When I was a kid, dental health was just starting to get big. We scrubbed our teeth like germs were hiding in every nook and cranny, and the firmer the toothbrush, the better, because it made our teeth feel cleaner. Then when I was in my 20's, dentists started yelling at us for using firm toothbrushes because we were scraping away enamel with all those bristles.

He said/she said alternatives are like brushing your teeth with a firm toothbrush.

Consensus was that writers were overusing he said/she said, which was dry and boring, so we should use more interesting alternatives. But now, we're so afraid of he said/she said that we're going overboard and brushing all the enamel away.

I'd like some soft bristles for my dialog, please.

Cheers,
Michelle