Hain

Aside from trying to be gentler on my teeth or getting an electric toothbrush, what could I do to to help prevent receding gums caused by brushing too hard?

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I know: with an avatar like mine, do I really need to worry about dental hygiene? Yes. Yes, I do.

I am looking for some dentists on the forums. As I can barely afford to live, I lack medical and dental insurance. I have been careful for the last two years to brush twice daily, even more if I have sugary/acidic foods like coffee, sodas, citrus, OJ, etc. I am not worried so much about my teeth as I am my gums. My neighbor has receding gums from brushing too hard.

I've heard that one can "brush" the gums onto teeth using the length of the bristles by applying pressure and rubbing the gums in the desired direction. I am skeptical this would help and should be added to my morning ritual. Aside from trying to be gentler on my teeth or getting an electric toothbrush, what could I do to to help prevent receding gums caused by brushing too hard?

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Searches performed:
reced gum site:tfproject.org - Google Search
prevent receding gums - Google Search

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wooÐs

I think just massaging them in general will promote blood flow and allow the gums to swell back to their healthy state. I haven't looked for anything like this in years, but I know they used to sell rubber stimulators for the gums on the toothbrush aisle. When I had braces as a kid, I brushed my teeth way too often and had issues with receding gums. I just had to stop brushing them as often and they healed on their own. I remember even just massaging the sore area with my finger would help after a couple days.

Holy hell is it painful!

dlish

we did have a resident dentist here at one point who started a 'ask a dentist' thread a few years back now.

i dont recall who that was, but it would be interesting to see if he's still around. maybe some of the old timers may have a better memory recall than me

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Baraka_Guru

One of the best things you can do for your gums is floss daily.

I used to have sensitive teeth, and so I used Sensodyne.

I had a great dentist tell me that using Sensodyne will help sensitivity, but it can mask serious problems. So he said that flossing regularly (which I wasn't doing) should eliminate sensitivity. And it did. I use normal toothpaste now, and I have fewer issues with sensitivity than I did while using Sensodyne.

As it happens, a failure to floss can cause gum problems. Receding gums can be a somewhat permanent thing, but flossing and ensuring you're getting gunk above the gumline (via soft and effective brushing) will help tremendously. It may even reverse receding a bit.

Don't brush the gums excessively or with hard bristles, as this will only irritate them.

Flossing is far more important than people believe. It's such a chore at first, but getting into the habit and you realize just how quick and easy it is.

There is now an international standard of gum conditions. I think the scale is 1 to 5, 5 being a bad condition that usually happens from a lack of flossing (and brushing, likely too). I had a couple of 4s, but mostly 1s, 2s, and and a couple of 3s. By flossing, I hope to bring most areas down to 1s and 2s.

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Kasey

yes,i think so, just massaging them in general will promote blood flow and allow the gums to swell back to their healthy state,it is a good way!!

Charlatan

I just visited my dentist and this issue came up.

Here's what she said: Floss. Use a soft toothbrush. Do not scrub your teeth aggressively. Place the head of the brush at a 45degree angle beside your teeth and use a gentle back and forth motion. Any more than this is not necessary.

Once your gums recede, they do not come back.

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wooÐs

Wha??

Sure they do. I don't have the problem anymore. I'm pretty sure I didn't just get used to the pain.

Charlatan

If they have receded due to tartar build up... the swelling will go down and it will return to normal.

If you they have receded due to brushing and/or periodontal issues, they will not grow back without a graft.

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wooÐs

Hm. Interesting. Like I said, it was when I lessened up on the brushing that my gums went back to normal.

I was obsessed with brushing when I had braces. It seemed so many others with braces always had chunky stuff in them all the time. And when they had the braces removed, they had permanent stains. Thankfully I came out ok.

thingstodo

I agree with the soft brush approach and flossing. Also, mouthwash, especially the kind like Act that keeps minerals in your teeth.

You also at the very least need to get your teeth cleaned 1-2 times per year. If not, tarter will build up and also cause your gums to fade away becayse they have no tooth enamal tocontact with - only tarter that creates bad bacteria. With no x-rays you should be able to get them cleaned for $150 or less, especially if you try a clinic. Whatever you need to give up to make that happen is worth far more than you give up, especially in the long run for not only teeth health but also heart health as receding gums, bacteria and the inflamation contributes to heart disease.

PetzLife has a great enzyme spray for dogs that really works. You might look into that for in between. It actually smells like mouthwash.

But as one dentist told me many years ago: don't worry about your teeth...they'll go away.

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Plan9

I destroyed my gums while I was in the military. Brushed too hard.

I tell ya, I've got gum lines receded up into my friggin' eye sockets.

According to my dentist, they don't grow back from that kind of damage.

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Bear Cub

I think that was Ustwo. And we all know what happened to Ustwo...

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Charlatan

He brushed his teeth too hard?

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Bear Cub

So hard that ALL of him receded.

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