Dental care discussions and local services.
hiking195
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RE: Weirdest pain after getting braces tightened - normal or not?
I get what you mean about wax, but honestly, I stopped using it after the first month. It just felt like it made my brackets harder to clean, and I kept worrying about accidentally swallowing it. Did anyone else find the...
RE: Kid Knocked Out a Tooth - What Should I Have Ready at Home?
I always thought milk was the go-to, but now I’m wondering - does it actually make a big difference if you use saline instead? I’ve had braces for years and my ortho said milk’s good in a pinch, but never mentioned salin...
RE: Which one actually gets your teeth cleaner: blasting with water or good ol’ string floss?
I’ve had braces for over a year now, and honestly, string flossing is a nightmare with the wires. I use those little threaders, but half the time I just end up frustrated. The water flosser isn’t perfect, but it actually...
RE: Kid Knocked Out a Tooth - What Should I Have Ready at Home?
Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing about milk from my ortho - apparently it’s got the right balance so the tooth cells don’t die off as fast. I do wonder, though, does it matter if it’s whole milk or skim? I’ve only ever ke...
RE: Weirdest thing that helped me after gum surgery
Mashed potatoes were weirdly tough for me too - just way too dense and sticky. I actually found oatmeal harder than expected, especially when it cooled off and turned into cement. Did you have any luck with cottage chees...
RE: What if you woke up with dragon breath every day?
I totally get the appeal of keeping it simple, but have you noticed whether your allergies or sinus stuff actually improved with just the window/bedding routine? I’m asking because I started using an air purifier after g...
RE: Best way to get the most out of fluoride: paste or rinse first?
I’ve wondered about that too - like, does the rinse add anything if you’re already leaving toothpaste residue? My ortho said as long as you’re not rinsing with water right after brushing, you’re getting most of the benef...
RE: Whitening strips and tooth pain: how do you avoid it?
I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly. I tried the regular strips first and my teeth got super sensitive - like, that “zing” pain when you breathe in cold air. Switched to a “gentle” version (think it was the sensitive ...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
I get where you're coming from about consistency being key, but does it always work that way with braces or appliances? I’ve noticed that technique actually makes a bigger difference for me. Like, if I rush through floss...
RE: Root canal + crown combo: anyone else still going strong after years?
I get the food police thing - at some point I just stopped buying caramel for my own sanity, but my kid still manages to find it at birthday parties. Is anyone else’s dentist super strict about popcorn? Ours says the hul...
RE: WOULD YOU NOTICE IF SOMETHING FELT "OFF" IN YOUR MOUTH?
I get what you mean about anxiety, but I actually noticed my bite was off after my braces came off, and it didn’t “settle” on its own. Ended up needing an adjustment. Do you think there’s a difference between normal sens...
RE: That moment when your braces wire starts stabbing you mid-meal
I get where you're coming from, but is it always necessary to go in right away? I mean, I’ve had wires poke out before, and yeah, wax isn’t perfect, but sometimes it got me through a few days until my next scheduled appo...
RE: Surviving morning breath: tales from the smoker’s toothbrush
I get what you’re saying about the soft brushes wearing out, but I actually switched to a medium bristle after my second pack of soft ones fell apart in a week. My orthodontist wasn’t thrilled about it, but honestly, my ...
RE: What surprised me about reshaping your gums
That “add-on” thing gets me too. When I went in for a consult, the hygienist casually mentioned contouring, whitening, and then “maybe a little bonding for balance.” Suddenly it sounded like a whole mouth makeover instea...
RE: Grinding teeth at night...what if you ignored it?
Yeah, I tried to ignore my grinding for ages, mostly because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle (or the cost) of a night guard. Didn’t take long before I noticed my front teeth looked a little uneven - like, one was a...