I've bounced between fluoride and fluoride-free toothpastes myself, and honestly, both had their moments. Fluoride-free helped my gums feel less irritated, but after a while, I noticed a couple cavities popping up—bummer. Switched back to fluoride and things stabilized again. You're totally right though, everyone's mouth is different...sometimes you just gotta roll with what works best for you. Glad your sensitivity improved; that's always a win.
"sometimes you just gotta roll with what works best for you."
Totally agree. I've tried fluoride-free myself—liked how gentle it felt, but cavities aren't cheap to fix. Went back to fluoride toothpaste and haven't had issues since. If gums are irritated, maybe try a softer brush or less abrasive paste? Helped me a lot without breaking the bank...
"maybe try a softer brush or less abrasive paste?"
Definitely second this. A lot of folks underestimate how much difference a soft-bristle brush makes. Also, fluoride-free can be fine if you're meticulous with flossing and diet, but honestly, fluoride's usually the safer bet long-term...
Totally agree with the softer brush suggestion. I switched to one after my dentist gently hinted that I was brushing way too hard (oops...), and honestly, it made a huge difference. My gums stopped feeling sore after brushing, and weirdly enough, my teeth actually felt cleaner.
"fluoride-free can be fine if you're meticulous with flossing and diet"
Yeah, this is true, but personally, as someone who's always anxious about dental stuff, fluoride toothpaste just gives me peace of mind. I tried fluoride-free for a bit because a friend swore by it, but I kept worrying I'd end up with cavities or something. Eventually went back to fluoride paste just to ease my nerves. If you're already stressed from the makeover disaster, maybe stick with what feels safest for now? You can always experiment later when things calm down a bit. Hang in there—I know how frustrating these setbacks can feel!
I've had the same experience with softer brushes—definitely gentler on my gums. Curious though, did you notice any sensitivity when switching back to fluoride? For me it was the opposite... fluoride-free made my teeth feel oddly sensitive.
