Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cleaning and teeth

Like I Need Another Hole In My Head.

The Whelk — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:01:15 -0800

No Insurance-Filter: I suspect I need some minor dental work done, where can I get it done cheaply and quickly in NYC? Caveat: No Insurance, but some savings. I've heard horror stories about NYU Dental school, but I've gone to Dental Schools for cleanings and minor work all through childhood without a problem (No Cavities! ever!), is it really that bad?

Anyone know a decent dentist in the metro area or know where I can find one?

Hey pup, go brush your teeth!

dearest — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:44:34 -0800

My dog needs his teeth cleaned, we're nervous over the anesthesia. Can anyone calm my fears or even, talk me out of having this procedure done? After a recent visit to the veterinarian, it was concluded our beloved 2 1/2 year old Pit Bull mix will need his teeth cleaned. A couple of his back teeth have redness around the gum area, he's got some fierce plaque build up and his major breath/drooling issues are symptoms of some sort of tooth problem. Our vet said that they would know more after cleaning his teeth.

Thing is, Pup will have to be put under anesthesia while the procedure is done. That's my biggest worry. Of course, pup was under when he was fixed. He reacted like most other dogs, groggy but never sick. He's a healthy, happy dog most of the time. I initially took him to the vet for an ear infection, and he's on antibiotics for that now.

Me and my SO are fairly fanatical about our dog. He's our pride and joy and probably the best dog I've ever had, I'm so protective of him that I'm having a hard time putting him in this position.

I know you aren't my vet, but I do want to hear anecdotes, horror stories and any other information about dental cleaning for dogs. Basically, I'd like to calm my fears about this by hearing similar situations, or I'd like to hear about the nonsense of dental care for dogs.

Help me buy a toothbrush!

btkuhn — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:03:13 -0800

Do I need to shell out for an expensive electric toothbrush? After my latest dental cleaning, I've decided to switch to an electric toothbrush. Previous askmefi questions recommended Sonicares, but they are quite pricey. I'm wondering if there is any real difference in "cleaning quality" between some of the pricey toothbrushes like Sonicare and the cheap brushes like this one (a random example):

Cheap brush

Obviously it seems like the more expensive ones would be better, but I know that with some of these products you are just paying a lot for marketing and extra features that don't really make a difference. So, if I'm only concerned about getting a good clean, should I spring for one of the expensive brushes, or are the cheap ones just as good?

Thanks.

How often do cats need teeth cleaning?

Asparagirl — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:03:57 -0800

Do our mostly-indoors, otherwise healthy cats really need to have their teeth cleaned at the vet's once a year? At our recent vet trip, he checked our cats' gums and felt that we should have their teeth cleaned, even though it's been no more than a year since their last cleaning.

Some facts:
-They get wet food once a day, but eat dry food otherwise.
-They're unrelated genetically, but the vet says that they both seem prone to plaque and gum irritation.
- They're six and five years old.
-They seem to have no trouble eating, particularly the male, who eats like a wolf.

I can't help but feel like the vet is playing the role of auto mechanic and pushing the teeth cleaning with scare stories of "they could have pockets that would be really bad if we wait another year". He showed me some redness in their gums, but since I don't look there every day, I have no idea if it's normal or not.

Of course, the reason I'm hesitant to just go ahead with it is that it's frighteningly expensive and the cats get totally zonked out of their minds on tranquilizers. Also, my family had an older dog die from the anesthesia during a cleaning, so I'm perhaps irrationally soured on the whole thing.

So, in your varied experiences with cats, is this yearly cleaning really necessary, or are we being pressured for profit?

Which light best portrays an accurate depiction of the whiteness of your teeth?

SeizeTheDay — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 10:13:31 -0800

What kind of light do you use to accurately measure how white your teeth are? There are at least three different kinds of light that I've seen my teeth in, all portraying the whiteness of my teeth at varying shades. Sunlight is the worst. My teeth (IMO) look terrible when viewed in sunlight. Contrast that with my incandescent bathroom light, where I think they shimmer. The third perspective is fluorescent, which is in the middle.

Which light portrays the most accurate depiction of the whiteness of my teeth? Which would you rely upon when making a judgment regarding a need to whiten (or at least get a professional cleaning)? Why? I'm all for a scientific explanation of light and teeth, BTW, though anecdotal evidence is appreciated as well. Thanks.