To feel embarrassed - teeth

[screamer1]

I've not looked after my teeth. I have loads of fillings and need an implant to replace an old roof canal. I feel so ashamed.

It's like I have a mental block about looking after them. I've had 3 children in relatively quick succession. I work at night once they're asleep and often roll into bed at 2 in the morning too tired to do anything else.

I'm so ashamed and scared to go to the dentists.

You won't be the only one! Dentists are used to problem teeth.

Get them sorted. Mine were horrible (and are still far from great) but I didn't feel judged at all by the dentist and feel so much better now mine are done. The feeling when you go for check ups and don't need anything done is great.

Hey, if you go soon you can just blame it on lockdown!

I’m sure most dentists will notice worse Oral hygiene than usual from their patients once they fully reopen as many have missed their usual checkup. My dentist still isn’t open

Dentists are very understanding, but if you won't go to a dentist your teeth will never get sorted out.

No need to be ashamed, it's easy for everything to get on top of you. You know something needs to be done so how is a great time to make a change.

I work in the evenings too. I head off to work pretty much as soon as my husband gets home, and then in bed at a similar time. I have got into the routine of always doing my teeth and skin before bed no matter how tired I am. Once you are the routine of doing it, it's a lot easier to get on and do it even when really tired.

Get yourself to the dentist. I'm sure the anticipation of going will be worse than actually being seen

Do lots of people have fillings and stuff? Everyone I see seems to have perfect teeth. I can't believe I have to have one taken out.

You may be surprised that your teeth are not as bad as you think. The NHS will help to an extent but if you could afford to pay in instalments , there could well be a very reasonably priced independent dentist out there who could offer non NHS treatment designed around improving your smile and not just getting you out of pain or maintaining your bite,?

Private dentistry is not just for the rich anymore. They are selling their “product”
Just like many industries so researching on line might find you a solution you can go with . Good luck. X

My teeth are fucked too. I have a partial denture. My life goes on. I hate teeth 🦷

My teeth are a state. I look after them now but they weren’t looked after as a child and I’ve suffered as a result. You wouldn’t know from looking at the front as they’re helpfully quite straight, though a bit marked (one day I hope to get veneers but it’s too expensive just now) but I’ve got 4 back teeth missing that fell out (fell, not pulled) and haven’t been replaced as the gum couldn’t handle an implant, a full crown, a couple of basically whole tooth fillings, and my front teeth have multiple white fillings in, to the point I can’t get teeth whitening because they’d look marbled. I also have half a front tooth replaced. I am generally well groomed and I wish it wasn't so bad, thankfully what people see doesn't look as bad as it is. You’d probably be shocked looking in my mouth. I will never let my kids get teeth like mine.

I completely understand your embarrassment, but it’s not too late. More people have issues than you realise, and I promise the longer you leave it the worse it’ll get and you’ll just need more work. You can get a handle on it NOW and you won’t be sorry you did.

I was petrified of going to the dentist and didn't go for a good 12 years. I had a cavity in pretty much every tooth and the dentist said he was surprised because I was only in my mid twenties (in my defense I did have an ED for a decade), but I was never judged and I was told that they see far worse on a regular basis. You should definitely go and get them sorted if your dentist's is open - once they're done you might feel like you want to look after them more and brushing them will be brilliant when nothing hurts.

I'm not going to lie, I had to have diazepam before my initial appointment, and I had all of my work done under IV sedation because I was that scared. It was literally one of my worst fears and now that I had the fillings etc sorted out it feels like a huge relief. I've made myself go for a check up every year, and it's great not having to worry about having loads of stuff wrong in your mouth. It will be worth it!

At 39 my dh went to the dentist with over 75 % of smashed /black teeth. He did it to be able to nag ds about looking after his teeth... He received nothing but support from the dentist! And me!.

@screamer1

Do lots of people have fillings and stuff? Everyone I see seems to have perfect teeth. I can't believe I have to have one taken out.

I have terrible teeth too, LOADS of fillings, grew up with unfluoridated water and casual parents, my back teeth are atrocious (where I grew up, children's teeth were treated by dental nurses, their standard procedure was to bore out most of the tooth and pack in loads of amalgam). I've had more molars removed than root canals because they just weren't worth saving. I was wild and weird and depressed in my twenties, didn't look after myself at all, and damaged my gums. I am seriously thinking about getting "all on four/six" implanted bridges and replacing all my teeth in a few years. So I absolutely sympathize, I have so many regrets and it's always embarrassing for me at the dentist BUT I now make myself go regularly because to me nothing is worse than toothache, and I am slowly seeing some improvement. I also use a sensitive toothpaste and electric toothbrush, it's deliberate self care. Just had my teeth cleaned last week actually! They feel amazing.

Just go, get yourself over the hump however you can, and go.

Mine are crap (think it's hereditary with mine). I've had multiple teeth out, loads of fillings. I hate them. My mum had false teeth by 16 so I guess I've done relatively well .

I really struggle to go to the dentist - years of being told that I must be having too many sugary drinks in my teens (I really didn't) and then a bad experience during a filling have made me really nervous.

I have quite a few fillings Op, mainly due to a very sweet tooth and poor oral care when younger
I still have a sweet tooth now, but make sure I brush my teeth 2 or 3 times a day and floss regularly.
Please try and get into a brushing routine. Once you do you'll find it very hard to go to bed with unbrushed teeth.

I am in the exact same boat as you OP, although I do brush twice a day I think sugary drinks and sweets have taken their toll on mine. I'm on a waiting list for an appointment, it took all my strength to make that phone call but I already feel better for it. I would say most of my teeth need some sort of intervention, I lost a tooth a few years ago and never did anything about it. I had a really bad experience with an awful dentist which put me off for ages so this will be my first visit in about 6 years. I just keep thinking the dentist will have seen worse than me, I don't have loads of plaque or awful breath. Good luck, you will feel so much better for it!

I have/ am still in a similar position as you only I’m now on the other side in that I’ve been to a dentist.

When I was 11 I fell and smashed my teeth in. They then grew really crooked.

I did go to the dentist during that age and up to 18 but I hated Going and I already hated my teeth.

What I WISHED I had done was get a brace. But I was already self conscious so I didn’t and I stopped going.

Fast forward 20 YEARS!! And that’s 20 years of not smiling, covering my mouth when talking and completely avoiding laughing I finally just thought
FUCK IT. And I did it. And the dentist was so lovely and patient and didn’t judge.
I got some treatment and now they look a bit better.

• unfortunately I can not afford the £4K for the brave or the £3.5k for the new tooth I will need (still wince at those prices)

BUT I am really glad that I went and I just so wish I had done that when I was 18.

So I say do it now- imagine fast forwarding another 20 years then doing it and wishing you had done it now in this moment.

I struggle with going to the dentist. My teeth are very yellow due to poor enamel (heredity) and I have a few fillings and a root canal.
i take rescue remedy now before going and my notes are marked that I have dental phobia .

OP I have bad teeth and have had a lot taken out, all under NHS as I can’t afford a private dentist, I haven’t been offered any plates/false teeth. I do have my front teeth but several are stained and when I smile you can see I’m missing some of my other/back teeth. It really gets to me, I have always brushed twice a day and looked after them, when I got pregnant with dd1 (16 years ago) several of my teeth just crumbled and fell out and since them I have had more removed including wisdom teeth. I rarely smile as I don’t want people to notice my teeth 😢.

I went for the first time in 9 years in Feb. I am so so happy I did. I was so scared but they were amazing. I had another app booked this month but it was cancelled due to covid. I'm weirdly kind of gutted. I would have been nervous but I wanted to be in the routine of going, as I know I could easily stop going again! Go op, it's scary but will be worth it.

Mine are bad too
30 years of bulimia is not good on your drains or your teeth
I’m slowly fixing them / had some removed at the back where the constant stomach acid washing over them caused to much decay
I’m to nervous for a root canal, so chose to have 3 removed
Stopping having bulimia was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life ,but sadly I’m still suffering with my teeth from it .

I know the feeling. My teeth are absolutely crammed together (I had 4 back teeth removed in my teens due to overcrowding) and last week an old root canal failed so I had to have a tooth out. Not the one behind the canine but the one after. This revealed decay about halfway up the tooth behind. I honestly have about 13 fillings.

I was the same, I didn't see a dentist for 10 years, then someone recommended their female dentist which made me feel better.

She is brilliant, she sorted my teeth out, and I gained so much confidence that when she advised me about Orthodontic treatment from someone else, I went for it.

I ended up with a brace for 2 years as a 45 year old, which included pain lots of appointments, but Im so grateful to my dentist.

My teeth are a mess.
Accidentally elbowed in the face as an older teen to a totally discoloured front tooth. 2 failed root canals which meant the teeth were pulled. Receding gums..( any ideas if i can do anything about that?)
I hate it. I am severely anemic and apparently that can cause a problem. My nan had all her teeth out by 26, so it could also be hereditary.

Mine are less than perfect by the way, sorry

I have a bridge, loads of fillings, gaps & sensitiive areas, but at least they are a hell of a lot straighter, my teeth were so awful, not just crooked but really stuck out. I don't cover my mouth as much now when I talk/smile/laugh cry

I want the bridge replaced as I don't like the colour, so that's something I would not have done before finding a good dentist.

I can tell you a funny story that will make you laugh ,but it didn’t make the dentist laugh
I had to have a tooth out ,and she numbed it a lot ,but it still hurt ,she was pulling ,I was screaming in pain .
But I’d worked myself up so much when I got up I said
“ oh I’m so sorry I think I’ve weed on your chair a bit “
I had left a small wet patch of wee..
Yes ,so thankfully the dentist was female And not my usual dentist either 😀