Dental care discussions and local services.
michael_river
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RE: SURVIVING THE DREADED TOOTH FIX: WAS IT REALLY THAT BAD FOR YOU?
Letting kids have a bit of control makes such a difference, doesn’t it? My youngest is a question machine - she wants to know every single thing that’s happening, from what the “spinny brush” does to why the water tastes...
RE: Whitening strips and tooth pain: how do you avoid it?
I totally hear you on the “slow and steady” route - my teeth are drama queens for sure. But I’ll admit, I’ve had a different experience with whitening strips, maybe because I was stubborn about wanting faster results for...
RE: Did you know medieval adults wore braces too (sort of)?
It’s wild to think how far we’ve come from those early “braces” - I read somewhere that medieval folks actually used gold wires to try and keep their teeth in place. Can’t imagine how much patience that took, especially ...
RE: Trying To Figure Out If Crowns Or Root Canals Are Pricier?
I totally get the sticker shock - when I needed both, I remember thinking the root canal would be the big expense, but the crown actually cost me more. I went with porcelain for the look, and yeah, insurance barely touch...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
Can totally relate to the “gross but satisfying” feeling - there’s something weirdly addictive about seeing what comes off. I also started with a plastic scraper and thought it was fine, but once I tried the metal one, i...
RE: Weirdest Thing You’ve Learned About Braces Tightening?
Totally get what you mean about bread - sometimes I’d look at a sandwich and just nope out. My weirdest one was with apples. I used to love them, but after tightening, even thin slices felt like biting into bricks. Did a...
RE: Would you wait or go straight for an implant after losing a tooth?
I totally get what you mean about “getting used to” chewing on one side. After I lost a premolar, I thought I’d just tough it out for a bit, but then months turned into years. My dentist kept mentioning the whole “your t...
RE: Battle of the Kiddo Brushes: Sonicare for Kids vs. Oral-B Junior?
This cracked me up - been there, done that, and yep, I still catch myself counting sometimes. I totally agree about Sonicare being more “fun” at first. My youngest was obsessed with the app’s little brushing buddy, but i...
RE: Braces for underbite taking forever and a day
Man, I remember that phase where it felt like my braces were just… there. Not doing anything, not hurting (which made me suspicious), and definitely not making my underbite look any different. I used to poke at my teeth ...
RE: Quick hacks to brighten teeth by morning?
I've tried the charcoal toothpaste myself, and honestly, it's not as gritty as you'd think...but it does make your sink look like a crime scene, lol. Baking soda's my go-to as well - slow and steady wins the race with te...
RE: Hypothetically, if you tried extracting some herbal stuff at home - like oils or tinctures - and it went kinda wrong (maybe too strong or weird smell or something), how would you fix it?
Haha, your chamomile story reminds me of when I first tried making peppermint oil at home. Thought I'd nailed it until I brushed my teeth with it - talk about intense! Felt like my mouth was frozen for an hour. You're to...
RE: Braces on a budget: monthly payments or upfront savings?
Monthly payments were a huge relief for me too. I remember when my dentist first quoted the upfront cost, my eyes practically popped out of my head, lol. Breaking it down monthly made it feel way more manageable - like p...
RE: Quick hacks to brighten teeth by morning?
I totally hear you on the sensitivity issue - that baking soda paste can be brutal if you're not careful. But honestly, I've had pretty decent results with some gentler DIY methods. A friend of mine swears by activated c...
RE: Unexpected toothpaste hacks that actually work
I've heard that warning about toothpaste scratching retainers too, but honestly, I've used it occasionally on my clear aligners without any noticeable issues. Maybe it depends on the type of toothpaste? I stick to a gent...
RE: my dental implants still feel amazing after 8 years - here's what worked for me
My daughter had sedation for dental work last year when she was 5, and honestly, it went way smoother than I'd imagined. She was a bit groggy afterward and kept telling me funny stories about unicorns at the dentist (lol...