Painkillers vs. waiting it out... that debate could go on forever, honestly. I know a lot of folks are nervous about taking meds, but sometimes I thin...
You nailed it. I always tell folks, “your mouth’s not a drive-thru, it needs time to heal.” I’ve seen so many patients try to sneak in a burger or chi...
String floss is still the MVP for getting those stubborn bits out, especially if your teeth are packed tighter than a rush-hour subway. Water flossers...
Haha, “dental arsenal” is spot on. I’ve seen so many folks get way more excited about those gadgets than actual brushing. Those plaque tablets are wil...
That clicking and popping is classic—I always joke it’s your jaw’s way of saying, “Whoa, what’s this new hardware?” Totally normal, especially if your...
Those “zaps” are no joke—honestly, I’ve seen people in my chair who’d rather get a filling than go another round with whitening strips. It’s like, one...
That’s the classic complaint. Honestly, I’ve seen grown adults make the same face as your teen when I mention not rinsing. It’s wild how much of a dif...
Totally get where you’re coming from. I once had a patient tell me she felt like she needed a spreadsheet just to keep track of all the “extras” we su...
You nailed it—waiting just means more time to stew in your own dread and, usually, more pain. I see this all the time: someone comes in after weeks of...
Spacing out the strips is a decent idea, but honestly, I’ve seen some folks get more sensitive when they stretch it out—like their teeth never get a b...
THE TINIEST BUMP FEELS LIKE A BOULDER Totally get this. It always cracks me up how a filling that’s off by like, a millimeter, suddenly feels like yo...
Haha, the fruit roll-up comparison is spot on. I swear, half these new pain relief things just make me feel like I’m in a candy store gone wrong. I’ve...
Had a patient try one of those numbing gels after surgery—said it felt like putting toothpaste on a sunburn. Not exactly the soothing effect they hope...
Haha, been there with the charcoal toothpaste... looked like I'd murdered a squid in my sink. 😅 But yeah, you're spot on with this: Alterna...
Haha, totally agree about oatmeal burnout—been there, done that. Scrambled eggs are a lifesaver, especially if you jazz them up just enough to keep th...