As a 20-something, I moved away from home and neglected to find a new dentist. I kept putting it off, but to make myself feel better, I brushed more aggressively and more often (after every meal and snack). After 8-10 years of this, I didn't have any cavities, however I had the start of gum erosion. This grew worse, and I eventually had to have a gum graft. That's a procedure that I would not recommend to anybody.

Did your dentist or doctor posit a reason why your gums started eroding? Is it hereditary? What else could you have done to prevent the erosion?

Aggressive/harsh brushing is generally what is identified as causing gum recession, and that matches their story.

Brushing too much and too hard, and to a certain extent, not flossing.

I now brush gently and floss daily. I never want another of those grafts.

I wonder if one can readily track toothbrush [handle] and jaw movements tightly enough to produce a "brushing map" indicating areas that are getting less attention.

Or perhaps a special brush with accelerometers (or other sensors? cameras in the head?) would be needed?

> I wonder if one can readily track toothbrush [handle] and jaw movements tightly enough to produce a "brushing map" indicating areas that are getting less attention.

They invented this decades ago.

I remember in the 80s when I was a kid going to the dentist.

They would get you to chew some type of pill that temporarily stained your teeth. Then you would brush your teeth while your dentist watched.

In the end you were able to see exactly what you missed because of the stain. It was really a genius product.

Back then it was something you did at the dentist's office but it looks like Amazon has them for sale at: https://www.amazon.com/Butler-Red-cote-Dental-Disclosing-Tab...

I'm not a dentist, so I would ask your dentist before trying them.

Like programming, being able to see the output of what's happening really helps debugging!

The problem is, and I used disclosing tabs as a kid too, that unless you're being continuously monitored your behaviour can alter. I think the concept I raised is different.

Seeing inputs is also useful.

I guess if you were to use disclosing tablets every time you brush ...

It's like typing. After you do it enough times you don't really need to look because it's locked in as muscle memory.

So in this case, you'd probably want to use 1 tablet a day for maybe 10 days in a row or keep using the tablets until you can consistently see you're getting good coverage. Then after you've done it a few days in a row with good coverage you know what it feels like and you're good to go.

The package comes with over 200 tablets so you'll have plenty of practice opportunities.

> I wonder if one can readily track toothbrush [handle] and jaw movements tightly enough to produce a "brushing map" indicating areas that are getting less attention.

Oral-B's Bluetooth toothbrushes with the Oral-B app shows a mouth map and tells you where you're missing. Available at almost all major retailers.

PS - I don't realistically think people will use Oral-B's solution daily, too awkward (requires sticking the phone to a mirror/face alignment), but useful for "spot checks."

I’m in a similar boat, but my teeth are pretty good. The one thing to look out for is bone loss caused by inflammation, which is why flossing is so important. Bone loss won’t cause your teeth to fall out until you are 60+, so it’s easy to ignore even if it shouldn’t.

That was never explained to me as a kid, so I never learned how to floss right or why it was important. I guess I can do a better job as a parent with that wisdom, at least.

My parents made me floss, but I hated it, so when I went to college I quit. Then I had a dentist make me promise to take it up again for just two weeks, which I did. At the end I thought, "Finally, I can quit this stupid annoying waste of time once and for all." I stopped for one night and the next morning I woke up with the most disgusting taste in my mouth I had ever experienced. I haven't missed a day of flossing since then, and it has been 30+ years.

Life hack: use POH brand dental floss, the white stuff, not the black. It's much thinner than the competition and so it's much easier to use.

Personal experience isn't science. What about those people who brush their teeth, floss, etc and still have teeth problems? Do their personal experiences matter?

Also, in addition to brushing and flossing, did you change your lifestyle? Did you start eating better, working out or changing your diet? Were you stressed when you were younger but have less stress now?

You can't even rule out the placebo effect. Does going to a hygienist make you think your teeth/gums are healthy and therefore boosts your immune system and the health of your gums/teeth?

If something works for you, that's great, but that isn't science.

'You can't even rule out the placebo effect. Does going to a hygienist make you think your teeth/gums are healthy and therefore boosts your immune system and the health of your gums/teeth?'

I can't wait to discuss this theory with her.