Reddit User Details Irreversible Gum Recession from Aggressive Brushing Technique

A Reddit post titled 'My gums are ruined' was uploaded on April 9 under the username u/sluttycarolofficial.

The post has received more than 23,000 upvotes. In the post, the user stated 'I genuinely believed my mouth hygiene was above average' and described brushing hard, fast, side to side for two minutes twice a day since childhood. The user also flossed, used mouthwash, and invested in an expensive electric toothbrush.

Their confidence unraveled during a routine cleaning, when the hygienist went quiet during the initial exam before calling in the dentist. The hygienist and dentist then discussed recession and wear pattern. According to the dentist, as reported in the post, decades of brushing too hard and at the wrong angle caused irreversible gum recession.

The user has visibly receding gums at 28 years old. The user wrote 'The damage to the gum tissue at several teeth is permanent.

White, practice owner at Aspen Dental, said the experience described in the post is far from unusual.

White stated pressure—not frequency—is often the issue. ' White recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes, ideally with an electric toothbrush. ' The best way to protect gums, according to White, is to use a gentle technique and stay consistent with the routine.

The post stated proper brushing involves holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline and using tiny circular motions with minimal pressure.

The user wrote 'I was actively brushing. ' The user added that no one had corrected their technique since childhood. ' Newsweek reached out to u/sluttycarolofficial for more information via Reddit.