Dental care discussions and local services.
pauladams817
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RE: How did you get your kid to ditch the binky?
I totally relate to the second guessing - there’s just so much noise out there about what’s “right.” We did the slow phase-out too, and honestly, I still wonder if we made it harder for ourselves by not ripping off the b...
RE: That first week after wisdom teeth removal… did anyone else swear by ice packs?
Pudding was the surprise winner at our house - vanilla, not chocolate, because my kid was convinced chocolate would somehow sting. Honestly, after the first couple days, they got tired of anything mushy. We tried scrambl...
RE: Weird sensations after getting braces off - how to make it less awkward?
My son was super weirded out after his braces came off - he said his teeth felt “slippery and huge,” and he was convinced they’d snap if he bit into anything hard. We kept things easy for a while, mostly pasta and scramb...
RE: Wax vs. orthodontic silicone: which saves you when your braces break?
Totally get the nerves around waiting for ortho appointments - my kiddo had a wire poking for almost a week before we could get in, and I felt like I was counting down the hours. That said, I’m actually kind of on the fe...
RE: Finding silver linings during years in assisted living
My daughter’s been in a care facility since she was 17, and honestly, I dreaded it at first too. I worried she’d feel isolated or bored, but it’s been kind of amazing watching her blossom. She’s gotten super into gardeni...
RE: What if you woke up with dragon breath every day?
Allergies were a total game changer for my kiddo’s morning breath. We tried mouthwashes, humidifiers, even those fancy toothpastes, but nothing really stuck until our pediatrician suggested allergy meds. Once his nose wa...
RE: Why does it feel like dentists only want to throw antibiotics at gum problems?
Seriously, this hits home. I’ve got a little one who’s already had some dental stuff, and even as a parent it feels like you’re just shuffled through the process. I get wanting to be safe, but sometimes I’d rather they s...
RE: If you could swap your dentures for implants, would you?
Honestly, I get why some folks would just stick with dentures, especially after so many years. But watching my kid go through implant surgery (she lost a tooth in an accident), I was surprised how much smoother it was th...
RE: Making braces adjustments less of a pain (literally): my go-to trick
Right? I totally underestimated the wax at first too - now we’ve got stashes in every bag and car cupholder just in case. My daughter’s gotten really creative with her “braces menu” after appointments... she actually loo...
RE: Noticed my gums getting crankier as I get older - anyone else?
Totally get where you’re coming from. My kid actually started having some gum issues this year, which surprised me since I always thought that was an “older folks” thing. Turns out, gums can get cranky at any age. I’ve n...
RE: Braces for underbite taking forever and a day
Totally get what you mean about the wax - my kid goes through it so fast, I swear it just disappears overnight. We started keeping a backup in the car after one too many “emergency” runs to the pharmacy. Those proxy brus...
RE: Getting kids to floss - what tricks actually work?
Totally agree about letting kids choose their own flossing stuff. My daughter was super resistant at first, but once I let her pick out a sparkly unicorn floss holder (yep, that's a thing apparently), she started flossin...
RE: Unexpected toothpaste hacks that actually work
Haha, the sunglasses thing sounds exactly like something I'd try. Once I thought toothpaste would be great for taking scratches out of my kid's plastic toy car windshield... nope, just ended up looking like it drove thro...
RE: Finally figured out how to get stains out like the pros
Dish soap is great for grease, but honestly baking soda never really worked for me on wine stains. I usually go straight for hydrogen peroxide - dab a little on, let it fizz a bit, then wash normally. Seems to do the tri...
RE: Tricks to get kids excited about brushing teeth
Totally agree with this. My daughter went through a dinosaur phase, so we turned brushing into a mission to protect her teeth from "cavity-saurus" attacks. Worked great until she started asking detailed questions about d...