Anxiety over poor gum health. How to prevent further recession?
TLDR: worried about gum recession (and gum health in general). How bad is it, and how can I improve my oral hygiene?
Since entering uni, my oral hygiene has gotten quite inconsistent — I’ve also never been very consistent with flossing. Bc of this, I feel like my gums have receded (teeth seem longer & little triangular gaps between my bottom teeth). I'm worried that anxiety abt my teeth is also worsening issues, as I’m constantly feeling around my gum line & notice myself gritting my teeth at night.
My routine since coming home from uni has been:
- Brush more gently using an etb and a gum detoxifying toothpaste, 2x a day
- Floss at night (I use Y-shaped picks)
- Mouthwash 1-2x a day
For extra context, I'm a daily smoker. Ik quitting smoking is the obvious answer, but I don’t see that happening in the near future, so I'm also curious if there are ways to lessen the negative impact of smoking.
Is there any way I can improve my routine, and how long will it take to see improvement in my gum health? Thank you!