Dental care discussions and local services.
maxjackson826
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RE: Interdental brush or water flosser for tight bracket spaces?
For the tight spaces near the gumline, an orthodontic-sized interdental brush seems like the more precise option. It should slide through without force; if you have to push or bend it, the size is probably wrong and it c...
RE: Kicked cigarettes for a vape - my gums actually stopped bleeding
I totally get what you mean about the dry mouth - vaping’s definitely not perfect, but it’s wild how much better my mouth feels compared to when I smoked. My last cleaning was way cheaper since they didn’t have to scrape...
RE: When your favorite water bottle starts to smell funky
I hear you on the heavy bottle thing - my stainless one could double as a dumbbell. I keep telling myself it’s just “built-in strength training” for my daily walk, but my wallet definitely felt the hit up front. Still, w...
RE: Eating with aligners: taking them out every meal vs. snacking less
Popcorn is a hard pass for me too - tried it once, spent way too long fishing bits out of my teeth and trays. Not worth it. I also ditched anything super sticky, like caramel or gummy candy. It’s just not worth the extra...
RE: Sealants for Kids: When Did Your Dentist Recommend Them?
That’s interesting, because our dentist was all about getting the sealants on ASAP - like, the minute those molars peeked through. I did wonder if it was a bit soon, but they said insurance would cover it then and you kn...
RE: What’s your go-to after jaw surgery: wax, salt water, or just toughing it out?
I hear you on the drooling - trying to swish salt water with your jaw barely cracked open is like a weird party trick no one wants to see. I tried it for a couple days after my surgery, but honestly, I felt like I was ju...
RE: Which is easier: healing from a simple extraction or a surgical one?
I totally get you on the anxiety front - sometimes I feel like half the pain is just me freaking myself out about what *could* go wrong. I’ve had both a simple extraction and a surgical one (for an impacted molar, not a ...
RE: Laughing gas saved my sanity during my root canal
Honestly, that’s how I look at it too. The only thing that holds me back is the extra cost - my insurance barely covers the basics, and “luxuries” like nitrous are all out of pocket. Still, after one bad drilling session...
RE: Getting used to eating and talking with new teeth
Yeah, the tongue thing threw me off too. I kept tripping over words like “sibling” and “scissors” - it was almost funny after a while. I totally get what you mean about those shakes being pricey. Oats and peanut butter i...
RE: Do Whitening Strips Actually Work for You? Quick Poll
I totally get wanting to avoid the pain, but honestly, I kinda just push through it because those strips are way cheaper than getting whitening done at the dentist. I know the zing is rough (had to do a weird smile for l...
RE: Finally stopped my teeth from wiggling - here’s what worked for me
Totally get where you’re coming from about finding that balance. I used to think all those gadgets were just marketing, but after my dentist pushed me to try an electric brush, it actually made a difference - just like y...
RE: Battle of the pastes: Parodontax vs. Corsodyl for sore gums?
I totally get this. I used to stress about every little stain after Corsodyl too, but honestly, Parodontax is just too pricey for me to use all the time. The taste is weird but you kind of get used to it? I found if I st...
RE: Finally stopped my teeth from wiggling - here’s what worked for me
Totally get what you mean about the price - custom guards just weren’t in my budget either. I used one of those boil-and-bite ones too, and honestly, it’s been working fine. Not perfect, but it does the job and I don’t s...
RE: Weirdest pain after getting braces tightened - normal or not?
My kid had that same tingling in her chin after a few tightenings - it freaked me out at first, too. It faded after a couple weeks. We didn’t go back in since the ortho said it was normal, but I totally get wanting to do...