I've been dealing with my gums pulling back for a while now, and honestly, it's been a bit stressful. Dentist visits were getting pricey, you know? Anyway, someone suggested I try oil pulling with coconut oil, and um, I was skeptical at first but figured why not. Surprisingly, after a month or so, my gums actually felt healthier and less sensitive. Curious if anyone else tried home remedies or anything else that worked for them.
I've actually had a similar experience with gum recession, and I completely understand the stress you're describing. Oil pulling with coconut oil did help me somewhat too, although it wasn't a complete fix. Another thing that made a noticeable difference for me was switching to a softer toothbrush and being extra gentle when brushing. My dentist explained that aggressive brushing can really aggravate gum recession, so easing up on the pressure helped quite a bit.
Also, I started using an alcohol-free mouthwash with aloe vera. It seemed to soothe my gums and reduce sensitivity over time. Of course, these home remedies aren't replacements for professional dental care, but they definitely complemented my regular visits nicely and saved me some discomfort (and money) along the way. Glad to hear you're seeing improvements—gum issues can be tricky to manage, but it's encouraging when you find something that works.
I've seen oil pulling mentioned a lot, and while some of my patients swear by it, I've personally had mixed results. Tried it myself out of curiosity—didn't hurt, but didn't notice a huge improvement either. One thing I do consistently recommend (and practice myself) is using interdental brushes instead of traditional floss. Flossing incorrectly can sometimes irritate already sensitive gums, whereas interdental brushes tend to be gentler and easier to use correctly.
Another thing that helped me personally was paying attention to my diet. Cutting back on sugary drinks and acidic foods reduced inflammation noticeably. Also, hydration plays a bigger role than people realize—drinking enough water keeps the mouth moist and helps saliva do its job protecting gums.
Of course, none of these replace regular dental visits, but they're good complementary habits. Gum recession can be stubborn, but small changes do add up over time. Glad you're finding some relief though—gum issues really can be frustrating.
Have you tried switching toothpaste brands? I noticed a big difference when I switched to one without SLS—less irritation overall. Interdental brushes helped me too, but toothpaste was surprisingly impactful...might be worth a shot.
Switching toothpaste can definitely help—good call on ditching SLS. Oil pulling isn't a cure-all, but I've seen it reduce inflammation and sensitivity for some folks. Combining these small changes often makes a noticeable difference over time.
