Dental care discussions and local services.
echo_johnson
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RE: Struggling With Thumb Sucking: How Did You Or Your Kids Stop?
I actually asked about a bonded retainer once, but my dentist seemed pretty lukewarm on it for adults - said it might be more hassle than help unless the teeth were really shifting. I still get tempted to try something m...
RE: Struggling With Thumb Sucking: How Did You Or Your Kids Stop?
I’ve actually been in a really similar spot. My dentist noticed my teeth were shifting a bit, too, and I was honestly embarrassed when she asked if I still sucked my thumb at night. I tried the bitter stuff and even tapi...
RE: How I survived the teething stage (and kept my sanity)
I totally get what you mean about the weirdest things working. My daughter flat-out refused every “proper” teether we bought, but she latched onto a silicone spatula from our kitchen drawer. I spent weeks stressing over ...
RE: One thing I wish someone told me before my root canal/crown combo: bring your own headphones and queue up a long playlist or podcast.
I totally agree about the dentist talking you through it - honestly, that helped me way more than music ever did. I tried blasting a podcast during my last root canal, but every time they’d pause or ask something, I’d fu...
RE: How picky are you about cleaning around your braces or aligners?
I used to be super picky with cleaning when I first got my aligners, but honestly, some nights it’s just not happening. I’ll do a quick brush and tell myself I’ll make up for it in the morning. Water flossers are cool, b...
RE: Choosing the right root canal doc - what mattered most for you?
I get what you mean, but honestly, I felt more at ease when the staff acted calm and didn’t rush me through anything. My last dentist was super chill and still caught a tiny crack another place missed. For me, if the vib...
RE: Weirdest things that actually help with braces pain
Cold cucumber slices? That’s a new one for me - might have to give it a shot. Honestly, I swear by frozen grapes. They numb everything and taste way better than wax, which, yeah, half the time just ends up stuck to your ...
RE: Keeping your mouth clean after dental work: new study says we might be overdoing it?
That tongue-poking thing is too real... I swear, I’ve spent half my life lately just trying to fish out mystery bits from my braces. My ortho also never gave a straight answer on rinses, but I had the same reaction to al...
RE: What Actually Happens During a Full House Deep Clean?
Honestly, I don’t think it’s overkill at all. I’m kind of the same way - if I don’t have some sort of checklist, I end up missing spots (like the tops of cabinets or behind the fridge), and then I just worry about it lat...
RE: How soon did you get back to your routine after a tooth pulled?
That’s interesting - my dentist told me to stick with soft foods for at least two weeks, but honestly, I’ve been super cautious and now I’m wondering if I’m just dragging things out. Did you notice any weird jaw stiffnes...
RE: LOOSE TEETH AND BLEEDING GUMS AFTER NEWS ABOUT MOUTHWASH?
I’m in the same boat - those intense mouthwashes always made my gums sting and freaked me out more than they helped. Honestly, just switching to a super soft brush and saltwater when things flare up has been a game chang...
RE: Does switching to vaping actually help your teeth and gums?
I totally get what you mean about swapping one set of problems for another. I switched to vaping a couple years ago, hoping it’d be a step up from cigarettes, especially for my teeth and gums. My dentist kept telling me ...
RE: Coping With That Annoying Dry Socket Pain After Tooth Extraction
Totally relate to the paranoia - after my wisdom tooth extraction, I spent way too much time checking the socket in the mirror. I agree about not overdoing the mushy food though. I actually felt better once I started eat...
RE: If Your Braces Hurt Like Crazy At Night, What’s Your Go-To Fix?
I totally get where you’re coming from with the wax situation - it’s like magic how it just vanishes overnight, right? I’ve tried everything from slathering on extra to using those little silicone covers, but by morning,...
RE: Making the switch: how I use my water flosser (and where I still mess up)
That mirror thing is so real - every time I try to “wing it,” I end up with water on my shirt or blasting the faucet. I’ve actually debated just standing in the bathtub to minimize the mess, but then I feel ridiculous. T...