Story My experience caring about dental hygiene after long-term neglect

[kuniwan]

Sharing my ups and downs with dental care and hoping you guys can share your hygiene struggles too.

Last year I decided to suck it up and schedule a visit with the dentist for the first time in 6 years… around 2 weeks or so before the visit I tried to brush daily so I would feel less nervous. When I was there I lied about brushing daily (I mean I guess i technically did at that point! Lol) but I did tell them I never flossed. They responded by explaining the importance of flossing… which felt a little patronizing tbh because my problem was getting myself motivated enough to do it but ofc I don't blame them

It felt like they were a little judgemental to me for that to be honest, but they remained cordial so I don't care. In the end, I was diagnosed with 6 cavities, gingivitis and learned that my wisdom teeth were in pretty bad shape. What I didn't like was that they immediately tried charging me treatments with such brief education that it almost felt a little predatory? For example, I told them I did not use a regular tooth brush to which they recommended an electric toothbrush would be better for my teeth. They proceeded to try and charge me $150 for an electric toothbrush… I took it off my charges and bought a different one for $60.

Anyways, I scheduled subsequent appointments to get my cavities fixed, future cleaning appointments, and they also gave me this mouthwash regimen to use for my gingivitis that I never followed (oops).

However, since then I would say I DO brush and floss better overall, even it's still not great. Sometimes I'm able to do it once everyday, sometimes I only floss, or just nothing. Never twice a day.

Today, I brushed my teeth for the first time in a month in a half, and flossed in likely 3 weeks. While my cavities are fixed now, I still need to figure out the logistics and finances for my wisdom teeth. Anyways just sharing to show that progress isn't really linear or perfect, but it for sure counts for something.

 

[Mooncry]

Teeth brushing is something I've always struggled with. As a kid, I never did it, and my parents never checked or told me to. (Not even the worst of the neglect I experienced, but I digress.) It took me until my mid-teens to finally start doing it somewhat regularly because I didn't want to have terrible breath.

Now I do it pretty consistently every other day, right before showering. I also floss every time, which having the little floss picks instead of the string floss helps a ton, especially with my small mouth. I've found that having a YouTube video to watch while I do it makes it so much more tolerable also.

I dunno why I've always hated doing it so much. It's just boring and doesn't give me any dopamine I guess lol. But it does feel great to have a clean mouth. ^-^

 

[GhostInTheMachine]

I too have struggled with dental hygiene, but have been getting better. While I still don't brush every day, it's gotten better and my tolerance for how dirty my mouth gets before I force myself to do it has become smaller. The floss picks help a ton, and I use really nice brushes and toothpaste. Still gotta work my way up to every day.

 

[kuniwan]

Teeth brushing is something I've always struggled with. As a kid, I never did it, and my parents never checked or told me to. (Not even the worst of the neglect I experienced, but I digress.) It took me until my mid-teens to finally start doing it somewhat regularly because I didn't want to have terrible breath.

Now I do it pretty consistently every other day, right before showering. I also floss every time, which having the little floss picks instead of the string floss helps a ton, especially with my small mouth. I've found that having a YouTube video to watch while I do it makes it so much more tolerable also.

I dunno why I've always hated doing it so much. It's just boring and doesn't give me any dopamine I guess lol. But it does feel great to have a clean mouth. ^-^

Ohh combining brushing with showering is a great idea!! thanks so much for sharing your experience e

I too have struggled with dental hygiene, but have been getting better. While I still don't brush every day, it's gotten better and my tolerance for how dirty my mouth gets before I force myself to do it has become smaller. The floss picks help a ton, and I use really nice brushes and toothpaste. Still gotta work my way up to every day.

Floss picks are a total life saver!! Im glad you're getting better ad well

 

[hammerhead239]

Teeth brushing is something I've always struggled with. As a kid, I never did it, and my parents never checked or told me to. (Not even the worst of the neglect I experienced, but I digress.) It took me until my mid-teens to finally start doing it somewhat regularly because I didn't want to have terrible breath.

Now I do it pretty consistently every other day, right before showering. I also floss every time, which having the little floss picks instead of the string floss helps a ton, especially with my small mouth. I've found that having a YouTube video to watch while I do it makes it so much more tolerable also.

I dunno why I've always hated doing it so much. It's just boring and doesn't give me any dopamine I guess lol. But it does feel great to have a clean mouth. ^-^

My mom used to force brush my teeth and that's what really caused any long term aversion. People need to let their kids figure their teeth out on their own pls I would have done so on my own eventually without needing a constant uncomfortable reminder every time I apply any brushy pressure to them. It's similar to the discomfort people feel when hearing metal scratch a chalk board or ceramic plate it is terrible

 

[Preh1storic_Rib]

Growing up the dentist was always a scary place the few times I went. My father was an immigrant who lived in the country and couldn't afford dental care. My mother often liked to tell the story about how the first thing she made him do when they dated was go to the dentist. My father had all his molars pulled. I don't remember if that was part of the story or if she just left it implied considering I knew what his mouth looked like. I was horrified either way and so it never occured to me it was odd that I rarely went to the dentist. I was just grateful to not have to worry about it.

My family did eat really healthy, no juice, no sticky food, etc. I'm not sure if that contributed as much as I feel like it did, but despite not brushing my teeth often, they rarely hurt. I did floss a lot though, My dad carried around cinnamon toothpicks everywhere, and my mom always had a bag of those plastic flossers in her purse.

I know I got a filling at some point, but otherwise the only dentist visit I remember was my last one in highschool. They tried to scare me into taking care of my teeth(my mom told me in the car ride home that they explained to her it wasn't so serious), by saying I needed some sort of treatment on all my gums that would have turned them a blue-ish black.
I don't remember what it was called, but the fact that they had jumped straight to that and wouldn't tell me why made me distrust them even more at the time. I needed a cavity treated, and probably to get my wisdom teeth pulled(which were giving me jaw aches and migraines) but I didn't trust them and never brought it up to my parents.

Last year I started going to a dentist reccomended by a friend and had such a completely different expirience I felt like I was in shock after.
They were kind and talked me through everything they were doing and why. I had that old cavity filled and they even let me see my own x-rays. Explained I had some wear on the back of my teeth from stomach acid which may make them more temperature sensitive in the future. And asked me if I had any past head trauma as my top front teeth have a short root.
A month ago my wisdom teeth were removed at a different clinic and they weren't as nice, a bit dismissive, but still loads better than my old dentist.

I brush when I remember now and though I don't floss much, that's mostly because floss is expensive and I can't afford it. My dentist will give out some if you ask however, and I've considered going to regular check ups just for that.

All this to say, if you can, I'd try and find a clinic you feel comfortable in. I honestly never thought I'd see the dentist's office positively, but now I do, more or less.