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Please Help!! Gingivitis is ruining me!

F

FearfulAlwaysAndForever

Junior member
Joined
Jul 26, 2024
Messages
1
Location
USA
Hello everyone,

I am hoping to seek some solace here because I am in shambles, anxiety-wise. I had my first cleaning in 8 months (insurance issue) and everything went well, no decay or work needed - however I bled like crazy during the probe! The hygienist was very kind and thorough and she explained I have a handful of 4mm pockets spread throughout my mouth. I could not (and still can't) believe it!

I am RELIGIOUS about brushing and flossing. I spend more than the recommended 2 minutes brushing using a high fluoride toothpaste. I make sure I get each side of the tooth and let the toothbrush sit there and do the work, it's an Oral B electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor for gums. I floss EVERY night before bed - I never, ever miss a night. I have OCD and my oral hygiene has worked its way into my routine so I am 100% sure i have never forgot to brush and floss my teeth, especially before bed.

So I am really struggling to understand how I have gingivitis. I never noticed any redness in my gums until my exam yesterday. I'm not sure if I overlooked it as typical gum anatomy or if they are just more irritated from the cleaning. I never bleed during my brushing or flossing so I honestly feel devastated. I'm only 26 and I am not sure what I can do better. Does anyone have any tips or possible explanations for me? I feel like I'm on a path to periodontis and I'm sick to my stomach about it. What is the point of spending 30m on an oral care routine if I STILL get gingivitis? I've never had an issue prior to this so I have no idea what happened to my gum health.. please, please help.

Thank you for reading,
FearfulAlwaysAndForever.
 
Bleeding gums can be linked to hormonal changes in ladies, as well as some medicines.
You may not be removing plaque effectively from the affected areas, it might be worth trying some disclosing tablets to see if you're missing some spots.
 
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