Now brushing after years of neglect - any advice?

[Orbital]

I am one of those people who have neglected their teeth for many years, I'm 45 now and have not brushed regularly since I was around 14 years old. Since then I probably have brushed my teeth just a few times a year.

I am only missing one tooth near the back which came out on its own so I guess I have been lucky. Around 6 months ago I had a rear tooth become infected and the whole side of my face swelled up and antibiotics cleared it up, they were supposed to send me to a dental surgeon to remove the tooth but I am on Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicare) and the papers never showed up in the mail and since the tooth has not become re-infected I didn't follow up on it.

Well I figured I should start taking better care of my teeth so I got a dentist appointment for a check-up and tried to brush my teeth a few hours ago - it got bloody very quickly due to the softness of my gums I suppose.

Should I just keep brushing normally and hope my gums get stronger? If anyone has any other free advice I am all ears.

Thx.

 

[carole]

Hi to the fourm.

Yes keep brushing with a soft brush twice daily. Your gums will bleed this is normal in the circumstances and will stop as you are thinking as the gums toughen back up.

Brush first thing in the morning for 2 mins and last thing at night for 2 mins. When you have eaten wait for an hour after to brush because when we eat the enamel softens and we can damage it.

If you could get some floss and use that too it would greatly help your gums to attach back to the teeth as they should do. If you aren't sure how to use it, get some, the easy glide is the easiest I find to use. Take it with you when you go to the dentist and ask them to show you how to use it properly.

Keep brushing it is doing good as long as you don't brush too hard.

Good luck for your appointment let us know how you get on please