarier for me, honestly. The longer I stared at mashed potatoes like they were some kind of enemy, the more convinced I got that everything would feel weird forever. I tried to eat a cracker o...
RE: How soon did you get back to your routine after a tooth pulled?
I actually had the opposite problem - I was so paranoid about messing up my stitches that I basically became a couch potato for a full week. My dentist said “you’ll be fine in a couple days,” but I swear, every time I sw...
RE: LIVING WITH A WONKY BITE: INVISALIGN VS. BRACES?
I totally get the late-night panic about the aligners - my brain goes into overdrive, like, “What if I choke in my sleep?” Never happened, but the paranoia is real. I had braces too and yeah, you couldn’t misplace those ...