Dental care discussions and local services.
hunter_echo
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RE: DOES SKIPPING FLOSSING REALLY MATTER? NEW STUDY SAYS MAYBE
You’re not alone there - dental guilt is a thing for a lot of folks. I’ve seen people beat themselves up over missing a night or two, but honestly, life happens. With braces, it’s even trickier, and you’re right that “da...
RE: Why do gum checkups make me so nervous?
I totally get the suspicion around deep cleanings. I remember one patient who was really anxious about the cost and whether she really needed it. She asked for her pocket numbers, and when I showed her the chart, you cou...
RE: What do you do when a bracket pops off at night?
That’s a really common worry - honestly, I’ve seen patients wait a week or more to get a bracket fixed and most of the time, it doesn’t mess up their treatment. If the wire’s not poking and you’re not in pain, it’s usual...
RE: New pain relief options after root tip surgery - anyone else see this?
Swelling really does have a mind of its own after these kinds of procedures. I’ve seen folks come in the day after root tip surgery, worried their face looks like a chipmunk and convinced something’s gone sideways, but h...
RE: Straightening out my teeth without braces - my experience
You nailed it with the patience thing. I see a lot of folks get frustrated when their teeth are more sensitive some days, but honestly, that’s just part of the process. I remember one patient who swore his trays were “ou...
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?
Totally relate to the lavender oil mishap - I had a similar experience with peppermint tincture. Thought it'd be refreshing and minty, but it ended up smelling like industrial-strength mouthwash. Diluting definitely help...
RE: How Long Does Your Mouthguard Usually Last?
Haha, you're definitely not alone. I've had patients whose mouthguards looked like they'd been through a demolition derby. Uneven wear usually means your bite might be off - worth mentioning to your dentist next visit, j...
RE: how thorough are you with dental checkups?
I've definitely seen dentists who jump the gun a bit. Had a patient once who came to me after another dentist recommended crowns on three teeth that were honestly fine with just fillings. Sure, waiting too long can backf...
RE: Bouncing back after a makeover disaster
Haha, totally relate to this. When I whitened my teeth last year, even breathing in cold air felt like tiny electric shocks. MI Paste helped me a lot - usually sensitivity eases up within a week or two, hang in there.
RE: finally figured out the best floss-mouthwash routine
I gave water flossers a try about a year ago after seeing so many patients rave about them. Took me a week or two to adjust - felt like my bathroom was getting sprayed down more than my teeth at first, ha. But once I got...
RE: surviving on smoothies and mashed potatoes: my post-tooth-pulling adventure
Warm foods can be soothing, but honestly, I've seen a lot of patients find relief with cold stuff - especially in the first 24 hours. Had one guy swear by chilled applesauce...said it numbed the ache better than anything...
RE: finally brace-free - how would you mark the occasion?
Haha, apples catch everyone off guard! I've seen it plenty of times - patients come back after braces thinking they're ready to tackle anything, then boom... apples happen. Weirdly, bananas seem to be the safe fruit zone...
RE: Getting ready for oral surgery - my game plan
Mashed potatoes were my go-to as well, but oatmeal was a bit tricky for me - something about the tiny oats getting stuck in places they shouldn't. Eggs are funny like that; you'd think they'd be perfect, but scrambled eg...
RE: Curious about recovery time after tooth extraction and implants
Warm broth definitely has its merits, especially if you're sensitive to temperature extremes. But from what I've seen, cold can actually help more in the first 24-48 hours because it reduces swelling and inflammation. I ...
RE: my dentist warned me vaping could mess up my smile, but I didn't think much of it until yesterday.
Honestly, flavor isn't the only issue here. I've seen plenty of patients who've switched to unflavored vape juice thinking it'd be gentler on their gums, but the irritation often persists. It's usually the nicotine itsel...