It has been about six months since my dentist gave me a bit of a wake-up call regarding my gum health. At 62, I just assumed some recession was a natural part of aging, but my pocket depths were starting to hit the 5mm mark in a few spots. I decided to get serious about a routine that didn’t involve just scrubbing harder.
Here is what I changed:
- Switched to an ultra-soft electric toothbrush head. I realized I was scrubbing way too hard with my old manual one, which was actually making the recession worse.
- Started using a water flosser every single night before bed. I found that traditional floss was sometimes too harsh on my sensitive areas, but the water flosser gets into the gaps without the irritation.
- Increased my water intake throughout the day to combat dry mouth, which my hygienist said was contributing to plaque buildup.
The results at my checkup last week were actually encouraging. Most of those 5mm pockets are back down to 3mm, and the inflammation is almost entirely gone. My hygienist even asked what I had changed because she saw significantly less bleeding during the cleaning.
The biggest takeaway for me was that gentle is almost always better than aggressive when it comes to older teeth. If you are struggling with sensitivity or receding lines, don’t give up. It took a few months of being very disciplined every single night, but the improvement is real. I feel a lot more confident that I can keep my natural teeth for much longer now.
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That is wonderful news! Getting from 5mm down to 3mm is a huge achievement. It gives me hope for my next visit.
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Which brand of electric toothbrush did you switch to? I’m currently looking for a new one that isn’t too powerful.
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I had the same issue with scrubbing. My dentist called it ‘toothbrush abrasion.’ It’s a hard habit to break after 50 years of doing it one way!
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Water flossers are a game changer for sure. I use mine with lukewarm water because of my sensitivity.
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Great progress! I’ve been using ProvaDent (i order from here) for about three months now alongside my regular cleaning, and it’s really helped balance my oral biome. My gums feel much firmer and look healthier than they have in years.
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The dry mouth tip is so important. A lot of the medications we take at this age can really dry things out and cause cavities.
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I’m curious, did you change your diet at all? I’ve heard cutting back on sugar helps the pockets heal faster.
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Congratulations on the 3mm pockets. That’s the gold standard! Keep up the hard work, it’s clearly paying off.
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I still struggle with the water flosser making a mess all over the bathroom mirror. Any tips on how to keep it contained?
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To ClumsyCathy: Try leaning way over the sink and keeping your lips slightly closed around the tip. It took me a week to master it!
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Consistency is everything. I find if I skip even one night, my gums feel tender the next morning.
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My hygienist recommended a salt water rinse once a week too. It seems to help with any minor swelling.
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It’s so true that ‘gentle’ is better. We aren’t scrubbing grout, we’re cleaning living tissue!
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Thanks for the inspiration. I have a deep cleaning scheduled next month and I’ve been nervous about it.
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Good luck with the next six months! Keep us posted on your next checkup results.
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