Dental care discussions and local services.
rainhawk933
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RE: Quick hacks to brighten teeth by morning?
I've done the baking soda thing too, and it does help a bit. Another gentle trick I've picked up over the years is swishing coconut oil around your mouth for about 10 minutes before brushing - sounds weird, I know, but i...
RE: Hypothetically, if you tried extracting some herbal stuff at home - like oils or tinctures - and it went kinda wrong (maybe too strong or weird smell or something), how would you fix it?
I had a similar thing happen when I tried making clove oil at home - ended up way too strong and kinda burned my gums. Diluting with coconut oil helped mellow it out, but lesson learned... herbal extracts can get intense...
RE: Grinding teeth at night...what if you ignored it?
Haha, I feel you on that anxiety. I ignored my grinding for years because I thought it was just a minor annoyance...until one morning, I woke up and found a small piece of my molar on the pillow. Not fun. Got fitted for ...
RE: Curious about recovery time after tooth extraction and implants
Smoothies were definitely helpful for me too, but honestly, I got tired of them pretty quick. After my extraction and implant surgery, I remember being so desperate for something savory that I actually blended up chicken...
RE: Toothbrush showdown: electric vs manual for older folks
Haha, exactly my experience! Switched to a rotating one myself about a year ago after my dentist nudged me that way. Took a bit to get used to the spinning sensation, but now my gums thank me every morning...
RE: Finding the right doc for bone graft surgery - recent story got me thinking
Definitely true about the balance factor. Years ago, I needed a bone graft before getting some implants done. I remember shopping around quite a bit - some dentists had these fancy 3D imaging machines and promised quicke...
RE: Braces for underbite taking forever and a day
I get what you're saying about orthodontics being ongoing maintenance, but honestly, I think sometimes we overstate how much teeth naturally shift. I've had my braces off for almost 20 years now, and while I wore my reta...
RE: Bouncing back after a makeover disaster
Haha, reading these braces stories takes me back. I remember once biting into an apple slice - carefully sliced, mind you - and still managing to pop off a bracket. My ortho gave me that "I warned you" look, but honestly...
RE: Braces for underbite taking forever and a day
Totally get the frustration - my braces took nearly three years for a similar issue. I was super diligent with elastics, but my teeth had their own stubborn agenda...Patience really is key, annoying as that sounds. Hang ...
RE: Water flossers showdown: cordless vs countertop, what's your pick?
Funny you mention that - I ended up doing exactly the same thing. My cordless one started out great, but after about a year, the battery life tanked. It got to the point where I'd charge it overnight, and by day two it w...
RE: My dentist convinced me to switch to electric - now I'm lost in toothbrush land
Funny you mention the brand thing - I went through something similar. My dentist swore by one brand, but it felt like a mini jackhammer on my gums no matter how gentle I tried to be. Ended up switching to a totally diffe...
RE: surviving on smoothies and mashed potatoes: my post-tooth-pulling adventure
I hear you on the scrambled eggs - I thought they'd be okay after day three, but nope. Ended up irritating my gums and setting myself back another couple days. Mashed sweet potatoes and lukewarm tomato soup were my best ...
RE: My dentist convinced me to switch to electric - now I'm lost in toothbrush land
I learned that lesson myself a few years back. I used to scrub my teeth like they owed me money or something... ended up with sensitive gums and a stern talking-to from my dentist. Switched to electric with one of those ...
RE: tips for healing after mouth biopsy?
Saltwater rinse was okay for me too, but I found chamomile tea cooled down to room temp even better. My dentist recommended it and it really calmed things down. Wish I'd known about avoiding citrus fruits earlier though....
RE: finally brace-free - how would you mark the occasion?
Haha, that popcorn hesitation never really goes away, does it? I'm decades past braces, but even now, there's always that brief pause. When my braces finally came off (ages ago), biting into corn on the cob was my person...