Dental care discussions and local services.
shadowa55
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RE: Fresh breath: better from flossing or mouthwash?
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about mouthwash just being a quick fix. My kid hates the taste too - she says it’s like “spicy water” and now I can’t un-hear that. About the bleeding gums, my dentist told me it’s prett...
RE: Did you know kids’ sports guards can help with more than just broken teeth?
Honestly, I thought mouth guards were just about saving teeth from flying elbows or hockey pucks. The headache thing totally caught me off guard too. My nephew used to get these gnarly jaw aches after soccer, and we assu...
RE: Snacking without guilt: why is it so hard to find treats that don't wreck your teeth?
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the “crunch” craving. I swear, sometimes celery is the only thing that feels remotely safe for teeth, but then it’s like…how much celery can a person realistically eat before they ...
RE: Did you know kids’ sports guards can help with more than just broken teeth?
That feeling of waking up with a more sore jaw after trying a night guard is weirdly relatable. I had the same thing happen - my dentist swore up and down that a custom guard would be a game-changer, but I swear I starte...
RE: What signs help you identify poor aligner tracking early?
I get what you’re saying about tiny gaps being a possible issue, but honestly, I think sometimes we can get a bit too focused on the “hug test.” My trays always looked a little off around my canines, even when my ortho s...
RE: Keeping old bridges in shape - what actually works?
Totally relate to the “gadget overload” feeling. I tried a water flosser after my dentist kept pushing it, and honestly? It’s kinda fun blasting gunk out from under my bridge - way easier than those fiddly threaders. Sti...
RE: When your favorite water bottle starts to smell funky
I totally get the anxiety about bacteria, especially after a protein shake incident... those things just cling to plastic like glue. I’ve tried sunlight too, but honestly, I’m kind of paranoid about leaving my bottle out...
RE: Tricks for feeling good about a “toothy” smile?
I get this way more than I probably should. My two front teeth are slightly crooked and, for the longest time, I was convinced everyone noticed. Spoiler: they really don’t. I used to do this awkward half-smile in photos,...
RE: Which is easier: healing from a simple extraction or a surgical one?
That weird taste totally freaked me out too. I kept thinking, “Is this what zombie mouth feels like?” My dentist said it’s just the clot and healing tissue, but man, it lingered for almost a week. I was rinsing like craz...
RE: Saw a news piece about more adults getting braces - what’s it really like?
That “22 hours a day” thing sounds wild to me - I’m just starting with aligners and honestly, I’m already questioning if I can hit that number. I keep taking them out for coffee and then forgetting to put them back in......
RE: Moving my jaw around after tightening: does it even help?
Funny thing, I actually found the opposite worked for me. Like, I know everyone says to keep it moving a little, but honestly, after my last tightening, even the “gentle” movement made my jaw feel like it was going to mu...
RE: Why does milk get all the credit for strong teeth?
I always heard the same thing about milk - my mom practically had me chugging it like it was some sort of magical tooth potion. Honestly, I’m not sure it did much for my teeth either. I still ended up with a couple cavit...
RE: How often do you actually see your dentist?
I totally get where you’re coming from. My little brother has braces and it’s like we’ve joined this secret club of people who are constantly fishing rubber bands out of couch cushions and buying those tiny weird brushes...
RE: How long does your toothbrush actually take to charge?
Same here - manual brushes were so much less complicated. Now I’m always second-guessing if my electric one’s “charged enough” or just pretending to work at half power. Twelve hours seems wild though. Is there a differen...
RE: Which Feels Better: Custom Vs. Boil-And-Bite Mouthguards?
That “weird and huge” feeling totally checks out - my nephew said the same thing when he switched to a custom one. Funny how the gross ones are sometimes more comfortable, right? Did your dentist mention if the custom g...