Dental care discussions and local services.
patriciamusician
Discussion activity
Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Keeping that post-root canal cheek puff under control
Cheek-poking should honestly be its own Olympic sport at this point. I swear, after my last root canal, I spent half the day just gently prodding my face to see if the swelling was going down or if I was about to morph i...
RE: Keeping Chompers Strong: Dairy vs. Leafy Greens for Older Adults
Title: Keeping Chompers Strong: Dairy vs. Leafy Greens for Older Adults Honestly, I tried going all-in on leafy greens for a while (thought I’d turn into Popeye or something), but my teeth didn’t feel any different. But...
RE: GETTING THROUGH THE DENTIST CHAIR WITHOUT PANIC - ANYONE TRIED SEDATION?
True crime podcasts would have me convinced my dentist is up to something shady by the time I’m in the chair. I tried noise-canceling headphones once, but then my hygienist startled me so bad tapping my shoulder I nearly...
RE: Brightening My Smile Without The Ouch - Is It Possible?
The straw thing cracked me up too - my kid said she looked like a “fancy grandma.” But it’s wild, right? I used to scrub my teeth right after lemonade and wondered why they felt zapped. Waiting a bit actually made my tee...
RE: Why does every makeover seem to fade after a few weeks?
I get the “consistency over perfection” thing, but honestly, sometimes I think it lets me off the hook too easily. Like, I used to tell myself missing a night or two with my retainer was “no big deal,” and then suddenly ...
RE: Braces in your 30s: did you know teeth can move for life?
Man, I totally get it about the retainer vs. nightguard thing. I’ve also had those months where my retainer was collecting more dust than doing any actual work in my mouth... and yeah, nothing dramatic happened. My teeth...
RE: Tricks for feeling good about a “toothy” smile?
Haha, “character teeth” sounds way cuter than what my grandma used to call mine - she’d just say I had a “unique bite,” which I think was her polite way of saying my smile could scare pigeons. I totally get the closed-mo...
RE: What’s More Important To Ask: Pain Management Or Long-Term Tooth Health?
Couldn’t agree more - been there with the “just yank it out” panic. I once begged my dentist to take out a molar after a weekend of ice packs and Netflix marathons (not as fun as it sounds). He convinced me to try saving...
RE: Finally stopped my teeth from wiggling - here’s what worked for me
I’m right there with you - half the time I’m using whatever’s on sale and the other half I’m squinting at ingredient lists like I’m deciphering ancient runes. Tried that baking soda trick too, but my mouth felt like it h...
RE: How soon did you get back to your routine after a tooth pulled?
That’s so true - it’s like your face is auditioning for a chipmunk role, but pain-wise, not nearly as dramatic. I was super careful at first too, but by day four I caved and had some mac and cheese. Maybe not dentist-app...
RE: Tiny tweaks that made my dentist stop scolding me
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s become a gum convert. My dentist used to give me that “we both know you could do better” look every visit, but since I started popping sugarless gum after meals, he’s actually complime...
RE: Electric Toothbrushes vs. Manual for Kids: Which Actually Works Better?
My daughter was the exact opposite - she thought the electric brush was hilarious and would giggle every time it buzzed, but hand her a manual and she’d just chew on it like a beaver. Honestly, I think you nailed it: it’...
RE: Kid toothpaste: tiny smear or pea-sized blob? Which do you use?
We had the same cartoon toothpaste war here, and honestly, I think my kids are just in it for the packaging. They act like I’m torturing them with the “blue raspberry” flavor, even though they picked it out. Has anyone a...
RE: WHY DOES A ROOT CANAL NEED A DO-OVER? UGH.
I get what you mean, but honestly, I’d rather overthink a bit than ignore something and end up with a surprise abscess. After my first root canal, I tried the “wait it out” approach… turns out, that twinge was not just h...
RE: Ever heard of onlays instead of crowns after a root canal?
Totally get what you mean about kids and their “funny” tooth descriptions. My niece once told us her tooth felt “wiggly,” and we freaked out thinking it was loose, but nope - it was just the new onlay sitting a bit high....