I think my teeth are beyond help...

[SheShellsSeaSells]

I'll start by saying that I'm TERRIFIED of the dentist! I last went when I was in my teens when I had a brace! I suffer with anxiety too... my bottom front teeth have very receding gums and tonight, whilst eating a chewy chocolate bar-a piece of the tooth nearest the gum, has come away. It's on the inside of my mouth, thank god, do not yet visible to the outside world! I'm devastated. 4 of my back teeth have all pretty much crumbled away too. This got worse and worse with every one of my 3 pregnancies. Nobody knows about this shameful secret I have. Not even my husband! I'm so ashamed. I can't afford to go to a dentist, and god knows how much all the work I'd need will cost?! I'm in the U.K.

I'm only 36 and to look at me, you wouldn't suspect a thing. How can I sort this?! I'm so scared. This is one of my many fears!!

I wanted to reply to this as I was in a similar situation 6 months ago - terrified of dentist due to teenage trauma. I was in a cycle of thinking they would probably say my teeth were beyond repair so why bother anyway.
I did a lot of research of local dentists and finally found one I felt comfortable with.

They have been great, and even asked about fears in the initial consultation. I have seen a dentist, a periodontist and hygienist and they have all been to caring, careful and patient. I have had treatment for gum disease and a filling removed and repaired. I can honestly say that I have had no pain, just mild discomfort with only an injection for the filling and local gel anaesthetic for the cleaning.

My teeth look a million times better and I feel so much more confident.

I did go private and it has cost about £600 so far and will continue to cost about £500 a year as I need 4 hygienist appointments a year for the gum disease. However my children go to an NHS dentist, and they are fab as well.

What also helped me was to approach it like a spa appointment for my mouth grin and also using hypno techniques - I can recommend a good app.

I urge you to go OP, you won't look back smile

Yes, it's a quite expensive hobby (going to the dentist) but teeth are one of those few items in life that you'll hopefully keep until old age.