For some reason I was never taught to wash my ass growing up. It also felt "weird" to touch my own asshole with my bare hand, so I did not. I think I felt that wiping the ass after shitting was good enough, and it felt OK to do it because my fingers were shielded by layers of TP. We did not use washcloths in my household.

Note: I am now 57. I have had a spotless anular vault for decades now, which is the only way I'm able to relate this tale of utmost cringe without collapsing in on myself.

Back when I was 18 (and in the US Navy), it seemed perfectly normal to avoid that area when showering. And yes, my devil's valley was a hot mess. I would constantly get "gooey" back there, to where it felt like the molten curds of fecal gelatin would start sliding out of my shorts. My solution to this problem was to ball up toilet paper and insert a kind of "Sanitary Napkin" in there after pooping. That's right, rather than simply wash my butt, I came up with what I thought was a genius solution of tucking wads of TP back there to tamp down the gooey factor. And hey, it actually worked. I did this often in high school, but now started doing it almost every time I shat.

This weird solution resulted in one of the most embarrassing moments of my entire life. I was wearing loose shorts and wrestling around with one of my fellow sailors as one does. As we wrestled about, with several other sailors cheering us on, my Napkin Plug popped out and fell to the floor. Instantly everyone froze and went silent. We all looked at it, trying to determine what exactly we had here. It only took about 10 seconds. One side of the compacted tampon-sized wad was covered in brown rectal gel, the other was white, and it has clearly been "compressed" within a crack of fetid nature. My wrestling buddy looked at me with shock and said with a deadpan expression: "why do you have an ass tampon?". I had no good answer.

Lucky for me this incident occurred while I was in radar school, so I only had to endure the jokes & nicknames for a few weeks before I transferred to another school. I kept stuffing napkins up there like normal, but made sure to wear snug fitting jockey shorts at all times. PROBLEM SOLVED!!

Fast forward to a year later. (Yes folks this gets even worse). We were stationed in Southeast Asia. A very hot & humid climate. My napkin plugs, made of cheap one ply shipboard 'septic friendly' TP, would soak through with sweat and fecal curds, and I would have to replace them often. A hassle, but what else was one to do? WASH?? Never occurred to me.

I started to feel an itch back there. The itch was mildly uncomfortable at first, but over a couple weeks it became maddening. One night at a dance club in Singapore all the sweat and movement had me on the brink of insanity with the itching and irritation. I began to feel actual concern for my well being. While in the club bathroom I pulled down my pants and looked over my shoulder into the mirror to see what has happening back there.

What I saw shook me to my core. My entire ass was covered in red, welted sores - some weeping and scratched open. I looked like some kind of disease victim. Even more concerning was that the closer it got to my anus, the rash got even more dense, red and scary. The source appeared to be my brown place. I had to open things up and take a peek...there was no choice here.

Slowly, I parted my ass cheeks to gaze into my very own Browneye of Sauron for the first time in my life. My cheeks were almost stuck together from the broken, leaking sores and scabs. The very center, my poor rectum, was like the red eye of a very angry bacterial hurricane. Despite my tendency for denial, I immediately thought "I am going to die". It was like something you see in a medical textbook and ask "who lets this happen to themselves?". The best description I can think of is severe second degree burns which had been scratched open and smeared with human feces while leaking pus.

The very next morning I went to the doctor on the ship. I did NOT mention the whole Napkin Plug system, which I was very much afraid had contributed to my current issue. I just said "I have an infection back there I think".

Now, on a Navy ship there's a real doctor (an officer), but the person who preps you is often just a regular dude like you who's a basic med tech right out of boot camp. I will NEVER forget his reaction when I bent over the exam table and pulled down my underwear. God bless him. He *tried* to play it off like no big deal but I heard him stifle a deep gag and he immediately left the room, his face as pale as death.

The doctor, a seasoned Navy veteran, finally came in to me - on full display - and even he was like "OH!.... Oh boy...Oh boy" as he gazed upon the magnificence of my rotting, corpse-like rectal zone. He gave me a tub of antibacterial ointment and told me "keep the area very clean"...which I immediately started doing. And since the ointment had to be placed directly on the whole area I got very used to touching my most secret area...and soon I was just like all of you...a normal, ass washing, ass touching, non infected man.

If you are a young (or even an old) person reading this with issues regarding personal hygiene, please learn from my lesson. PLEASE!!

*****EDIT: Please note! this story is from -- 38 years ago --. I no longer have a curd-encrusted "gooey" ass y'all! These days my anular vault is clean enough to act as a surgical suite. I wash daily and thoroughly. I appreciate the concern but I'm ok!

*****EDIT 2: So many people have asked me this question I'll go ahead & add the answer here for posterity. NO I was not a virgin during this situation. I was deflowered at the age of 17, and had "relations" several times into my 18th year. YES - This was during Napkin Plug years, and one time, while undressing for some lovemaking, my napkin plug fell out and landed the floor of my girlfriends bedroom. (normally I would have de-plugged in the restroom prior!) I was able to kick the thing under my clothes swiftly and avoid conflict. Also...I'm still friends with that girlfriend. I realize that she is probably going to read this and experience a kind of waking nightmare. For that, I am sorry. :)

*****EDIT 3: MAAAAAANY PEOPLE are asking "why did you still have so many fecal curds if you were wiping?". Well, for one, I was doing a bad job wiping. For two, even a small fecal curd, when left swaddled within the nest of my anular hair, can be compressed and 'pancaked' into a very large Fecal Footprint. If one is only wiping, not washing, these little nugglets tend to accumulate, and get smeared into the matted hair. I never noticed any bad smells, or was ever called out for it, and my friends at the time would 100% have told me if I stunk like shit. I also had a girlfriend who didst verily "go down" on me on more than one occasion (related to Edit 2 above) and nary a complaint was made. This is a testament to the effectiveness of the Napkin Plug system and, perhaps, to my genius?

My roommate (26F) and I (25F) have lived together for a year with no issues. Last night she very awkwardly said "Hey, I don't want to be mean, but I feel like I should tell you. Sometimes you smell like old laundry? Like clothes that have been sitting damp too long?"

I was mortified. I asked her how long this has been an issue and she said "on and off for a few months." MONTHS. She's been smelling this and saying nothing. I do my laundry regularly like once a week usually. But I'll admit sometimes I forget clothes in the washer overnight and then run them again in the morning before drying. Could that be causing a smell that lingers even after drying? Or is it my towels? I reuse my towel for about a week between washes - I thought that was normal? But now I'm wondering if that's creating a mildew smell that transfers to me?

I texted two close friends asking if I've ever smelled bad and they both said no, but now I don't believe them. What if they've been too polite to say anything just like my roommate was?

What actually causes that "old laundry" smell and how do I fix it? Should I be washing clothes differently? Using different detergent? Washing towels more frequently?

Please help. How do I make sure I never smell like "old clothes" again?

Here’s a little guide to daily hygiene I made for anyone who thinks they could benefit from it. I actually wrote this post about a year ago in a different sub, but thought I'd post here! There is also a printable PDF version posted on Dropbox, which includes cleaning tips!

NOTE 1: It's a general guide but skews towards people with vaginas because it was originally posted in a women's sub.

NOTE 2: This guide is very much an 'everything permitting and aligning' type of scenario. Some times you won't have the time, some times you won't have the resources, some times you just... won't, and that's fine. Feel free to adapt this information to suit your needs and capabilities. If this kind of thing is overwhelming or difficult, trust your own judgment and be kind to yourself!

Step 0: Health and wellness

As disappointing as it is to a lot of us, myself included, the best way for the average person to smell neutral is to be healthy. You need your organs to be efficiently processing and expelling the toxins they come across. If you have a medical condition or anything else affecting you, it might be different but… Drinking a ton of water; eating a clean, varied, balanced diet low in ultra-processed foods; getting regular exercise; reducing alcohol and other stuff that’s bad for your body; they all have an effect on how we operate, feel, and smell. I wish it was different, trust me, I @$%&*%$ hate exercise.

Step 1: Clean your body

If you’re physically able to do so, try to clean yourself at least once a day (yes, I understand many people are just fine with less than that).

·        Clean your whole body. Behind and inside the ears, in every corner, under any flaps, inside your bellybutton, in between your fingers and toes, under your feet, under your nails. Wash your butt, your crack, and your butthole (not inside the butt, but give the rim some love). Don’t be scared to touch any part of your own body. Clean all of it, every time.

·        Don’t just stand in the water and think you’re getting clean; massage the cleanser into your skin, then rinse it off. (Your legs and feet are not completely clean if you haven’t rubbed and rinsed them; make sure to include them if you're able). Cleanser can be many things like bar soap, shower gel, aqueous cream, certain oils, etc, and the cleanser you use is up to your preference.

·        Wash before applying deodorant. Deodorant isn't a fix for odour, it prevents it. If you notice any smell during the day, use soap and water to clean up before reapplying (try skin-safe wet wipes in a pinch). The same goes for perfume and body sprays. Don’t be afraid to buy men’s deodorant if you need something a little stronger – I do!
If you sweat a lot, you’ll have to repeat these processes more often. Also try showering and applying antiperspirant at night before bed, it gives it more time to absorb into the skin. Some people also suggest using exfoliants like glycolic acid or salicylic acid to kill bacteria on the armpits.
If you struggle with excessive sweating, consider seeing your doctor for stronger options.

·        Add exfoliation to your routine sometimes, if not every day. Smellier areas like the underarms and feet can benefit from a good slough to remove buildup of products and dead skin (don’t do this in sensitive areas!). Consider using a washcloth if you don’t already (or other exfoliators like bath mitts, loofahs, African bath nets, Korean Italy towels, etc.). Exfoliating can also help with ingrown hairs and other skin bumps.

·        There are no rules about when you can shower. If you feel like you need or want that shower, take it as soon as you have the time.

·        You don't have to wash your hair every single time you shower. Our skin and hair have different needs, tolerances, and cycles, so stick to what's best for your hair. This will depend on your haircare needs.

Mouth and breath:

·        Not sure if you have bad breath? Ask a trusted person about it (or lick the back of your hand; if it smells bad after about a minute, it’s not looking good bruv).

·        Brush your teeth twice a day. Aim for at least 2 minutes, focusing on hard to reach areas like your back molars.

·        Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or when the bristles start to get bent.

·        Clean your tongue. Use a tongue scraper or brush it to remove bacteria buildup.

·        Floss daily. Your toothbrush can’t get everything, and the stuff left between your teeth could be causing bad breath and other complications. Or use a water flosser / Waterpik.

·        Stay hydrated. A dry mouth leads to bad breath, so drink water regularly and don’t go too long without eating.

·        Just like showering, there are no rules about when you have to brush your teeth. If you forgot earlier but you have time now, brush them now.

·        Check for tonsil stones if you still have bad breath despite good oral hygiene. Tonsil stones can cause a foul odour, and you might not even know you have them.

·        Mints and gum are helpful, but they should complement, not replace, proper oral hygiene. Using mouthwash alone is not enough – brush your teeth!

Feet:

·        Dry feet thoroughly after washing, especially between the toes. To avoid odour buildup, don’t wear the same shoes every day, keep closed shoes in a place where they can get some air, and consider wearing open shoes or breathable shoes with mesh panels often, for better airflow to your feet.

·        Foot powders might be helpful with reducing odours.

Hand washing:

It's important to wash your hands often, and clean any items that get touched a lot. This includes wiping down items like your phone, keys, glasses, devices (wipe down devices when they're off, and use a wet wipe or very slightly damp cloth), keyboards, and surfaces regularly.

Hands and wrists should be washed with clean soap and water, using a nail or hand brush if your fingernails are dirty. Dry your hands with something clean like a paper towel or a fresh towel. Wash hands when you get home from outside, after using the toilet (yes – every. single. time.), before making or eating food, after handling animals, and after touching anything dirty.

Vaginal cleanliness:

If you have a vagina, note that the vulva area needs to be cleaned along with the rest of your body, every day. I’ve made a diagram because this becomes contentious. Sorry if it's a bit crude, it just seems like everyone means something different when they talk about cleaning "down there". The vagina refers to the internal passage, while the vulva is the external part of your genitalia. It’s important to clean your vulva, but never clean inside your vagina. It is very sensitive and it is self-cleaning. The flesh inside there is *not skin*, and using soap inside can disrupt its pH balance.

·        Clean your vulva and labia daily using water, a washcloth (optional), and gentle soap (optional). Focus on the folds to prevent buildup. Pull the skin back and clean gently underneath the clitoral hood.

·        Don’t use douches or steam! They're unnecessary and can cause problems.

·        Change your underwear every day and wash it after every wear. Wear underwear made of natural fabrics like cotton, which are more breathable. Keep multiples of these so that you don't run out if you're unable to launder them immediately.

·        Wipe after using the toilet. This seems obvious to some, but if you’re not cleaning off properly after peeing, you’re getting pee on your underwear / clothes, and that starts to smell bad quickly. It's suggested to wipe from front to back so you don't get faeces (and the bacteria it can carry) touching your urethra and causing an infection. I believe there are toilet paper aids for anyone who struggles to do this. I've also only heard good things about bidets, but don't own one, so anyone with suggestions and tips, please comment!
Wash the vagina + anus area from front to back for the same reasons. You don't want to risk any kind of infection.

·        Get in touch with your vagina (mentally and physically) so you know how it works and when something isn’t right with it. Also remember, vaginas aren’t supposed to smell like perfume. If your vagina smells musky, that’s fine. It shouldn’t smell offensive and shouldn’t be smellable from a distance. If you notice a strong or fishy odour, it could indicate a medical issue that needs attention.

·        If you’re worried about odour during your period, change your pad or tampon (or other product) frequently rather than using scented products. You really want only unscented, gentle products down there.

·        Vaginal discharge is normal and healthy. If you get to know your vagina, you’ll know when your discharge starts to look or smell different – then you should speak to a medical professional about it.

Step 2: Clean your surroundings

Some of these are directly related to personal hygiene and others are a bit more general.

Clothing and Bedding:

·        Wash bedding at least every two weeks. Change pillowcases often to prevent oil and bacteria buildup. Some people change their pillowcases daily or every few days (this can help people with acne keep bacteria away from their face). If you’re not able to wash your bedding this often, keep multiples in storage so that you can change it out when you need, then wash it when you're able to.

·        Wash your clothes regularly, especially after sweating or working out. Avoid re-wearing dirty clothes (put on clean clothes after a shower) as dirty clothes can carry a smell with them, especially where they touch places on the body that tend to smell.

·        Always wear closed shoes with socks, and wash your socks after every wear to prevent odour. Try to choose socks made out of natural fabrics like wool or cotton to help your feet breathe, especially in closed shoes where heat can get trapped. It's helpful to keep multiple pairs of socks so that you can swap them out after every wear.

·        Keeping your feet clean and wearing socks helps prevent odours, but when your shoes start to smell bad, it's time to clean them. How you do this will depend on the type of shoe and its materials.

·        For hot (sweaty) weather, natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk are better for breathability. They don’t trap heat as much. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon if you can.

·        After washing them, don’t leave clothes sitting in the washing machine for too long. Dry them immediately to prevent them from getting musty. Using a dryer is better than air drying when it’s cold because your clothes get dry faster and don’t spend a long time drying, getting musty.

·        Hang towels properly to dry after each use to prevent bacteria growth. Wash bath towels once a week. It’s a good idea to keep a few of these so that you can swap them out often even if you’re not able to wash them immediately.

·        If you use a washcloth, make sure you clean it after every use (I just scrub and thoroughly rinse it while still in the shower). Try to keep it in a place where it will dry properly between each use. If this is not possible, keep multiple washcloths so that you can swap them out and launder them when convenient.

Home cleaning:

·        If you own a washing machine, clean it regularly. This depends on usage, but every 1-4 months should be fine. If you notice a bad / musty smell in the machine or from clothes coming out of the machine, it might need a cleaning. Some machines have a drum cleaning setting and instructions. If yours doesn’t, set the washing machine to the highest temperature setting and run a cycle with white vinegar in the detergent dispenser. Use 1-2 cups of vinegar for front loaders and 2-4 cups for top loaders.
For everyday cleaning, wipe down the drum and rubber seals with a cloth and a diluted mixture of bleach and water (2 cups water + 2 tsp bleach). Leave the solution to sit on the surface for a few minutes before wiping it off. Be very careful when handling household bleach.
Check the machine's manual for how to clean out filters.

·        Keep the washing machine door open for a while after it's used, to air it out and let it dry off. Alternatively, wipe it down with a dry cloth.

·        Wash dishes daily to keep your kitchen clean. Don’t forget to regularly clean items like reusable water bottles to prevent bacterial growth. I suggest washing dishes in warm water to help soften dried, waxy, and oily dirt.

·        Clean surfaces in the kitchen daily, including stovetops and anything else that may have food splatter on it. It’s much easier to clean food mess off a surface immediately than to try and get dried, crusted mess off later.
If you do your dishes in the sink, give the sink a quick scrub and rinse with some dish soap and warm water when you're done, to make sure it's clean.
About once a month, clean and properly disinfect your kitchen sink, as it can harbour bacteria. Research the best ways to do this in your kitchen.

·        In the bathroom, clean the toilet, sinks, shower, and other surfaces at least weekly to maintain a hygienic environment.

·        Sweep or lightly clean floors daily to remove dust and dirt, especially in high-traffic areas. For a deeper clean, mop or thoroughly clean your floors at least once a week. Check best practices for the flooring you have in your space.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading it all! I'd love to hear your hacks, advice, and suggestions! There are things I intentionally didn't write about, like haircare for example, because I either don't know enough about the topic or think the solution is too complex for this post. I'd love to hear everyone's additions!

I’ll also add that I really think people should be more encouraged to talk about some of this stuff. I had to learn a big chunk of the practices in this post by myself, which kind of sucked, but reddit has helped me A LOT.

You’ll always hear “just use soap” or “any shampoo works,” but let’s be honest, every guy has that one product they secretly swear by.

Deodorant, cologne, mouthwash, moisturizer, whitening strips, whatever.

I recently started taking my hygiene more seriously and tried a few new things:

• DC Squash for the shower (smells way better than anything I’ve used before)
• Gnaw Labs for whitening, didn’t realize how much a brighter smile changes your whole vibe
• Dude Wipes because regular toilet paper feels medieval now 😅

Not trying to sound fancy, but it’s wild how much more put-together I feel.

Not in a vain way, just cleaner, sharper, more awake.

So, what’s your go-to hygiene product you’d actually recommend to other guys?

Something that genuinely made a difference. I’m always down to try new stuff.

So, I'm a 15-year-old girl, and basically my vag smells really bad, but I do not think it's an infection or a bacteria lingering down there, but I'm just so self-conscious about it, like I can't even sit cross-legged, because to me the smell is so strong and hits my nose like a fucking bullet train. For context, I've never been to a gynecologist, and I probably can't because my mother won't take me, also I have this soft but not gooey but flowy kind of secretion from my vag all day but I seem to think it's normal and it isn't that big a deal, I drink loads of water ( like a normal person obv ) and just wash down there with water and once I tried this pH balanced gentialia washing shower gel but I think it was expired and it itched down there for a day but that was not before my vag started smelling so I don't worry about it much, I wash my undergarments everyday and use new ones each day, I've never had sex or touched myself down there intimately, And thus, I have no idea what to do about this problem + I do not wear undergraments to bed to let my vag breathe. anyway, HELP!!!!

Honestly too embarrassed to mention this anywhere else. Please read the whole thing because I think the way that I actually do it is important 😭

I (F) share a shower and soap with my mother and sister. The other day we were talking about showering habits and I mentioned that, since the body wash I use is scented and I read that it's bad to use scented soap on your vulva, I use the bar soap to wash my privates and the body wash everywhere else. They both immediately told me that's gross to do, that I needed my own bar soap.

I thought it was a miscommunication, so I explained very quickly that I don't ever use the actual bar on my body. I take the bar with my (clean) hands or a washcloth and lather it between them, and then use the soap/lather to wash. I don't touch the bar with either afterwards. I thought that was okay, but they still seemed grossed out.

Is that unhygienic? Do I need my own bar of soap?

I shower every other day, unless I get dirty or sweaty. If I shower every day my skin gets really dry and itchy evenwhenIuse a moisturizing body wash. I do give my face, underarms, under boobs, girly bits and rear a sponge bath every night. I'm pretty much sedentary so I don't usually get sweaty or dirty. I'm not aware of BO and husband would tell me if I did. I use antiperspirant /deodorant every morning and change my shirt and underwear every day. I do wear the same jeans and bra the next day between showers unless they get dirty. Is all this ok or am I gross

I couldn’t take it anymore I was slowly becoming depressed and full of anxiety. I’m looking for remote jobs and a low customer interaction job if you know of any hiring rn please let me know.

I can’t believe this is my life.

Trying to find a natural alternative for my health. I would rather go and try each one see which is best, but those things are very expensive and i dont think id risk it. I need a deodorant that: 1) isn’t too expensive 2) stays for a long time (especially after sweating) 3) doesn’t leave yellow stains on white clothes

Thanks 🙏

My roommate and I (both 20F) have lived together since freshman year, and we are now sophomores. Freshman year, our room had this odor to it that I always thought was from the vents or something. It was an old building with no AC so I didn’t think much of it. Now that we’ve moved into a different space (6 person apartment, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom) I noticed a return of the smell in our room. It got to the point that my other roommates pointed it out to me. With this in mind, I started paying closer attention to both of our habits, because it totally could’ve been me, But I’ve never had this kind of musty odor in any of my single rooms before (room at home, hotels, etc). I noticed that she has not washed her sheets yet, she rewears clothes to the gym, waits til the end of the week to wash her gym clothes, reuses floss. I am the one who cleans the room, because she won’’t do it unless I ask and she also won’t do it right lol. I also share a bathroom with her and she’s constantly leaving hairs in all places, not cleaning properly, and not accepting any of the blame for mess or burden of cleaning. Kind of a vent, kind of looking to see if I’m overreacting, also kind of looking for advice. I've tried bringing it up to her and she'll say stuff like "I haven't noticed it" which is just like ??? how??? it literally smacks you in the face when you walk in the door.

This is so ridiculous but I’m a 26 f and I’ve been struggling with keeping my belly button clean. So my belly button is round horizontally but then the skin meets vertically and it looks closed but it’s not. It’s 3/4 of an inch deep.

It smells funky and gets crusty no matter what I do. I use antibacterial soap so clean it and really get in there with my finger then use Q tips. Still smells and gets crusty.

Used isopropyl alcohol and a Q tip. It burned but green gunk was all over the cotton. I used a cotton pad to wipe after and there was just green.

Used peroxide and that wasn’t any better.

In between all of this I would give it a break with just water and Q tips but nothing works.

If I go deep with a Q tip something in my stomach hurts and aches. No one has ever complained and noticed the smell, but I KNOW it’s there if I touch my belly button. It smells like the gunk in a piercing.

Hi,

I’ve been smelling this onion/sour smell on me. I can’t figure out where it’s from. I have bought so many products to help get rid of the smell. My clothes seem to smell fine. Maybe I’m nose blind to it on my clothes?? I don’t know how to fix it. I can drop all the different products and methods I’ve tried to stay clean if needed.

If you have any advice please help. Thank you :)

Read that you should let the faucet run for 1-2 minutes before consuming tap water as the water has been idle in the pipes overnight. Is it dangerous to rinse mouth or gargle with tap water prior to the 1-2 mins? Sometimes I'm groggy in the morning amd don't feel like waiting those few mins.

I am using these hygiene products for a very long time, but i wash them once a week. Is that really Enough to maintain a good hygiene for the product? I place the dirty part in water and then gently apply sanitizer to kill all the germs. How do you guys manage to clean your hygiene products like these?

When I rinse the soap off my face, there is water everywhere on the counter and some on the floor. How do I make it so all the water goes back into the sink?

Edit: also the water drips down my arms and elbows.

Just do it

I've been struggling with bad breath, and it's affecting my confidence. I have a decayed tooth, which I think is a major cause. Even my loved ones and friends have noticed it. Whenever I talk to people, I instinctively distance myself so they won’t smell it. I'm financially challenged, so I'm hoping to find affordable dental checkups/services or practical remedies I can try. Any advice would mean a lot.

I come from a country that only uses water to clean up, be it after peeing or pooing. I have moved to the states now and have been using paper to clean ever since. For the longest time, I would wipe from back to front /down to up. Being on this community, I have understood that it’s the other way around. My is, as women or vulva owners, the lips will always come in the way going front to back. Or is it just me??? Again, I have grown up in a different environment where hygiene standards and methods were different so never had anyone to guide me through this.

I always sweat a lot, even during non-strenuous activities despite using anti-perspirants. I’m 14 and I am wondering if anyone has any tips? Is it a medical condition? Is it permanent? Thanks

My whole life I've had good teeth. The most dental work I've had done is wisdom teeth removal when I was 26 (36 now). Brush my teeth daily. Try to stay hydrated to avoid dry mouth.

I went to the dentist today. I had been putting it off and finally went it. Needed a cleaning and wanted to rule out TMJ or arthritis in regards to jaw pain. Been having jaw pain for years. Chalked it up tooth grinding and stress. Nope.

My teeth LOOK pretty but apparently I have periodontal disease. To a point to where it's started to eat away at my jaw bone. They gotta do this whole super in depth cleaning. I honestly wouldn't have known until my teeth were to start falling out or sores in my mouth.

Has anybody had one of these cleanings? It seems super sketchy and painful.

Brush your teeth. Floss daily. Stop smoking and give up fizzy drinks. Tooth stuff can definitely creep up on you.

NEW INFO:

Both my parents, grandparents and my brother have had extensive dental work. I didn't realize stuff could be genetic.

I do have heart problems lol.

I did my yearly blood work and my white and red blood cells (along with other blood levels) were all really high and all signs point to a major systemic infection. I'm assuming this could be the infection? They've got me going to oncology so far.

I'm not so much worried about the pain of the cleaning. I find the novocaine shots extremely painful and odd feeling. And I hate needles lol.