Dental care discussions and local services.
politics905
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RE: Can whitening toothpaste stain or roughen composite bonding?
Abrasive whitening toothpaste can gradually wear the composite surface, making it rougher and more prone to holding stain. A dentist may be able to polish away surface staining; if discoloration remains, it could be with...
RE: Getting through the days after a root canal - any hacks?
I totally get being nervous about the warm compress - my dentist told me to stick with ice for the first 24 hours, then switch to heat if things felt stiff, not swollen. I jumped the gun once and my cheek ballooned up......
RE: Retainer glued in or popping one in and out?
Had my bonded retainer for years too, and yeah, it did pop off once - right in the middle of eating a sandwich. Not the most pleasant surprise. My orthodontist said it’s not that rare, especially if you bite into somethi...
RE: How soon did you get back to your routine after a tooth pulled?
That weird taste threw me off too - almost made me paranoid something was wrong, but yeah, it’s just part of the process. I’ve had a few extractions over the years, and honestly, every single one felt a bit different. So...
RE: Keeping pain at bay after wisdom tooth extraction: worth the fuss?
I’ve actually had the opposite experience with cold compresses. For me, as long as I stuck to the classic 20-minutes-on, 20-minutes-off routine, it kept the swelling and pain in check without any extra aching. Maybe it’s...
RE: What’s More Important To Ask: Pain Management Or Long-Term Tooth Health?
I really get where you’re coming from. When I had to decide between pulling a molar or trying a root canal, the pain and cost were honestly my biggest worries too. The anxiety beforehand was rough… I kept picturing days ...
RE: Is It Okay to Suck My Thumb at Bedtime?
I can totally relate to the struggle of breaking bedtime habits. I sucked my thumb well into my teens - my dentist used to joke that I’d wear it down to a nub before I quit. What finally helped me was switching to a stre...
RE: Is It Okay to Suck My Thumb at Bedtime?
That’s a fair point about genetics not being the whole story. I’ve actually been surprised by how much “little” habits from childhood can show up later, even when I thought I’d outgrown them. Like, I stopped thumb-suckin...
RE: How did you get your kid to ditch the binky?
I get what you mean about kids bouncing back, but I’d be a little cautious about the “made of rubber” thing. My nephew’s teeth shifted quite a bit after long-term binky use, and it actually took a couple years (and some...
RE: Chewing Gum That Actually Works For Gross Breath?
I totally get what you mean about the tongue scraper making a bigger difference than gum. I used to just chew whatever sugar-free gum was on hand, but it never lasted long and honestly didn’t do much except mask things f...
RE: Finally stopped my teeth from wiggling - here’s what worked for me
Honestly, I tried everything before caving to the night guard - jaw exercises, stress apps, even switching pillows. Nothing really stuck. My dentist adjusted my bite a bit, which helped with headaches, but the grinding d...
RE: Keeping your mouth happy after a root canal
It’s wild how even the tiniest adjustment in your bite can throw everything off at first. I always notice my jaw feels a bit “off” for days after a crown or root canal, but it does settle down eventually. I’ve also found...
RE: Anyone dealt with wobbly teeth? What worked for you?
I still get flashbacks to that string-on-the-doorknob trick - my cousin tried it once, and the tooth just wouldn’t budge, but the door sure slammed hard. Honestly, letting kids wiggle their loose teeth at their own pace ...
RE: Weird sensations after getting braces off - how to make it less awkward?
Funny, I actually found fluoride rinses super helpful right after my braces came off, even though my teeth were crazy sensitive too. I get what you mean about the sting, but for me, salt water just didn’t do much. Maybe ...
RE: The day my tongue cleaner became a secret weapon
I’ve done the spoon trick too - honestly, it’s not that different from the cheap plastic scrapers I started with. I’m with you on rinsing the copper ones, though. If I don’t get every bit of residue off, it leaves this w...