To want dentures at 30 to stop this constant worrying??

[Coffeeebean]

Bit of an odd one

I have HORRIBLE anxiety about my teeth. Horrible.

I am constantly worried about decay and check them pretty much hourly with a torch and a mirror in my mouth. If I notice a new dark spot that I havent seen before its day and days of anxiety and tears and checking checking checking.

Eating anything sugary stresses me out and I have to rinse my mouth out immediately after.

I brush 3-4 times a day which I know is bad in itself. I also go to see my poor dentist every 3-4 months because ive found another thing that i need to get checked because i cant eat from the anxiety of it being decay.

The strangest thing is...nothing has ever been wrong with them. Ive never had any work done. My teeth have lots of staining and some enamel erosion due to an ED in my 20s....but my dentist reassures me they are fine.

Despite being told this from multiple dentist, I am still always thinking about my teeth. Worrying about the future. How long will they last, what work will i need done, will i be able to afford it.

I am already on medication for anxiety and have had CBT. I told my GP about my behaviour with my teeth (as was concerned it was OCD) and was told there was nothing else that could be done.

So, AIBU to want to have them all removed now so i can stop this constant worrying???

I feel like they are ruining my life

I'm shamelessly inhabiting the role of armchair psychologist here, so please take my comments with a big grain of salt OP. But maybe my theory will resonate with you.

I think your obsession with your teeth is your subconscious telling you that there is something wrong in your past that needs taking care of. Caring for your teeth is your expression of self care (perhaps caring for a younger self that had traumatic experiences?).

Despite being told this from multiple dentist, I am still always thinking about my teeth. Worrying about the future

You're worrying that the facade or defences you've built up (perhaps to protect yourself from dealing with past trauma?) are at risk of crumbling.

I guess my concern is more the problems/expense i will get in the future - yes my teeth are fine now but they ARE damaged and wont be fine forever.

Its the not knowing whats going to happen, how long i have left, how much its going to cost in the future etc. that worries me so much.

Again, you're doing fine now but recognise that at some point in the future you'll be forced to deal with something that has "damaged" you.

My teeth are unique in that I know they are damaged from my past, they are irreperable (unlike any other body part) and they cost a fortune when they go wrong (as i only have private dentisty as an option)

I cant think of anything else that would create such a big problem in the future that it would cause me so much anxiety now

The way you speak about your teeth feels like you're talking about yourself.

Forgive me if I'm reading too much into it, but it struck me that if I'm right the best course of action for you would be therapy, but not CBT. You would need therapy to help you deal with past traumatic experiences.

In any case, as others have said, taking out your teeth won't fix anything.

Sooty those quotes from your post should have been bolded.