Dental care discussions and local services.
math166
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RE: Tooth pain strikes: do you go to the ER or wait for your dentist?
That would honestly save so much stress. I’ve had nights where I’m googling “when is tooth pain an emergency” and just spiraling. The face swelling thing is my line too, but sometimes the pain feels so intense it’s hard ...
RE: Why Does Getting Braces Make Me So Nervous?
That’s exactly what surprised me too. When I first got braces, I was hyper-aware of every bracket and wire, like they were neon signs flashing in meetings or on video calls. But honestly, after a week or two, nobody seem...
RE: Choosing the right root canal doc - what mattered most for you?
Totally with you on this - communication beats fancy tech every time. I had a dentist once who just grunted and pointed, and I basically spent the whole appointment bracing for disaster. Next doc actually explained each ...
RE: Braces in your 30s: did you know teeth can move for life?
Honestly, I’m not totally convinced everyone’s teeth shift that much as adults. I’m in my late 30s and mine barely moved after braces, even though I lost my retainer ages ago too. Maybe it just depends on genetics or how...
RE: SHIFTING YOUR SMILE CENTER: WHO'S USING ELASTICS VS. SPRINGS?
I totally get the concern about mouth sores - my son had springs and the first week was rough, but after that his mouth seemed to toughen up. He actually forgot about them most days. For us, not having to nag about elast...
RE: Which is easier: healing from a simple extraction or a surgical one?
Honestly, I’ve seen people treat a “simple” extraction like it’s no big deal, then eat chips the same night and wonder why it hurts later. Meanwhile, stitches freak folks out enough that they’re extra gentle. It’s wild h...
RE: Tackling decay in 13 teeth
I’ve had the “stain-resistant” composites in a couple teeth (my dentist used Venus Pearl, I think) and honestly, they still picked up some color after a year or so. Maybe a little slower than the old stuff, but not a mir...
RE: What should I have asked before my root canal?
I definitely relate to the weirdness of those old-school bite molds - felt like biting into a wad of Play-Doh and hoping for the best. The digital scans are a huge step up, but my dentist still used the goo last time, so...
RE: Letting go of the binky: When emotional comfort turns into real progress
That’s really interesting about the language skills helping - makes sense that being able to talk it through would ease the transition a bit. For my son, I think it started as comfort but definitely became more about rou...
RE: How soon did you get back to your routine after a tooth pulled?
I get what you’re saying. When I had my molar pulled last year, I was pretty nervous about messing up the healing, so I stuck to mashed potatoes and soup for almost a week. Looking back, I probably could’ve transitioned ...
RE: That first week after wisdom teeth removal… did anyone else swear by ice packs?
Funny you mention switching to heat after the first couple days - I did the same thing. My dentist was all about the ice at first too, but honestly, after 48 hours, I just wanted something that didn’t make my face feel l...
RE: Best way to get the most out of fluoride: paste or rinse first?
Totally get what you mean about second-guessing. I’ve always wondered about that too - like, am I undoing all the good stuff by rinsing too much? From what I’ve read and what my dentist told me, a little rinse is fine, j...
RE: Which Feels Better: Custom Vs. Boil-And-Bite Mouthguards?
Yeah, the color change is weirdly fast - I thought I was doing something wrong at first. I agree, though: comfort wins. With my old boil-and-bite, I’d wake up with a sore jaw and sometimes even headaches. The custom one ...
RE: Kid Knocked Out a Tooth - What Should I Have Ready at Home?
I had to scramble once when my niece knocked a tooth out at the playground, and we just used cold water because there was nothing else. The dentist said milk is better since it keeps the cells alive longer, but water’s b...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
I actually had the opposite experience - my tongue scraper (metal, not plastic) ended up being way less intimidating than I expected. I was super skeptical at first, but after a few tries, it just felt more effective tha...