T
TryingMyHardest
Junior member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2017
- Messages
- 10
Earlier this morning, a tiny flat chunk of my tooth came off. I have no idea what tooth exactly because I have a major problem of looking at my teeth. I can't look at them, it makes me go in a state of panic. And not just my teeth, any teeth. When people yawn in public, I try to look away. Seeing inside of the mouth terrifies me. I've had dental problems all my life. I am 30, I have 17 remainingvteeth and a partial denture that I hate. I forced myself to look at my teeth while brushing them today and now, I am crying because of it. The sensation of toothbrush makes me cringe. I take off my glasses while brushing my teeth so my mouth is a blur in the mirror. I have a paranoia that all my teeth are loose. I feel hopeless. I do go to the dentist on a regular basis only to discover more problems. I don't know how to overcome my fears and give myself credit for at least trying to take care of them. The worst part is that I can't talk to any of my friends or family members about it because I am afraid I sound like a broken record and it annoys them. That is why I join this forum so I can vocalize my fears to someone who can relate. I feel very lonely in my fears.
I have been wearing an acrylic upper partial for almost a year now. The sensation of it in my mouth makes me depressed. Not that it is ill fitting but just the sensation itself brings me down so much, I can't focus on anything else. Every day of wearing it is a challenge. I feel bad for feeling bad if it makes any sense. I try to remind myself that I am not in fact missing a limb, that there are people who have to wear prosthetic arms and legs and they have courage to live full lives. However, having to wear dental appliances at the young age (30 yo) causes so much internal struggle. My front teeth are shifting and having a denture doesn't help. I hate my teeth and I hate myself because of it. I feel like a horrible person for complaining about it. I should be grateful that I am alive and overall healthy. But having bad teeth is like a life sentence with no possibility of parole. I see my dentist more often than I see my friends. Every time I get in the dentist chair, part of me dies. There is no remission between my visits. So much work has been done and there is always more. I cannot recall a period in my life time without having some sort of dental problem. I don't remember last time I smiled without feeling self conscious.
Every time I floss, I get panic attacks. I feel as if all my teeth are loose and by flossing, I will damage fillings and crowns I already have. Any amount of pressure on my teeth whether from floss or even toothbrush makes me cry. I brush every day at least twice. But flossing requires a special mindset. At times, I can't force myself to do it and feel horrible for not being able to overcome the fear. I am aware of regular flossing benefits,but the sensation itself makes me cringe and cry like a baby. I don't know how to overcome it.
I have been wearing an acrylic upper partial for almost a year now. The sensation of it in my mouth makes me depressed. Not that it is ill fitting but just the sensation itself brings me down so much, I can't focus on anything else. Every day of wearing it is a challenge. I feel bad for feeling bad if it makes any sense. I try to remind myself that I am not in fact missing a limb, that there are people who have to wear prosthetic arms and legs and they have courage to live full lives. However, having to wear dental appliances at the young age (30 yo) causes so much internal struggle. My front teeth are shifting and having a denture doesn't help. I hate my teeth and I hate myself because of it. I feel like a horrible person for complaining about it. I should be grateful that I am alive and overall healthy. But having bad teeth is like a life sentence with no possibility of parole. I see my dentist more often than I see my friends. Every time I get in the dentist chair, part of me dies. There is no remission between my visits. So much work has been done and there is always more. I cannot recall a period in my life time without having some sort of dental problem. I don't remember last time I smiled without feeling self conscious.
Every time I floss, I get panic attacks. I feel as if all my teeth are loose and by flossing, I will damage fillings and crowns I already have. Any amount of pressure on my teeth whether from floss or even toothbrush makes me cry. I brush every day at least twice. But flossing requires a special mindset. At times, I can't force myself to do it and feel horrible for not being able to overcome the fear. I am aware of regular flossing benefits,but the sensation itself makes me cringe and cry like a baby. I don't know how to overcome it.
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