“I’m not really sure why my comment here about what probiotics I use is being downvoted. Is it for giving people a source to find them and a discount code? I mean, what is there to downvote there? The ingredients can be easily Googled and you can find research articles on the information I’ve posted. I don’t see other people mentioning probiotics in general let alone products that have ingredients with research to show proven effectiveness. If other people want to jump in on the conversation and start offering helpful advice or suggestions then I’ll take those downvotes more seriously (jk). Until then maybe don’t try to come for me when literally all I do in this sub is help people 🌈🙌🏻”

“I tackled this by searching specifically for a dentist with a great reputation for caring about patients and who specialized in handling patients with highly sensitive teeth. The first session was a bit stressful, but they were overwhelmingly kind and truly wanted to help - that got me settled enough to go back and finish all the repairs. I strongly encourage you to do some research to find a similar dentist!”

“Lots of excellent, sensible, mature advice in here! I second it all, and would like to add my contribution: When I am at the dentist, I pretend I am a robot and I am getting repairs done. This makes all the whizzy buzzy sharp metal tools make sense. Also they feel less creepy and more appropriate for being poked inside my head. And I'm quite good at holding still and ignoring what's going on. Because I am a robot! ;D (Sometimes I'm a robot when I'm brushing my teeth, too. It's generally quite useful.)”

“Yes. I have spent over $10k on my teeth. Cavities, root canals, crowns. My teeth even chipped off. After the treatment, my new hyperfocus was dental hygiene. I was so good about it until I got overwhelmed by other stuff and now I just manage to brush in the mornings and then needed to get crowns and cavities filled again. Some tips that help is trying low-effort healthy habits: Get a xylitol chewing gum. It can help prevent cavities. A fluoride mouthwash. These can't really replace brushing but they're better than nothing. I've heard good things about the water flosser (waterpik). Easier than string floss. You could use an interdental brush while watching TV or other stuff. I floss while watching my favorite show so I can look forward to it. Maybe do something similar when you brush.”

“I ***think*** the concept is that chewing gum increases your saliva, which is good for combating bad bacteria in your mouth and also reducing acidity. Xylitol is usually specified for beneficial gum chewing because I'm guessing it is a sugar substitute and less damaging to your teeth than actual sugar would be. This is my general knowledge of it at least.”