Dental care discussions and local services.
katiebirdwatcher
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Root canal retreatment: single visit or split into two?
We had to do the two-visit thing for my daughter last year - she just couldn’t sit still that long, and honestly, I don’t blame her. It meant more time off work for me and another copay, but she handled it way better spl...
RE: How Has Getting Braces as an Adult Worked Out for You?
Yeah, I’ve watched my kiddo go through the same thing - sometimes there’s just no magic fix for the soreness or the dry mouth. We tried a water flosser, but honestly, it was hit or miss. Sucking on ice chips seemed to he...
RE: Getting my bite back on track: anyone else with a weird jaw journey?
My kid’s been on elastics for a few months now, and honestly, I’m the one who forgets half the time to remind her. She actually got used to them way faster than I expected, but remembering to swap them out after meals? T...
RE: Keeping your mouth happy after a root canal
That made me laugh - my kid got told to do those same “gentle” stretches. We tried the hand-on-chin thing once and she looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Ended up just sticking to slow mouth openings and letting her res...
RE: WHY DOES A ROOT CANAL NEED A DO-OVER? UGH.
We went through something similar with my kid’s molar - thought we were done after the first root canal, but nope. Two months later, she’s back to chewing on one side and complaining it hurts. Dentist actually showed us ...
RE: Whitening strips and tooth pain: how do you avoid it?
We had a rough time with strips when my daughter had braces - she tried a “gentle” brand and still ended up wincing. I remember trying the fluoride gel trick before, but honestly, it just felt like one more thing to jugg...
RE: Cleaning Teeth Professionally vs. DIY Before Braces - Which Did You Choose?
That’s so relatable. My daughter was convinced she’d “messed up” too, even though she brushes like it’s a sport. I had to remind her (and myself) that those cleanings are just a reset, not a report card. I’ll admit I was...
RE: Why my dentist swears by electric toothbrushes (and now maybe I do too?)
My kid’s got braces right now, and honestly, we just use the basic setting too. The orthodontist did mention “gum care” mode, but after the first week, it was just too much hassle to remember which button did what. I hav...
RE: Swollen gums after getting braces - normal or not?
My daughter just started braces last month, and I swear, the first week was rough for both of us. Her gums puffed up so much I thought we’d missed some major step in cleaning. The ortho said it happens, but watching her ...
RE: Best way to get the most out of fluoride: paste or rinse first?
My kid’s dentist gave the same advice - just spit, don’t rinse. At first, my son looked at me like I’d lost it when I told him to leave the toothpaste foam on his teeth. But after a few weeks, he stopped complaining abou...
RE: Noticed my gums getting crankier as I get older - anyone else?
Funny you mention the gadgets - I got my kid one of those fancy electric brushes, and honestly, she still skips spots unless I remind her. Meanwhile, I stick with a plain old manual and have fewer gum issues. For me, str...
RE: Why does recovery from wisdom teeth removal feel way worse than anyone warns you?
Weirdly, my kid’s oral surgeon was super upfront about all the ugly details. Maybe it’s a regional thing? We got a whole stack of printouts about dry socket, nerve pain, what to avoid eating, and even a chart for trackin...
RE: GUM ISSUES SUCK - HERE'S SOMETHING THAT HELPED ME
Totally relate to the mouthwash thing. My daughter had a similar issue last year - her gums were getting irritated, and at first we thought it was braces-related. But nope, orthodontist said everything looked fine. Then ...
RE: Finally figured out how to get stains out like the pros
Haha, this brought back memories of my son's soccer jersey after pizza night - tomato sauce everywhere. Dawn definitely saved us too, but has anyone found something reliable for grass stains? Those things are stubborn...
RE: Quick hacks to brighten teeth by morning?
My daughter tried whitening strips once before a school dance and ended up miserable all night with sensitive teeth...lesson learned. Now she just brushes gently with baking soda toothpaste the night before - works fine ...