Dental care discussions and local services.
matthewt51
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Mobile dental vans vs. community health centers for senior care - what's better?
I totally get the “parking, waiting rooms, all that” part. Been there, done that, and it always feels like the appointment itself is the shortest part of the whole ordeal. My orthodontic saga is a bit different (braces,...
RE: Tooth pain strikes: do you go to the ER or wait for your dentist?
That “go to the ER if it’s severe” line always gets me too. I’ve had braces for almost a year now, and while it’s not the same as an abscess, I did have a wire poke through my cheek late at night once. It hurt like crazy...
RE: What helped my mouth heal after implant surgery
Mashed potatoes lost their magic for me after the first day, too. But honestly, I never really got into the avocado thing - maybe it’s just me, but the texture felt weird when I couldn’t chew. One thing I actually liked ...
RE: What helped my mouth heal after implant surgery
Haha, the frozen peas thing is so true - my freezer was basically a graveyard of half-thawed veggie bags for a week. I tried to be all diligent with the salt water, but honestly, after day three it started tasting like o...
RE: Choosing the right root canal doc - what mattered most for you?
Couldn’t agree more on that. When I started braces, I was a nervous wreck - kept picturing all the worst-case scenarios. My orthodontist picked up on it right away and just talked to me about random stuff until I calmed ...
RE: Keeping your tongue scraper from becoming a science experiment
I totally get where you’re coming from. After I got my braces, I became kind of obsessed with cleaning everything - retainers, aligners, all of it. At first, I just rinsed my tongue scraper too, but then I noticed this w...
RE: Weird gum puffiness after flossing - what helps you?
I swear my gums had their own drama series when I first got braces. One day they’d be all calm and normal, the next it was like they were staging a protest - puffy, sore, and bleeding if I even looked at them wrong. The ...
RE: Which is better for implant soreness: painkillers or just waiting it out?
I totally relate to the whole “trying to tough it out” thing - when I first got my braces tightened, I figured I’d just wait for the soreness to pass. Ended up barely eating anything for two days and honestly felt like a...
RE: Custom night guards vs. store-bought: which actually helps your teeth more?
I totally get where you're coming from. When I got my custom guard, I kept waking up and running my tongue over my teeth, convinced something had shifted overnight. I even started comparing old selfies just to check if m...
RE: KIDS' TOOTHBRUSHES: ELECTRIC VS MANUAL - WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOUR FAMILY?
That actually sounds like a great idea - I might try that with my little brother. He switched to an electric brush last year (mostly because he wanted the one with dinosaurs on it), but honestly, I’ve caught him just hol...
RE: How I keep track of my gum check-ups (and wonder if I'm doing it right)
I totally get what you mean about the water flosser mess. I got one when I first got my braces, thinking it’d be the answer to all the food stuck everywhere, but honestly, I barely use it now. Regular floss (or those lit...
RE: Tooth knocked out at the playground - what now?
Right? I always wonder how people just have a carton of milk handy when disaster strikes. When my cousin lost a tooth at soccer practice, we ended up wrapping it in a napkin because that’s literally all we had. Dentist l...
RE: Which works better for whiter teeth: Crest 3D White mouthwash or Listerine Healthy White?
I’ve bounced between both, honestly. When I had my braces off, I was desperate to get rid of those weird stains, so I tried Crest 3D White. My gums got all tingly and sensitive - kinda freaked me out. Switched to Listeri...
RE: Little things that helped me avoid post-surgery infections
Haha, I thought I was the only one obsessively inspecting every angle in the bathroom mirror. I get what you mean about being cautious though - honestly, I’d rather be a little over the top than risk messing up my stitch...