Dental care discussions and local services.
paulwilson27
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RE: Eating with aligners: taking them out every meal vs. snacking less
That’s interesting - my experience was kind of the opposite. When I started with aligners, I thought I could just power through the hunger between meals, but the headaches got to me too. I ended up doing exactly what you...
RE: Weird but true: salt water rinses are actually an old-school trick for easing denture gum pain.
I actually tried the baking soda addition after my second adjustment - it was supposed to help with acidity, but honestly, it made the rinse taste kind of weird and chalky. I went back to just salt water, which felt more...
RE: Retainer glued in or popping one in and out?
Totally relate to the struggle with permanent retainers. I tried the water flosser route too - thought it’d be a game changer, but ended up more frustrated than anything. Even with all the gadgets, I still had to use flo...
RE: Moving my jaw around after tightening: does it even help?
I totally get what you mean about the soreness just hanging around longer if you try to power through right after a tightening. For me, it’s like my jaw’s way of saying, “Give me a break, I’m working overtime here.” I’ve...
RE: Foods you had to give up (or discovered!) after getting veneers
It’s interesting how dentists seem to give you that long “don’t eat this” list, but in reality, it’s a lot more flexible, especially with some tweaks. I got veneers on my front teeth after years of grinding and a couple ...
RE: Moving my jaw around after tightening: does it even help?
I totally get what you mean about it being trial and error. After my last adjustment, I tried to stick with my usual routine - chewing a bit just to “keep things moving” - but honestly, it backfired. The ache just linger...
RE: Retainer snapped in half - what now?
I’m in the same boat - had a clear retainer crack just from taking it out one night. It was so frustrating, especially after shelling out for a replacement not even six months earlier. Switched to a Hawley after that, an...
RE: Switching to floss picks totally changed my nightly routine
I’ve totally had that issue with the super thin floss picks - especially with braces. They’d shred or snap before I even finished one side. What’s worked for me is using those threader loops and then regular floss, but h...
RE: Weird sensations after getting braces off - how to make it less awkward?
That chalky feeling drove me nuts too. The first day after my braces came off, I swear I spent half the afternoon just running my tongue over my teeth, expecting to find some leftover glue or something. For me, the weird...
RE: Keeping Teeth Clean Without Breaking the Bank: My Cheap Floss Routine
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve got a bunch of brackets and wires in my mouth right now, and honestly, the fancy flosses just get stuck or fray on my braces. I’ve tried the thicker ones thinking they’d clean...
RE: Did you know medieval adults wore braces too (sort of)?
Yeah, the idea of medieval braces just makes my teeth hurt thinking about it. Gold wire and catgut? That’s wild. I can barely deal with the taste of rubber bands, let alone something like that in my mouth. And you’re rig...
RE: Why do gum checkups make me so nervous?
I totally get the “secret code” feeling with those numbers. First time I heard a “five,” I thought I’d failed some hidden oral hygiene exam. What helped me was breaking it down: 1) electric toothbrush (game changer for m...
RE: Dealing with a little dental dread in my house
I actually prefer the ultrasonic thing, weirdly enough. When I had braces, plaque built up in spots I couldn’t reach, and the manual tools just didn’t cut it. The buzzing is annoying, but honestly, it’s over quicker and ...
RE: What if you woke up with dragon breath every day?
Dragon breath is real, and I swear it got worse once I started with braces. Here’s what actually helped me, step by step: First, I switched to a soft brush and made sure to hit every angle around the brackets - takes lon...
RE: Trouble after wisdom teeth removal vs regular tooth extraction - what’s worse?
That jaw clicking is exactly what happened to me after I had a premolar pulled. At first, I figured it’d just heal up and settle, but my bite got weird fast. My orthodontist explained that teeth naturally drift into empt...