Dental care discussions and local services.
matthewt51
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RE: Did you know your gums can regrow (sort of)?
I get what you’re saying about brushing softer - my ortho actually told me the same thing when I first got my braces. I was convinced that the more I scrubbed, the cleaner my teeth would be, especially with all the wires...
RE: That moment when your braces wire starts stabbing you mid-meal
Man, I’ve had that exact thought while sitting in the waiting room, knowing the ortho is about to snip a wire in two seconds and send me back out. It’s wild how something so tiny can ruin your whole day (or week). I trie...
RE: Baking soda vs. coconut oil: which one actually works for a whiter smile?
Same here - coconut oil just made my mouth feel greasy, and I couldn’t tell if it did anything. I’m in braces right now, so I’m extra paranoid about staining. Has anyone found something gentle that actually works, especi...
RE: Braces on a budget: monthly payments or upfront savings?
I totally get what you mean about the “hidden costs” vibe. When I started my braces, they offered a $200 discount if I paid everything up front, but honestly, that felt like Monopoly money - just not happening for me. I ...
RE: Teeth slightly crooked and it's driving me nuts
That hits home. I swear, I used to stare at my teeth in every reflective surface, convinced they were getting worse instead of better. I keep all my old trays too - lining them up is like a weird little ritual now. Funny...
RE: Bouncing back after a makeover disaster
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, flavor made a huge difference for me. Weirdly enough, I found the minty ones actually irritated my gums more. Switching to a fruity sensitivity toothpaste (sounds gross, I kn...
RE: SEDATION FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION - IV OR LAUGHING GAS?
Had laughing gas once for a filling and honestly, it was a weird experience - felt like I was floating, but still very aware of everything happening. IV sedation, though, was way smoother for me. I remember chatting with...
RE: Braces on a budget: monthly payments or upfront savings?
Yeah, monthly payments were tempting for me too, especially since I wasn't sure how tight things would get later on. But after hearing your fridge story, I'm kinda glad I did the upfront thing. Still, makes me wonder - d...
RE: Braces for underbite taking forever and a day
That's definitely true, but I sometimes wonder if retainers alone are enough. When my braces came off, I wore mine religiously, yet still noticed some shifting after just a year or two. Eventually, my orthodontist sugges...
RE: Grinding teeth at night...what if you ignored it?
I was pretty skeptical about mouthguards too, mostly because I thought it'd feel like sleeping with a hockey puck in my mouth, lol. But honestly, after waking up with jaw pain and headaches for months, I finally caved an...
RE: finally brace-free - how would you mark the occasion?
Haha, reading this brings back memories... I thought I'd immediately tackle a crunchy apple after braces, but nope - felt like biting into concrete. Ended up with pancakes instead. Took a few days before apples were back...
RE: WISDOM TEETH OUT - HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN?
Reading this brings back memories...I remember after my wisdom teeth came out, I thought mashed potatoes would be my savior. Nope. Somehow even those felt weird and uncomfortable at first. Took me about two weeks before ...
RE: how thorough are you with dental checkups?
Reading your experience reminded me of something similar that happened to me a few years back. I'd always assumed cavities would announce themselves loud and clear - pain, sensitivity, something obvious. But nope, mine w...
RE: Surviving gum surgery: ice packs are my new best friend
Frozen bananas were a total game changer for me too. I was skeptical at first - like, how could bananas possibly replace yogurt? But honestly, after my gum surgery, dairy just felt too thick and weirdly clingy. Bananas g...
RE: Braces on a budget: monthly payments or upfront savings?
My ortho was pretty chill about payments - thankfully. I did something similar, monthly payments seemed safer at first, but halfway through I got a small bonus and wished I'd just paid it off earlier. Funny how timing wo...