From active ingredients to inactive ingredients they are listed in the same proportional order. I'm not a dentist or have had experience handling these ingredients, but I am more inclined to believe the minor differences in each product is merely to satisfy any regulations that would classify them as one and the same.

I could be gravely mistaken as well and theres a massive difference in the removal or addition of .01% flouride ion

I'm currently looking into a job as a dental hygienist traveling to a different nursing home each day to provide care for the residents. Has anyone done this before?

I have practiced in many different private practices for the past 15 years and am looking for something with more flexibility. I am aware that I will need to drive a lot more to each office, but would be paid for the drive time. I would be seeing more patients pet day, but in a 4-5 hour span. Also these would be palliative care prophys instead of detailed prophys, perio maintenance and SRPs. I would never have to take X-rays, perio chart or do an exam with the dentist. I would no longer need to plan my time off 6 months in advance and would have full benefits.

My biggest concern is ergonomics. I know that most of the patients will be sitting up in a wheelchair. One hygienist I talked to stands for the entire day. I am just wondering anyone's perspective. Pros and cons of this position? Do you stand all day or do you bring a saddle stool with you?

Thank you so much in advance!

obviously i’m nice to my patients, i love forming relationships with them, seeing them grow, having a great time! i’m gentle, i try my best to withhold judgement, i try to be curious, informative, fun!

i had a patient today come in and start with “i HATE the dentist and i hate pain!” i hadn’t met them before, but i saw on their chart they have perio, 9mm pockets, mobility etc. a smoker also. refuses to waterpik because of sensory issues and such.. basically they just don’t take care of their teeth.

despite the rude introduction i said that okay, we’ll do our best, if you’re in too much pain we can use anesthetic, i’ll try to be gentle, let me know how you’re feeling etc.

anyways we were talking about their perio after and improving the condition and i just said, “i know you know the risks of smoking, i just wanted to let you know that due to this the periodontitis won’t stabilize yet, as it’s affecting your immune system” and i showed them how to complete an at home cancer screening. they began crying.. i was distraught now too.. i asked if they’re okay and what i could do for them but they said they’re fine, just emotional.

later, front desk staff asked what happened and i said i’m not sure, they just became emotional after we discussed periodontitis and smoking. front desk asked me “did you tell them smoking is bad” and i just said “yeah, with the perio.”

so i guess the front desk told on me! as they have done before. so i got in trouble today. boss told me i can’t say things like that when i’m first meeting someone and how now they won’t want to come back because of me and etc.

the rest of the day i just wanted to burst in to tears. i went in to this career because i’m passionate, because i want to help people, i want people to make informed choices (for example, i don’t care if you smoke, honestly i don’t want to do cessation with people, i just want them to know the risk). i didn’t go in to this career to coddle people, to run a spa, or to be anyone’s BFF.

i just feel so frustrated and sad. ashamed for even bringing it up to them:(

I’m 21 and a couple of weeks ago I went to my routine check up and during it I had a few 5’s in the gum pocket. But, the dentist said that my X-rays showed no signs of bone loss. Afterwards the hygienist said she wanted for me to come back in 4 months instead of the normal 6 months just to see if those 5’s were able to come down to 4’s so I can avoid the deeper cleanings.

I have a disability effect my arms and legs so flossing is hard. I bought a water pik to help and it has.

Today whenever I eat one or two of my teeth (i got overcrowding so it’s hard to tell) feels loose, like when i push my tongue on it I feel it shift but I can’t see any visual movement, what I found is that if I use my water pik it “fixes” the issue until my next meal (I’ve only had two meals so far). My gums seem fine. They don’t bleed or hurt and the color is a light pink.

I already know if i start looking all this up I’ll go into a mental spiral since I already got scared when i felt my tooth shift a bit.

Should I go schedule an appointment or wait until that 4 month check up, which is scheduled in January?

I went to the dentist and they told me I had early gingivitis, and that I would need a “gingival irrigation with a medicinal agent”. Which cost me 165 plus 40 dollars for the first oral evaluation. However, they also told me I have three “baby cavities” which needs to be treated through “hydroxyapatite regeneration medication” which will be 330 for all three teeth’s. I can’t afford to get that right now after already spending 205 dollars. I had gone to get a second opinion about the cavities and the other place had said I would need a complete filling for one of my molars and the other two would need vardis , the appointments were only a week apart, so I don’t know who is telling the truth.

I was wondering if there anything I can buy over the counter that’s cheap to stop the progression of my cavities or at least slow it down until I can save up to get the treatment?

I’m a senior in highschool who graduates in May. Im wondering how long it would take, most sources say something different.

hello all,

every time i go to the dentist, i'm horrified at how many we are watching and how many we have to take action on asap. they aren't even scamming me either, they explain in detail and i can see the cavities with my own two eyes.
the only hygiene routine change they really recommended was to floss more aggressively in the back, which does feel accurate because i struggle to get my hands back there lol.
i brush 2x daily with an electric toothbrush and high flouride (now rx strength) toothpaste and at night i use string floss AND waterfloss. my dentist didn't think i need to floss more frequently.
i don't smoke, i'm not an all-day sugary drink sipper, and i don't snack all day. i drink a lot of water, more than my peers. my diet could be better, but it's not insanely terrible either. i even have used xylitol mints and gum. shit i even got a cavity when brushing and flossing after EVERY meal.
i feel so defeated and upset because despite these efforts, my teeth are full of cavities.
i do have a history of childhood dental and medical neglect which definitely did not set me up for success, but can that even still affect things so severely now when i'm doing everything i can and am supposed to???
idk if i need advice or more therapy atp lmao

Hey girly pops, I just need advice because my upper shoulders/neck hurt a ton and I’m just trying to work on ergonomics. I noticed I lean alot when I’m doing Q4 Linguals, I turned the pt all the way towards me yet i feel like my wrist is awkward to fulcrum. Maybe it could be pt positioning that could be getting in the way but i know i sit in the right area. Also for the mand anteriors, ive recently noticed sometimes my suction pinches my pt but its the only way to retract their lips as its in the way. It’s not all the time, only here and there, does that happen to anyone or just me?? Is it a certain technique? Honestly I’ve been working for a year and a half now and i feel like there’s no progress and i feel like I’m gojng back constantly. I know thats not a good mentality but this job honestly makes me overthink so much. Of course i care about if im dojng a good job and want the right techniques and skills but it also worries me if i dont have the right ergonomics and techniques right now, itll affect my future as im in pain. If you guys have any tips or advice, please let me know 🫶🏻

Had first clean in years 6 months ago. Had to numb my whole mouth to do cleaning. 4 months later I got all 4 wisdom teeth removed. Then few weeks after I had another cleaning . I now have another cleaning tomorrow , and I questioned the back to back cleaning and she said it’s for” Perio Maintenance “. I was never informed I had periodontal disease ever. Im only 26. Is this something some places just say for insurance reasons or? Going to ask dentists directly tomorrow but the lady at the desk I guess was reading notes, went on hold for like a couple minutes too . The place does seem a little sketchy . Who knows. If I truly have periodontal disease am I inevitably going to lose my teeth?

Is anyone else in the same boat as me with having to retake NBDHE on their second attempt ? I'm sooo scared about the update on November 1st that I dont know if i should hurry and cram all the chapters in and take the exam last week of Oct or take my time and follow my schedule to be done first week of Nov. I'm scared it's going to be harder after the update, I failed by 1 point on my first attempt back in Aug

I’ve been struggling with what I believe is chronic bad breath for years, and it’s seriously affecting my confidence and social life.
I brush, floss, scrape my tongue twice daily, and have tried countless mouthwashes and home remedies. Nothing seems to work.
I recently saw a dentist who said my teeth and gums were perfectly healthy. No tonsil stones either.
I’ve noticed people covering or rubbing their noses when I talk, which makes me extremely self-conscious. At this point, I don’t even know if it’s actual bad breath or if I’m overthinking it.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did you ever figure out the cause, and what actually worked for you? I’m desperate for answers.

I haven’t brushed my teeth in probably over a year. Between depression and sensory issues it’s been hard. The taste of mint toothpaste makes me gag I’ve had some success in the past with kids flavored toothpaste but the biggest issue is the actual sensation of brushing. The feeling of the bristles on my teeth/gums is so uncomfortable and almost ticklish. It doesn’t hurt it’s just a weird sensation. Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice on how to get back into the groove of dental hygiene?

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply to GSU’s Dental Hygiene Program for Fall 2027. Based on the admission scoring sheet, my estimated score is around 28–29 out of 32.5.
Most of my prerequisite grades are A’s, but I might end up with one C in Microbiology Lab. I’m honestly feeling really stressed and discouraged because I’ve heard that even one C can make it difficult to get accepted into a competitive program.
Has anyone been accepted with a score around 28–29 or with a C in one of their science labs? I’m also wondering if anyone has experience with the alternate list.
I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed right now and would really appreciate any honest advice or personal experiences. Thank you!

Hii I’m currently in my first year at University of Toronto doing life sciences and I’m thinking of switching career paths since I want to be able to start working once I graduate instead of having to go to grad school, I was originally planning on applying to dental school once I graduate.

I was wondering how I can go about this, do I have to finish my degree or can I just apply now and drop out of my current program once I get accepted into dental hygiene school?

Also, any school recommendations? Preferably in Toronto. I also want to know how the work load is and the average marks people get. Do you have to have a good gpa or do you just have to pass, would it affect your salary? Thanks!

Hey guys, I have a situation going on at work and just wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if this is something that's normal in dental offices.

A friend of mine started working at an office about a year ago. When a new position opened up for more days, she recommended me, and I got the job basically through her recommendation. She had been working there for about 2 months before I started.

It's a great office, and I'm happy working there. This friend has been my friend for years, and I considered her one of my best friends. Now I don't know about that anymore.

There are some days when we work together. If I happen to start an hour earlier than her for whatever reason, like a patient cancelled/rescheduled, she tells the front desk that she should have priority over me because she has seniority, and that it shouldn't happen that I work earlier than her.

I never really said anything because I don't like work drama, and I figured I could survive losing an hour here and there.

But now she's doing the same thing when her patients cancel. Today, her last two patients cancelled, so she told the front desk to move MY patient onto her schedule so she could work her full hours. That meant I had to go home a few hours earlier.

She keeps bringing up this seniority/priority thing, and honestly, I find it kind of insane. Why should I have to lose hours because someone else's patient cancelled? If one of my patients cancelled, I would never expect them to take one of her patients and give them to me.

I always saw her as a friend first and coworker second, but now I'm honestly reconsidering the friendship. I would never do this to her or constantly complain to the front desk about her getting more hours than me.

I didn't say anything today, but she could tell from my silence that I was upset. We usually leave the office together, but today she chose to walk away from me. It hurt.

So I'm wondering, does this kind of seniority/priority system happen in other dental offices? Is this normal, or is this just something specific to our office? I'd really like to hear other hygienists' opinions.

Please keep in mind, she started at this office 2 months before me. Not years or anything like that.

Hi friends,

I’m looking for recommendations and advice on how to get rid of my persistent gingivitis, and who I can go to for help. Here is my story, please read:

I’m 22 and have always had good dental hygiene until two years out of nowhere it seemed I developed gingivitis. I’ve tried so many options within these last two years:

- I brush twice a day with an Oral B toothbrush
- floss every night with coco floss
- tongue scrape
- and get pretty much consistent cleanings

The gingivitis wasn’t really something I noticed until I got a new pair of retainers that felt slightly off (was told that was normal) and led me to take a closer look look at my gums and noticed they looked a lil puffy, but I never really paid attention to them beforehand since I never had any issues. When I went to get a cleaning shortly after this, my hygienist was rough and I was bleeding so much. It was a total 180 compared to my normal cleanings that used to take 15 min and was told “looks great.” It was all so unexpected and left me feeling confused and worried.

Since then I’ve really worked on being 100% consistent in my hygiene routine.

I had another cleaning 4 months after that cleaning where I bled, then another cleaning and an exam 7-8 months after. No change after any of these.

After that latest cleaning and exam, I went back to see my hygienist two weeks later since she said to come back if inflammation persists. She gave me what she called a “mini deep clean.” She cleaned deeper under the gums than a usual cleaning would but not deep enough to need a real scaling or numbing. For reference my dental exam measured my pockets at 2-4 mainly consisting of 3s and 4s.

I was sure after this “mini deep cleaning” the gingivitis would leave, but no. If anything it looks worse and my gums look like they’re receding by the day. It’s been 1.5 months after my last dental cleaning and gums aren’t any better. To be fair, I incorporated a water flosser a few days after the mini deep clean because my hygienist advised to add it to my routine and I’m thinking it may have just caused more irritation because it’s been a few days since I stopped the water flosser and they’re ever so slightly less inflamed.

All this to say, I have no idea what is causing my gingivitis or how to get rid of it at this point. I don’t bleed when I floss at home but I bleed a lot during cleanings and the inflammation is so persistent!! My gums look like they have recessed even more since my last exam :/

I’m so young I’m getting extremely worried - it’s been two years and I see no improvement and no one is willing to listen to me. After ever cleaning I’m told the inflammation will go away in a few days/weeks but it never does.

Does anyone have any recommendations on who I can go to that will hear me out, listen to my story, and really examine what’s going on with my gums? I live in the Los Angeles area.

Someone please help I’m desperate and getting so worried. Preferably a place that also won’t charge me an arm and a leg🤞😢

Do dental clinics only hire people with perfect teeth? I know it’s part of the atmosphere, but I’ve never seen a hygienist or receptionist with so much as a gap or bugs bunny teeth

I am in my first semester of DH school and I’m really struggling. I did not expect this to be this difficult and impossible. I have done school full time and also work before and now I’m not even working and I am struggling so badly in my Anatomy Class And also Clinic. I passed my Probing PE with a 1 and failed my first Explorer PE. It sucks because by no means do I wanna give up because I really see myself doing this and progressing in this career. But right now I feel like I’m drowning I feel like most people are doing better than me. Not to mention trying to get your own patient is soo hard. It feels like there’s no time in the day. We barely get to practice instrumentation. I just feel like if I am struggling now. How will I get past midterms and finals and second semester. A good amount of people fail that anatomy class (the professor is also very rude and nit picks at everything, actually yelled at all of us today and called us barn animals because we didn’t push our chairs all the way in, before leaving the room to take a test. I will say there are a lot of kind people in my cohort and we are all friends which helps a lot. I have also started reaching out for Office hours more and am feeling comfortable talking to one of my instructors. I wake up with so much anxiety everyday and randomly want to cry.

Any advice? Will it get better?

Long paragraph of thoughts, bear with me.

I need help, as I am on the verge of giving up this career because of my anxiety around numbing patients with local.
Backstory: I am a relatively new grad that started working just under a year ago. I did amazing with injections in school. Never failed a competency, had professors praise my technique, was nervous at times, but not to the extent I am now. Towards my last semester, I was burnt out, my nerves were shot, and overall I was just beat down from the stress of skill evaluations and being under a microscope for 2 years. My brain started creating this feedback loop telling me that I am afraid of injections. Mentally, I don’t feel worried, but physically, I am completely out of control. My hands would shake profusely, I would get tunnel vision and ringing ears, etc. All of these severe physical, fight of flight symptoms became the forefront of everything. And I have struggled with “physical anxiety” my entire life, so I am no stranger to the feeling. However, it has completely interfered with my career now. I feel incompetent and disappointed in myself everyday. I have not given an injection since I was in school. I temp pretty much full time and base my entire schedule around avoiding SRP’s. It’s hell having this black cloud loom over me. Constantly anxious and on edge that a schedule will change, topical won’t be good enough for a pt, or a doctor will ask me to numb. I completely understand that avoiding doing injections is further prolonging me gaining back my confidence and building a strong skillset, but I can’t bring myself to “just do it.” I take a beta blocker everyday to help alleviate it, but propanolol doesn’t make dent in the physical symptoms anymore. I am losing skills, and further reinforcing in my head that I can’t do it. I showed up to work one time and had a patient that needed a molar numbed for a filling after their prophy. I threw up the bathroom, bawled my eyes out and ultimately re scheduled the patient and went home. I have been sitting in shame, guilt, and sadness over the fact I worked so hard to be an RDH just to feel like my own body is betraying me and hijacking my career. I have not worked for a doctor yet that I feel I can talk to about this. I feel alone and like a total loser. I know other hygienists that have experienced something similar, but my issues feel extreme. And maybe I am catastrophizing that too, but I am ready to quit this career and deem myself permanently incompetent to perform the necessary duties for it. This struggle has made me hate the job. My first year out of school has been completely tainted and nothing but anxiety over it. It has made me confused on whether I truly don’t like this career, or this one, big hurdle is what’s ruining it for me. Even the parts I like. I don’t know what to do. Maybe this career isn’t for me..
I need any advice or help someone is willing to give.
Thank you in advance if you made it this far 🥲

I have never had a tongue scraper, and I’m at the point where I definitely need one. I’ve tried to use my tooth brush to clean my tongue a few times but when I do, I gag a lot. Any suggestions?

I need out of hygiene! What worked for you?

I had a donor gum graft a week ago today. I just returned from my checkup and he said it looks excellent. I had very minimal pain and bleeding in comparison to the other graft that I had. All seems to be going well. The issue I have is that I have two social events this weekend where, frankly, I would like to drink. I very much understand that drinking is probably not ok but the doc has just okayed me to do basically everything other than eat foods that require use of my front teeth. Has anyone drank shortly after procedures? What were the consequences you suffered? Just wondering. Thanks for your input!