Dental care discussions and local services.
katiegadgeteer
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RE: How I survived the teething stage (and kept my sanity)
That’s honestly the best advice, even though it’s so hard to accept in the moment. I totally stressed over every little thing with my niece - like, what if chewing on random stuff would mess up her teeth down the line? I...
RE: What Did You Have To Take Before Your Oral Surgery?
Totally agree, it threw me off too. I had to skip everything except my anxiety meds, which they said was fine but only with a tiny sip of water - felt weird not taking my usual vitamins and allergy pill. Did anyone else ...
RE: Keeping that post-root canal cheek puff under control
Totally get you on the hoodie move. I tried to mask mine with a scarf and just looked even more suspicious. The pillow mountain thing didn’t work for me either - just woke up all stiff. Ice packs helped a bit but honestl...
RE: Can apples and carrots actually help keep your teeth clean?
I get what you mean about apples vs. those sticky bars - my orthodontist warned me more about things getting stuck in my brackets than sugar itself. I like snacking on carrots too, but sometimes I worry they’re a bit too...
RE: Picking the right color for your braces bands: my go-to trick
Ugh, that’s exactly what stresses me out too. I keep thinking I’ll pick something that looks cool in the office, then suddenly it’s all yellow after a week. Has anyone noticed if certain colors actually make your teeth l...
RE: Why Does Post-Extraction Care Feel Like a Mystery?
I get what you’re saying about dentists being overly cautious, but honestly, I kind of appreciate it? I’m always worried I’ll mess something up and end up with one of those dry sockets everyone warns about. But yeah, the...
RE: Surviving the first week with a mouthful of metal
Same here - those pouches were weirdly helpful even if I felt ridiculous using them. Soup is tricky for me too... anything with little rice or barley bits just gets wedged everywhere. It’s comforting knowing others are h...
RE: braces vs clear aligners: which made you feel less self-conscious?
That’s actually so true. I used to complain about my lisp with aligners, but now that I’m done with them, it’s like… weirdly nostalgic? Not that I want it back, but it’s funny how you get used to stuff you thought you’d ...
RE: Getting used to eating and talking with new teeth
I totally get the “every bite feels like it costs money” thing... I was so paranoid about breaking my retainer that I basically lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt for a week. Even then, I’d chew super slowly, just in ca...
RE: Weird tricks for stopping braces from tearing up my cheeks?
I totally get what you mean about the wax. I was super nervous about trying anything new, but drying the bracket with a tissue before putting on the wax made a huge difference for me too. The silicone covers just felt we...
RE: Weird gum puffiness after flossing - what helps you?
I totally relate to the gum drama. When I first got braces, flossing was a nightmare - my gums would puff up and bleed and I was convinced I’d messed something up. My ortho told me it was actually normal at first, but th...
RE: Which one actually gets your teeth cleaner: blasting with water or good ol’ string floss?
I totally get the hype around water flossers, but honestly, they kinda freak me out. My orthodontist suggested one after I got my braces, and I tried it... but I always worried I’d miss something between the wires. Strin...
RE: Anyone dealt with wobbly teeth? What worked for you?
Totally relate to the “biting into gravel” thing - tried to eat a carrot stick one day and it was like my teeth were all protesting at once. I always thought apples and chips would be the worst, but honestly, even things...
RE: Chewing Gum That Actually Works For Gross Breath?
Honestly, this is my biggest worry with braces. I chew sugar-free gum sometimes but if there’s even a tiny bit of food hiding in my brackets, it feels like nothing helps - not even those zinc gums. Swishing water helps, ...
RE: Why do gum checkups make me so nervous?
Yeah, I totally relate to the “countdown” feeling like a test you didn’t study for. I used to get so tense just waiting for them to call out numbers, especially since braces made flossing such a pain. Same here - I alwa...