Journal no. 3

i've been having problems with one tooth for a few months, the upper left first premolar - when i poke it at the gum line, it hurts.
and lately, it's very sensitive to the cold if i drink from that side of my mouth.

the tooth looks alright, but when i compared it against its mirror tooth on the other side just now, i realised the gum had receded on the problem tooth.

it's probably because i always start my brushing routine from that particular tooth, and the years of mildly aggressive brushing have finally eroded the gum up to the point where the dentin is exposed.

i googled "receded gum sensitive tooth" and found gingival recession.
the treatment is gum-grafting. oh boy.
and i also need to stop abusing my other gums with my toothbrush.

this is the British Dental Health Foundation's guide to How to brush your teeth.
british and dental health don't go together?
here is the American Dental Association guide to a proper brushing technique.

they advocate different ways of brushing.
the American way ("Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes") sounds more doable.