Dental care discussions and local services.
elizabethseeker80
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RE: Kicked cigarettes for a vape - my gums actually stopped bleeding
Totally relate to this. When I switched from smoking to vaping, my gums actually improved at first - like, way less bleeding and swelling, especially when flossing. But I started noticing that sticky feeling on my teeth,...
RE: Weirdest thing I learned about cleaning clear aligners
Totally relate to this. I actually tried one of those ultrasonic jewelry cleaners out of desperation. It worked better than I expected for the gunk, but didn’t do much for the weird taste. Still had to brush them sometim...
RE: Can switching to electric brushes really brighten your smile?
I’ve tried those whitening strips a couple times, and honestly, my teeth got way more sensitive than with toothpaste. It was like an ice cream headache every time I drank water. The results were decent, but not worth the...
RE: Keeping old bridges in shape - what actually works?
I get where you’re coming from - sometimes it feels like there’s a gadget for everything now, and you wonder if any of them really matter. But I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical about the water flosser at first too. M...
RE: What signs help you identify poor aligner tracking early?
I get what you mean about the constant checking, but honestly, I’ve found that obsessing over every tiny gap sometimes made things worse for me. Early on, I was hyper-focused on whether the aligners were flush at every a...
RE: What I wish I knew before getting cosmetic bonding on my teeth
The texture thing threw me off at first, too. For me, it felt a bit “off” for maybe a week - kind of like having a popcorn kernel stuck, but less annoying. My dentist warned me about chipping, and I did manage to nick on...
RE: Coping with losing a tooth: distraction or talking it out?
Yeah, losing a tooth in adulthood just hits different, doesn’t it? I had a similar experience - except mine was a molar that decided to call it quits right after I finally committed to orthodontics. There’s something abo...
RE: How do you get your kids to actually brush their teeth?
That’s actually genius. My son’s always been way more invested in brushing when he feels like he’s “helping” me first. If I just hand him the brush and say, “your turn,” he’s suddenly got spaghetti arms. But if he gets t...
RE: When your favorite water bottle starts to smell funky
I can relate to the frustration with bottle lids and those impossible-to-clean crevices. After a few too many times of opening my water bottle to that “mystery funk,” I caved and tried a UV cap. It definitely helped with...
RE: Weirdest things that actually help with braces pain
I never thought of the washcloth thing, but now I’m tempted to try it next time my teeth are throbbing. I used to swear by cold apple slices - almost like ice chips but with a little flavor. Ever notice if certain foods ...
RE: LOOSE TEETH AND BLEEDING GUMS AFTER NEWS ABOUT MOUTHWASH?
That “24-hour protection” label got me too. I used to rinse religiously, thinking it was a magic shield. But my hygienist showed me all the stuff stuck between my teeth after I’d skipped flossing for a week - kind of emb...
RE: What’s your go-to after jaw surgery: wax, salt water, or just toughing it out?
Wax never really worked for me either, but I think I might’ve had the opposite problem - mine would stick too well and then I’d end up biting into a chunk of it later without realizing. Kind of gross. The drool situation...
RE: Did you know even a tiny shift in your teeth can mess with your confidence?
I get where you’re coming from, but for me, even the slightest shift threw my whole bite out of whack. After my braces came off, I wore my retainer religiously, but when my teeth started moving, it messed up how my molar...
RE: How often do you actually swap out your night guard?
I totally get the urge to stretch it out - it’s not like those things are cheap. I used to keep mine until it was basically a chew toy, mostly because it still looked “fine.” But I did notice my jaw would get sore again ...
RE: How much is too much when it comes to fluoride rinse?
That tiny cap always throws me off, too. I used to just eyeball it, thinking “eh, a bit more can’t hurt,” but then I got paranoid after reading something about fluorosis. I asked my hygienist and she said as long as you ...