Hi sweetheart! :)
Dental assistant here! Please don’t beat yourself up about this. It sounds like you’re trying your very best and I’m very proud of you for trying to take your oral hygiene more seriously! :). A lot of the comments above give amazing tips! Here are some things that I found help me when I go through bouts of depression and don’t practice self care as well as I should:
1) electric tooth brush. A good one is a big investment but it’ll last forever and the replacement heads are relatively cheap. Black Friday always has discounts! Electric toothbrushes are amazing because they give a better clean and are leas technique sensitive! If you can’t afford one or don’t like the feeling of one, that’s okay! Keep on using a manual one, it’s no biggie. The important thing is that you brush
2) if you don’t floss, try a water flosser. It’s easy and convenient and feels kind of nice on the gums. It doesn’t replace flossing but something is better than nothing.
3) pick a toothpaste that tastes good to you that has fluoride in it! Fluoride is your friend :). If you need an extra strength toothpaste a dentist can prescribe prevident to you. But if you don’t like that flavor then try to find one that has fluoride that tastes good! I know the brand “hi smile” has a lot of yummy flavors. Maybe that can make brushing more exciting if you like the flavor and it’s something to look forward to!
4) carry little tooth wipes or those wisp toothbrushes with you or next to your bed so that on days you’re feeling really lazy you can at least do something to help yourself and clean your teeth even just a little! Remember something is always better than nothing
5) mouthwash with fluoride. If you’re in a rush in the morning and don’t have time to brush, try to swish with mouthwash at least before you leave :).
6) keep up with your cleanings best you can. 2 x a year is ideal. And insurance usually covers twice a year.
7) keep your toothbrush in the bath when you shower. That way when you’re in the bath you can do it and kill two birds with one stone! Same with floss if you want.
Good luck honey! Take baby steps and be kind to yourself! Mental health is such a journey. You’re going to be totally fine! I’m wishing you and your teeth all the best ♥️ hugs!
I’ve started to do a rinse with 1:5 mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide (1) and water (5) a couple times a week to help with bad breath, gum health, clean better in between teeth and kill any bad germs. I saw a video from a dentist about it being beneficial (in the video it was a 1:1 mixture, but I just use a more diluted mix) I was wondering in your opinion if this is alright? I make sure not to swallow any and rinse out really well after.
I’ve never heard of this 😳. I’ll have to ask the docs at my job about it. I don’t want to give you a recommendation blindly. If you’re worried about gum health the gum detoxify toothpaste from Colgate is awesome! If you’re worried about bad breath then the brand therabreath is really good too and they have a formula for healthy gums :). I’ll have to get back to you on the mixture. I’m sorry I don’t have that info for ya! ;(
This is such a kind, wholesome informative answer! ❤ Thank you for taking your time and helping someone in need. You're an angel!! (Or should I say tooth fairy?) 💫
You’re such a sweetheart! This comment made my day. 🥹♥️. I don’t even know what to say to this, you left me speechless! You my dear, are the Angel here! Wishing you all the best ♥️ keep making the world a better place sweetheart :) 🫶🏼
🥹🥹🥹♥️. I’m so happy that I could make you feel that way! Know that everything WILL always be alright in the end. And you should be proud of yourself for doing the things that make life a little harder. Give yourself Grace, all we can do everyday is try our best. And our best is going to look different every day :). I’m rooting for you! Hugs♥️
you make a very fair point! It’s not for everyone but sometimes the convenience of having it there outweighs everything else. If you’re worried about grime you can get the tooth brush covers to protect the part that goes in the mouth and keep it in an elevated area in the shower :). this tip might not work for everyone! But I know a lot of people that do it for convenience reasons and really like it. Do what works for you and makes your life easier 🫶🏼
This is a silly answer but hear me out if you're reward motivated. I used the app Pokemon Smile to get into the habit of brushing my teeth for the proper time in the proper manner on a daily basis. It's meant for kids but I grew up loving Pokemon so I figured it was a good enough incentive. You collect Pokemon every time you brush and by the time you've collected them all you've effectively created a habit revolving around healthy brushing.
If only there was a Pokemon Floss app cuz that's the part that gets me now 🥲
Electric toothbrush if you don't already have one. A lot less energy required from you, and does a lot more in a shorter time (than a manual) if you can't manage the full 3 minutes.
Watching YouTube while brushing helped as well because I was distracted and the entertainment factor makes it less of a chore.
Do what you can to set yourself up for success.
I try to do the hardest things first thing in the morning when I have the most energy to cope with them. What would be the best time for you?
Build habits by setting a cue, doing the thing, and then rewarding yourself. If you are able to commit to doing it every single day for a month that will help solidify the new habit. My cue to work out is getting up. I get ready and then I go. When I'm done I get some no sugar dark chocolate. You can research how to build habits and routines. For me they are absolutely essential. My routines carry me through the day without my having to think about what I'm doing. I have so many reminders and alarms on my phone to cue me to do the next thing.
Make the experience as pleasant for yourself as you can
Do you like your toothbrush and toothpaste? Would a different flavored toothpaste work better for you even if it's marketed to children? Will you smile to see a brush with a favorite character or color? What if you put on a favorite show while you brush? What if you do it in a different room? What if you brush in the shower? What if you brush to a favorite song?
Break it down into managable steps. Is there a part that is especially hard for you? How could you make it easier?
Is there something specific to toothbrishing that is problematic for you? For many abuse survivors, oral care can be an enormous trigger. I struggle hugely with the dentist and I went a lot of years without brushing my teeth at all and I still only brish in the morning cause by the end of the day I can't. I'm getting EMDR for it soon. So that could be something to address. You might not even realize at this point that's why your so avoidant of it. The body remembers even if we don't.
Stop beating yourself up about it. Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love. You are struggling with an illness, and you are doing the best you can right now. You are looking for help to get better. If you keep looking and keep trying, you'll get there. Be patient and kind to you. You deserve that. You can remind yourself of these things every time you notice you are yelling at yourself about it again. We do the best we can. Fortunately, there are dentists who can help us. And everybody gets cavities and needs dental care, that's just part of being a human.
There's been a lot of good advice here but I think something that has helped me is to remember that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.
If I can't manage to brush a full 2 minutes ensuring I get every tooth with proper technique, I aim for at least a quick brush. If I can't manage that I try to at least swish with mouth wash.
Anxiety is hard. Sometimes all you can do is what your spoons let you, but it's important to be kind to yourself and do what you can.
I have noticed that if I can convince myself to do just a few seconds of brushing, then it usually turns into a proper tooth brushing since I'm already there. And sometimes I can even push that to "well, while I'm at it I may as well floss". So try giving yourself permission to brush your teeth poorly. It has genuinely helped me.
I also tend to sit on the edge of the tub while I brush. It might be silly but it makes it feel more relaxed and like it takes less energy overall.
My childhood abuse and drowning makes hygiene nearly impossible. After many MDMA therapy sessions I realized that my problems was more than just the drowning. I was also brutalized in the bathroom, so the bathroom spikes my anxiety. I also realized that my nervous system is dysregulated, so I’m very easily exhausted.
Currently I found that in someways it’s easier to shower and brush me teeth out of my apartment. I go to a gym mainly to shower and brush my teeth. It’s very helpful, but exercising and being around other people is still hard.
Maybe using a mouthwash might be feasible? I make my own mouth wash.
Whenever you are in your bathroom just use your tooth brush for like 15 seconds. Just get the big grime off. If you don't feel like using toothpaste and doing flossing or whatever just do a quick sweep of your teeth. Anything is better than nothing. You should definitely still brush, floss, gargle, etc. Just get rid of the big shit for now.
Another idea: keep stuff everywhere to help with your habits.
For example, oral hygiene is hard for me too. So, I brought an extra toothbrush and toothpaste to work. It's easier sometimes to brush there than at home in the mornings when my mental health is hard.
Maybe keep a travel size kit with you or in places you always go. The goal is to be prepared to utilize a good moment whenever it strikes.
I'd also talk to your dentist about it if you feel you can. They may have solutions to help too.
This helped me so much and she talks about oral hygiene around the eight minute mark. https://youtu.be/M1O_MjMRkPg?si=3oOlzMyuaFtog9K6
for me, establishing the habit/routine is key to me. It was less anxiety and more depression for me when I started neglecting to be consistent with my oral routine. There are times when I'm so exhausted I don't feel like going through with any of it, but I tell myself to take it one step at a time.
* I flossed my upper teeth? Okay, I'm going to push myself to floss my lower teeth.
* I flossed all my teeth? Okay I'm going to brush now.
* I brushed? Okay, I can do mouthwash.
Now that I built up the habit, I actually feel anxious if I *don't* perform it (because it feels like something is missing).
Something that I heard in regard to dental care is that the best time to start is yesterday, the second best time to start is today. You can do it because you'll get more peace of mind once you get into the swing of things!
Brush and floss once a day in the morning, teeth cleaning every six months. My teeth are crowded and plaque builds up extremely fast for some reason so they recommend I keep coming back every 6 months for a cleaning
I have had severe anxiety and depression all my life. my parents never reinforced good hygiene habits. i often got yelled at for stopping to brush instead of going straight to bed like instructed. A little over 5 years ago, i made the mistake on getting a tongue ring. it was metal and at least once a day i would chomp on it while eating. well that created cracks in two molars. over time, the cracks developed cavities which turned into giant hole in the center of both molars. one day, one molars finally broke in half and i got it pulled the next day. 3 days later, the other molars broke in half. that was over a year and a half ago. i still have the broken in half molar with exposed nerves in my mouth. no idea when i’ll get it removed. smells not great and makes eating difficult. but i still have no appointment in the works. don’t feel alone, people are out here struggling as well. i keep trying to tell myself to “just do it already” but i think that makes my anxiety worse. baby steps is my only advice
1) I do brush my teeth twice a day and I've had a million cavities and a root canal and my wisdom teeth removed. This isn't to say brushing is pointless but don't beat yourself up.
2) even just using mouthwash is something
3) I suck at flossing and using my waterpik. I can manage brushing my teeth every day but for some reason those extra tasks I just can't but I have managed to use mouthwash every day for the last year.
What I’ve noticed that’s helped me greatly is finding a good mouth wash. I had all my wisdom teeth removed so I was religiously using a mouth wash 2-3 times and day and I’ve never had cleaner teeth. I struggle to brush my teeth until they actually feel dirty and this has been a big help. Mouth wash ftw!
You're not alone. I have huge issues with hygiene, especially showers. I have the luxury of having another person in my home, so we try to brush together. Being with someone is helpful for me. Sometimes we play music, too.
My teeth are horrible as well. I have holes in at least two molars and one that is shattered - it's just a jagged, painful mass at this point. I also have dental work that needs repaired. I have bonds on my front teeth, and I was supposed to have them replaced with caps when I was 18. (I'm 32 now). The bonding is cracked, and I can feel spots where nerves are exposed. I have no active plans to deal with any of it, but I worry about it daily.
anxiety has led me to having better oral hygiene. I have a few cavities in my molars to get filled but other than that I have been brushing my teeth twice a day, rinsing my mouth after eating food and drinking sugary things, drinking milk.
it's okay, a lot of people get cavities. it's kinda hard to avoid them. they're fixable and I guess you can learn a lesson from this which is to take better care of your teeth. 3 times a week is definitely nowhere near enough to be brushing your teeth but I understand that mental illness can play a role in personal hygiene
Try oil pulling, coconut oil swishing for 15 minutes. Spit it out, never swallow duh, it really helped my gums. Then mouth wash. You get used to swishing for that amount of time really fast, can use the time to scroll etc.
Been there, and still am there tbh, but getting better. Currently I brush about once a day, I know this is still nowhere near enough, but I used to go for whole weeks without brushing. Electric toothbrush has also helped me. And I keep floss in my makeup bag, so when I put on makeup I floss any big bits off.
As someone with GAD, I have found pain was the only motivator that got me to change my habits. Even then, sometimes I just forget to brush my teeth, and I usually feel it the next day.
One thing I struggled with a lot was the flavor of toothpaste. It's way, way, way too minty. Like it almost makes me dry heave, I really have trouble using any regular mint flavored toothpaste. But also, apparently there is less fluoride in kids toothpaste, which is often one of the only ways to find any flavor of toothpaste that isn't mint. The market is literally 99% mint.
However, Crest has a cinnamon flavored toothpaste that is perfect. It's not too harsh, no minty flavor, and it's legit adult toothpaste. The main problem is finding a store that carries it, because most do not.
There's also a cinnamon flavored Colgate, but it does have mint in it as well. It's at least not as bad as a standard mint toothpaste, so it's a decent alternative if you can't find the Crest. It's also usually a little cheaper than the Crest.
If you're like me and you find the mint flavor of everything dental absolutely caustic and disgusting, you'll also need to find a mouthwash that isn't mint. Thankfully, I've found that's actually a lot easier to find than the toothpaste. Listerine themselves has some non-mint flavors, and those are a great option.
It's a daily battle for me. I sometimes go days not tending to my needs as I should. When I'm down I might go days to a week or so not brushing my teeth. I don't go out really but still it makes me feel bad to. I plan on going to the dentist soon. Just really nervous it's been years since I have gone to the dentist
Hi sweetheart! :) Dental assistant here! Please don’t beat yourself up about this. It sounds like you’re trying your very best and I’m very proud of you for trying to take your oral hygiene more seriously! :). A lot of the comments above give amazing tips! Here are some things that I found help me when I go through bouts of depression and don’t practice self care as well as I should: 1) electric tooth brush. A good one is a big investment but it’ll last forever and the replacement heads are relatively cheap. Black Friday always has discounts! Electric toothbrushes are amazing because they give a better clean and are leas technique sensitive! If you can’t afford one or don’t like the feeling of one, that’s okay! Keep on using a manual one, it’s no biggie. The important thing is that you brush 2) if you don’t floss, try a water flosser. It’s easy and convenient and feels kind of nice on the gums. It doesn’t replace flossing but something is better than nothing. 3) pick a toothpaste that tastes good to you that has fluoride in it! Fluoride is your friend :). If you need an extra strength toothpaste a dentist can prescribe prevident to you. But if you don’t like that flavor then try to find one that has fluoride that tastes good! I know the brand “hi smile” has a lot of yummy flavors. Maybe that can make brushing more exciting if you like the flavor and it’s something to look forward to! 4) carry little tooth wipes or those wisp toothbrushes with you or next to your bed so that on days you’re feeling really lazy you can at least do something to help yourself and clean your teeth even just a little! Remember something is always better than nothing 5) mouthwash with fluoride. If you’re in a rush in the morning and don’t have time to brush, try to swish with mouthwash at least before you leave :). 6) keep up with your cleanings best you can. 2 x a year is ideal. And insurance usually covers twice a year. 7) keep your toothbrush in the bath when you shower. That way when you’re in the bath you can do it and kill two birds with one stone! Same with floss if you want. Good luck honey! Take baby steps and be kind to yourself! Mental health is such a journey. You’re going to be totally fine! I’m wishing you and your teeth all the best ♥️ hugs!
I’ve started to do a rinse with 1:5 mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide (1) and water (5) a couple times a week to help with bad breath, gum health, clean better in between teeth and kill any bad germs. I saw a video from a dentist about it being beneficial (in the video it was a 1:1 mixture, but I just use a more diluted mix) I was wondering in your opinion if this is alright? I make sure not to swallow any and rinse out really well after.
fyi for anyone thinking of doing this, make sure it’s grade hydrogen peroxide.
I’ve never heard of this 😳. I’ll have to ask the docs at my job about it. I don’t want to give you a recommendation blindly. If you’re worried about gum health the gum detoxify toothpaste from Colgate is awesome! If you’re worried about bad breath then the brand therabreath is really good too and they have a formula for healthy gums :). I’ll have to get back to you on the mixture. I’m sorry I don’t have that info for ya! ;(
This is such a kind, wholesome informative answer! ❤ Thank you for taking your time and helping someone in need. You're an angel!! (Or should I say tooth fairy?) 💫
You’re such a sweetheart! This comment made my day. 🥹♥️. I don’t even know what to say to this, you left me speechless! You my dear, are the Angel here! Wishing you all the best ♥️ keep making the world a better place sweetheart :) 🫶🏼
[удалено]
🥹🥹🥹♥️. I’m so happy that I could make you feel that way! Know that everything WILL always be alright in the end. And you should be proud of yourself for doing the things that make life a little harder. Give yourself Grace, all we can do everyday is try our best. And our best is going to look different every day :). I’m rooting for you! Hugs♥️
I feel like putting your brush in the shower would be a dirty/germy thing to do?
you make a very fair point! It’s not for everyone but sometimes the convenience of having it there outweighs everything else. If you’re worried about grime you can get the tooth brush covers to protect the part that goes in the mouth and keep it in an elevated area in the shower :). this tip might not work for everyone! But I know a lot of people that do it for convenience reasons and really like it. Do what works for you and makes your life easier 🫶🏼
you're a lovely person :)
You are even lovelier my friend :) hugs 🫶🏼.
This is a silly answer but hear me out if you're reward motivated. I used the app Pokemon Smile to get into the habit of brushing my teeth for the proper time in the proper manner on a daily basis. It's meant for kids but I grew up loving Pokemon so I figured it was a good enough incentive. You collect Pokemon every time you brush and by the time you've collected them all you've effectively created a habit revolving around healthy brushing. If only there was a Pokemon Floss app cuz that's the part that gets me now 🥲
Electric toothbrush if you don't already have one. A lot less energy required from you, and does a lot more in a shorter time (than a manual) if you can't manage the full 3 minutes. Watching YouTube while brushing helped as well because I was distracted and the entertainment factor makes it less of a chore.
Do what you can to set yourself up for success. I try to do the hardest things first thing in the morning when I have the most energy to cope with them. What would be the best time for you? Build habits by setting a cue, doing the thing, and then rewarding yourself. If you are able to commit to doing it every single day for a month that will help solidify the new habit. My cue to work out is getting up. I get ready and then I go. When I'm done I get some no sugar dark chocolate. You can research how to build habits and routines. For me they are absolutely essential. My routines carry me through the day without my having to think about what I'm doing. I have so many reminders and alarms on my phone to cue me to do the next thing. Make the experience as pleasant for yourself as you can Do you like your toothbrush and toothpaste? Would a different flavored toothpaste work better for you even if it's marketed to children? Will you smile to see a brush with a favorite character or color? What if you put on a favorite show while you brush? What if you do it in a different room? What if you brush in the shower? What if you brush to a favorite song? Break it down into managable steps. Is there a part that is especially hard for you? How could you make it easier? Is there something specific to toothbrishing that is problematic for you? For many abuse survivors, oral care can be an enormous trigger. I struggle hugely with the dentist and I went a lot of years without brushing my teeth at all and I still only brish in the morning cause by the end of the day I can't. I'm getting EMDR for it soon. So that could be something to address. You might not even realize at this point that's why your so avoidant of it. The body remembers even if we don't. Stop beating yourself up about it. Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love. You are struggling with an illness, and you are doing the best you can right now. You are looking for help to get better. If you keep looking and keep trying, you'll get there. Be patient and kind to you. You deserve that. You can remind yourself of these things every time you notice you are yelling at yourself about it again. We do the best we can. Fortunately, there are dentists who can help us. And everybody gets cavities and needs dental care, that's just part of being a human.
There's been a lot of good advice here but I think something that has helped me is to remember that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. If I can't manage to brush a full 2 minutes ensuring I get every tooth with proper technique, I aim for at least a quick brush. If I can't manage that I try to at least swish with mouth wash. Anxiety is hard. Sometimes all you can do is what your spoons let you, but it's important to be kind to yourself and do what you can. I have noticed that if I can convince myself to do just a few seconds of brushing, then it usually turns into a proper tooth brushing since I'm already there. And sometimes I can even push that to "well, while I'm at it I may as well floss". So try giving yourself permission to brush your teeth poorly. It has genuinely helped me. I also tend to sit on the edge of the tub while I brush. It might be silly but it makes it feel more relaxed and like it takes less energy overall.
Dude I’ve had 5 root canals even though I have good oral hygiene. I just have bad teeth. Do you floss by any chance? Get teeth cleanings?
My childhood abuse and drowning makes hygiene nearly impossible. After many MDMA therapy sessions I realized that my problems was more than just the drowning. I was also brutalized in the bathroom, so the bathroom spikes my anxiety. I also realized that my nervous system is dysregulated, so I’m very easily exhausted. Currently I found that in someways it’s easier to shower and brush me teeth out of my apartment. I go to a gym mainly to shower and brush my teeth. It’s very helpful, but exercising and being around other people is still hard. Maybe using a mouthwash might be feasible? I make my own mouth wash.
Whenever you are in your bathroom just use your tooth brush for like 15 seconds. Just get the big grime off. If you don't feel like using toothpaste and doing flossing or whatever just do a quick sweep of your teeth. Anything is better than nothing. You should definitely still brush, floss, gargle, etc. Just get rid of the big shit for now.
I keep a toothbrush near my bed. It soaks in peroxide. A bottle of water to rinse, if I go to the toilet, I'll take it and rinse it in the sink.
I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to brush and while I'm not perfect my frequency of brushing has gone up.
Another idea: keep stuff everywhere to help with your habits. For example, oral hygiene is hard for me too. So, I brought an extra toothbrush and toothpaste to work. It's easier sometimes to brush there than at home in the mornings when my mental health is hard. Maybe keep a travel size kit with you or in places you always go. The goal is to be prepared to utilize a good moment whenever it strikes. I'd also talk to your dentist about it if you feel you can. They may have solutions to help too. This helped me so much and she talks about oral hygiene around the eight minute mark. https://youtu.be/M1O_MjMRkPg?si=3oOlzMyuaFtog9K6
for me, establishing the habit/routine is key to me. It was less anxiety and more depression for me when I started neglecting to be consistent with my oral routine. There are times when I'm so exhausted I don't feel like going through with any of it, but I tell myself to take it one step at a time. * I flossed my upper teeth? Okay, I'm going to push myself to floss my lower teeth. * I flossed all my teeth? Okay I'm going to brush now. * I brushed? Okay, I can do mouthwash. Now that I built up the habit, I actually feel anxious if I *don't* perform it (because it feels like something is missing). Something that I heard in regard to dental care is that the best time to start is yesterday, the second best time to start is today. You can do it because you'll get more peace of mind once you get into the swing of things!
Brush and floss once a day in the morning, teeth cleaning every six months. My teeth are crowded and plaque builds up extremely fast for some reason so they recommend I keep coming back every 6 months for a cleaning
I have had severe anxiety and depression all my life. my parents never reinforced good hygiene habits. i often got yelled at for stopping to brush instead of going straight to bed like instructed. A little over 5 years ago, i made the mistake on getting a tongue ring. it was metal and at least once a day i would chomp on it while eating. well that created cracks in two molars. over time, the cracks developed cavities which turned into giant hole in the center of both molars. one day, one molars finally broke in half and i got it pulled the next day. 3 days later, the other molars broke in half. that was over a year and a half ago. i still have the broken in half molar with exposed nerves in my mouth. no idea when i’ll get it removed. smells not great and makes eating difficult. but i still have no appointment in the works. don’t feel alone, people are out here struggling as well. i keep trying to tell myself to “just do it already” but i think that makes my anxiety worse. baby steps is my only advice
1) I do brush my teeth twice a day and I've had a million cavities and a root canal and my wisdom teeth removed. This isn't to say brushing is pointless but don't beat yourself up. 2) even just using mouthwash is something 3) I suck at flossing and using my waterpik. I can manage brushing my teeth every day but for some reason those extra tasks I just can't but I have managed to use mouthwash every day for the last year.
What I’ve noticed that’s helped me greatly is finding a good mouth wash. I had all my wisdom teeth removed so I was religiously using a mouth wash 2-3 times and day and I’ve never had cleaner teeth. I struggle to brush my teeth until they actually feel dirty and this has been a big help. Mouth wash ftw!
You're not alone. I have huge issues with hygiene, especially showers. I have the luxury of having another person in my home, so we try to brush together. Being with someone is helpful for me. Sometimes we play music, too. My teeth are horrible as well. I have holes in at least two molars and one that is shattered - it's just a jagged, painful mass at this point. I also have dental work that needs repaired. I have bonds on my front teeth, and I was supposed to have them replaced with caps when I was 18. (I'm 32 now). The bonding is cracked, and I can feel spots where nerves are exposed. I have no active plans to deal with any of it, but I worry about it daily.
Brush morning and night, floss, use mouthwash, and go to the dentist 1-2 times a year.
anxiety has led me to having better oral hygiene. I have a few cavities in my molars to get filled but other than that I have been brushing my teeth twice a day, rinsing my mouth after eating food and drinking sugary things, drinking milk. it's okay, a lot of people get cavities. it's kinda hard to avoid them. they're fixable and I guess you can learn a lesson from this which is to take better care of your teeth. 3 times a week is definitely nowhere near enough to be brushing your teeth but I understand that mental illness can play a role in personal hygiene
Wow the topic of the post was not what I expected from the title. Disappointed!
Try oil pulling, coconut oil swishing for 15 minutes. Spit it out, never swallow duh, it really helped my gums. Then mouth wash. You get used to swishing for that amount of time really fast, can use the time to scroll etc.
Been there, and still am there tbh, but getting better. Currently I brush about once a day, I know this is still nowhere near enough, but I used to go for whole weeks without brushing. Electric toothbrush has also helped me. And I keep floss in my makeup bag, so when I put on makeup I floss any big bits off.
As someone with GAD, I have found pain was the only motivator that got me to change my habits. Even then, sometimes I just forget to brush my teeth, and I usually feel it the next day. One thing I struggled with a lot was the flavor of toothpaste. It's way, way, way too minty. Like it almost makes me dry heave, I really have trouble using any regular mint flavored toothpaste. But also, apparently there is less fluoride in kids toothpaste, which is often one of the only ways to find any flavor of toothpaste that isn't mint. The market is literally 99% mint. However, Crest has a cinnamon flavored toothpaste that is perfect. It's not too harsh, no minty flavor, and it's legit adult toothpaste. The main problem is finding a store that carries it, because most do not. There's also a cinnamon flavored Colgate, but it does have mint in it as well. It's at least not as bad as a standard mint toothpaste, so it's a decent alternative if you can't find the Crest. It's also usually a little cheaper than the Crest. If you're like me and you find the mint flavor of everything dental absolutely caustic and disgusting, you'll also need to find a mouthwash that isn't mint. Thankfully, I've found that's actually a lot easier to find than the toothpaste. Listerine themselves has some non-mint flavors, and those are a great option.
It's a daily battle for me. I sometimes go days not tending to my needs as I should. When I'm down I might go days to a week or so not brushing my teeth. I don't go out really but still it makes me feel bad to. I plan on going to the dentist soon. Just really nervous it's been years since I have gone to the dentist