Venting brushed my teeth for the first time in 4 years and it hurts like shit

[jewelxxet]

i basically stopped brushing my teeth for most of my teenage years. surprisingly i never had bad breath (or atleast a potent one) or any tooth decay. just some yellowing and a thick layer of plaque.

after getting judged and made fun of multiple times by different people in the past when i tried to open up about my depression and lack of selfcare, i finally decided to brush my teeth today for the first time in years.

as soon as i spit out the white toothpaste, it fully was dark red with brown streaks. my gums were bleeding like crazy, especially in the spaces between my teeth, it felt like some of them were about to fall off at any second. the more i brushed, the more it hurt. blood mixed with toothpaste was dripping out of my mouth, i looked like a cannibal. at the top left of my gums, i think ive got gingivitis (quick google search describing my problem and how it looked gave me this answer). it stings when i touch it with my tongue or even when i press on the skin just above my upper lip.

i honestly regret brushing. if i never touched a toothbrush, none of this pain would've happened.

 

[Griever]

I know how hard it is to brush your teeth, but you can be proud of yourself

 

[Karera]

I try to do the bare minimum and brush once a day, usually after I eat, I don't really floss, but I do recommend getting an appointment. I'm sorry if it isn't possible in any way, but getting consistent with brushing helps tremendously, of course.

 

[cemeteryismyhome]

Awhile back I was interested in the origin of dentistry and how people took care of their teeth in ancient times. I read a few things saying people obviously didn't have modern toothbrushes and toothpaste and did basically just fine. Some did have problems though, and it was taken as normal to lose one's teeth by around 40 or 50 but people on average died around then anyway. If you didn't get cavities, that's amazing. I hope your gums are ok. But no matter... I can't imagine how difficult that was for you.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

You seem to have good teeth by genetics. However, the gums are probably inflamed by all the bacteria due to insufficient mouth hygiene. If you don't like modern toothbrushes you can use siwak. Anyway, I would suggest visiting a dentist and requesting a professional tooth and gums cleaning procedure if you want to improve your mouth hygiene.

Anyway, it's up 2 you.

 

[jewelxxet]

Awhile back I was interested in the origin of dentistry and how people took care of their teeth in ancient times. I read a few things saying people obviously didn't have modern toothbrushes and toothpaste and did basically just fine. Some did have problems though, and it was taken as normal to lose one's teeth by around 40 or 50 but people on average died around then anyway. If you didn't get cavities, that's amazing. I hope your gums are ok. But no matter... I can't imagine how difficult that was for you.

i remember people back then cleaned their teeth by chewing on soft branches i forgot what theyre called

 

[DivineSpark]

Some people have good genes when it comes to teeth. Others has bad. I thought I fucked up my teeth because I have been doing comfort eating (sweets, chocolate, other unhealthy stuff) I went to dentist four months ago. For my surprise. I had no cavities...I was surprised...because I have been eating like shit...

 

[cme-dme]

Honestly my solution for brushing my teeth consistently is just to have a toothbrush and toothpaste on my nightstand. 99% of the time when I remember to brush my teeth it is when I am about to go to sleep and absolutely don't want to get up and go to the bathroom so I just brush my teeth in bed :)

 

[jewelxxet]

Honestly my solution for brushing my teeth consistently is just to have a toothbrush and toothpaste on my nightstand. 99% of the time when I remember to brush my teeth it is when I am about to go to sleep and absolutely don't want to get up and go to the bathroom so I just brush my teeth in bed :)

what about the toothpaste? do you swallow it?

 

[Praestat_Mori]

what about the toothpaste? do you swallow it?

@cme-dme I have the same question!

 

[cme-dme]

@shineboy2k15taliban @Praestat_Mori I have a trash can next to my bed so I just spit into it but I have swallowed it before (I mean, whatever negative health consequences I get from swallowing it probably are nowhere as significant as not brushing your teeth I'm guessing) A cup or something to spit in will do the trick though if you don't have a trash can nearby!

 

[astr4]

i get the same pain when i floss tbh

from what i understand it's because we don't do it often enough, i think with repeated brushing and flossing your gums are meant to like… idk get used to it i guess… but it hurts more when i only do it once in a blue moon.

 

[Anne Alias]

i remember people back then cleaned their teeth by chewing on soft branches i forgot what theyre called

In the middle east they used datwoons, or teeth cleaning twigs. In the americas i'm pretty sure they were called chewsticks. (that or bunches of pine needles). Been around for a couple thousand years at least

 

[monetpompo]

i'm adhd brained but i typically brush my teeth immediately after meals or when i get home and ate food outside. it's most important to brush your teeth when you wake up in the morning since your most is the most gross and smelly, but brushing my teeth before bed is kind of like a nightly ritual for me. it makes me feel cleaner when i do it because i also wash my face before bed.

 

[2messdup]

You probably have severe gingivitis. Mouthwash containing chlorhexidine will start to get it under control. Then what I've done if it really hurts to brush is use a brush meant for very young kids/babies cos the bristles are very soft. Use that really gently then the mouthwash and try not to drink anything or rinse for at least an hour after so the mouthwash has lots of time in contact with your gums. Do you have Bonjela where you are? (It's a painkiller gel that you can rub on your gums if they really hurt). But you should be so proud you brushed your teeth. It's one of the things I find difficult but my teeth really hurt now if I don't keep up with it.

 

[jewelxxet]

You probably have severe gingivitis. Mouthwash containing chlorhexidine will start to get it under control. Then what I've done if it really hurts to brush is use a brush meant for very young kids/babies cos the bristles are very soft. Use that really gently then the mouthwash and try not to drink anything or rinse for at least an hour after so the mouthwash has lots of time in contact with your gums. Do you have Bonjela where you are? (It's a painkiller gel that you can rub on your gums if they really hurt). But you should be so proud you brushed your teeth. It's one of the things I find difficult but my teeth really hurt now if I don't keep up with it.

bonjela oral gel, i have searched it up on amazon and it surprisingly is in my country, theyre usually very strict about drugs so its nice to see it here, thank you so much for the suggestions (especially the childrens toothbrush one, that will really help) : D thank you and take care

 

[Forever Sleep]

Not sure if you can get it where you live but I find Corsodyl original mouthwash good for gum problems. I think you need to start gentle though- maybe buy a child's toothbrush- one where the bristles are very soft- to build up to stronger brushes.

Oh, sorry- just seen that has been suggested already... I hope things improve.

 

[notreallybored]

ב''ה,
Waterpik is one of the better things to try.

Soft toothbrush, you can give oil pulling a go, possibly alternate that with anything antiseptic if you feel like your gums are really rotting.

While not a sure thing, and of course this is mostly in acidic beverages unless you get calcium added OJ, getting enough vitamin C will prevent scurvy and assist the gum healing somewhat.

 

[GlassMoon]

bonjela oral gel, i have searched it up on amazon and it surprisingly is in my country, theyre usually very strict about drugs so its nice to see it here, thank you so much for the suggestions (especially the childrens toothbrush one, that will really help) : D thank you and take care

Another pain killer for the gums is lidocaine. It is also sold for use with children who are just getting their first teeth.

Glad you did the first step towards caring for your teeth, the first one is always the hardest but you did it

 

[Ariel1]

At the very least, try rinsing with baking soda and salt water twice a day do get rid of bacteria. You want to keep your gums healthy. The saltwater rinses, flossing, and if you can, use an essential trial oil like clove oil.

 

[[..redacted..]]

The "thick layer of plaque" is most likely tartar (calcus). You cannot remove it properly at home - you need to see a dental hygienist. If your gums are that inflamed and painful after four years of neglect you may also be developing periodontitis, which can lead to tooth and gum loss, as well as the loss of bone from the jaw (trust me, I'm 9 teeth down at this point, even after aggressive treatment). You really need to see a dental professional as soon as you can to be assessed and find the best course of treatment to manage your tooth and gum health. Do it now - it will only get worse if untreated.

 

[Apathy79]

Agree that seeing a dentist sounds like a really good idea to stop this getting a lot worse. In the meantime, soft bristle brush is a great start and just be gentle with brushing. A good mouthwash (Listerine, Colgate Plax) will also help.

 

[wham311]

i basically stopped brushing my teeth for most of my teenage years. surprisingly i never had bad breath (or atleast a potent one) or any tooth decay. just some yellowing and a thick layer of plaque.

after getting judged and made fun of multiple times by different people in the past when i tried to open up about my depression and lack of selfcare, i finally decided to brush my teeth today for the first time in years.

as soon as i spit out the white toothpaste, it fully was dark red with brown streaks. my gums were bleeding like crazy, especially in the spaces between my teeth, it felt like some of them were about to fall off at any second. the more i brushed, the more it hurt. blood mixed with toothpaste was dripping out of my mouth, i looked like a cannibal. at the top left of my gums, i think ive got gingivitis (quick google search describing my problem and how it looked gave me this answer). it stings when i touch it with my tongue or even when i press on the skin just above my upper lip.

i honestly regret brushing. if i never touched a toothbrush, none of this pain would've happened.

I've got this now, keep fucking brushing.

Root canal are a pain like no other. So is pulling all your fucking teeth.