My sister had something similar happen. She kept complaining about sore gums and thought she was brushing too hard or something. Turns out, switching to an SLS-free toothpaste made a noticeable difference for her too. I was skeptical at first—like, how much difference can one ingredient really make? But apparently, quite a bit. Guess our mouths are pickier than we realize...
I had a similar issue a couple years back—my gums were always irritated, and I figured it was just age catching up with me or something. My dentist casually suggested switching toothpaste brands, specifically to something SLS-free. Honestly, I thought it sounded like marketing hype at first. But after about two weeks of using the new toothpaste, the difference was pretty noticeable. Less soreness, less redness... just overall healthier gums.
Turns out, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) can be pretty harsh for some people, especially if your mouth is sensitive or prone to irritation. It's surprising how one ingredient can cause such trouble, but our mouths really do seem to have their own preferences! If you're still skeptical, I'd say give it a try for a few weeks—you might be pleasantly surprised. Can't hurt to experiment a little and see what works best for you.
I had braces a while back and noticed my gums acting up too, especially around the wires. My orthodontist also mentioned avoiding toothpastes with SLS, and at first, I thought it was just another fad. But after switching, it genuinely made a difference—less irritation and swelling overall. It's funny how these small adjustments can have such noticeable effects. Glad you found something that works for you!
Interesting about the SLS thing...but did your orthodontist mention anything about flossing techniques or water flossers? My dentist swears by water flossers for gum irritation around braces, and I'm curious if anyone else has tried that route instead.
I've actually tried the water flosser route myself when I first got braces. Honestly, it felt soothing at first, but I noticed it didn't quite get everything out—ended up going back to traditional flossing. Might just depend on individual gums though...
