Does anyone else obsess over their teeth?

[Coffeeebean]

Hi, I seem to have developed horrible anxiety over my teeth - does anyone else feel the same or am I just weird??

I constantly check my teeth and gums, religiously brush and floss, I have a dental mirror which im always using to check my mouth.

Its driving me mad. Im at the dentist every few months because ive found a new dark spot, funny line or crevice that I want checked out because the stress of it is making me ill.

I cant seem to stop. I think about my teeth all day every day to the point that I cant get my work done.

I am currently terrified about gum recession and waiting a month for an appointment with a periodontist is absolute torture.

Im googling constantly (terrible i know) and im convinced ill have no teeth by 30!
Im also regularly in tears and having panic attacks over issues i have convinced myself I have, worrying about how i am going to afford treatment when it hasnt even been diagnosed.

Am I just completely mad? Or has anyone else experienced this? What can i do?

It’s sounds very much like anxiety and no most people I would think just brush and floss twice a day and then don’t think about it. Do you have anxiety generally? Did something trigger this?

Thank you for your response - I have definately suffered with anxiety in the past, but have never fixated on something quite so intensely before.

Nothing specific has triggered it that i can think of - ive never even needed any dental work done (touch wood). I had an eating disorder for many years and I worry about the damage that has caused, so I am sure that is fueling this to an extent.

Its just exhausting!

If it’s affecting your life you need some help with keeping it in perspective. You can self refer on NhS for CBT.

You need some support with this OP.

Yes it's abnormal to be so fixated on your teeth.

It actually sounds like OCD. There's a big link between OCD and eating disorders too.

Have you ever had pain or dental issues that might have caused this? I never used to give my teeth a second thought but a few years ago I developed crippling toothache. It was genuinely the worst pain I've experienced, couldn't sleep or eat and ended up paying privately to get the two decaying teeth removed. At the time the NHS waiting lists were months and there was no way I could have waited. However I will add that I was given antibiotics which reduced the pain after about a week.

My point is that since then I'm a bit like you and am uber aware of any pain or discomfort because I'm scared I'll go through that again. I suppose it's a bit like PTSD and it is totally understandable.

Does this make any sense to you?

I think you also have to remember that help is out there if you do develop issues and dentists will usually try and see you fairly quickly in an emergency situation.

Thank you for all the replies. I see this isnt normal behaviour (which i suspected)

I have suspected before that i might have OCD. Even as a child i used to latch onto something and obsess over it.

The PTSD element would make total sense but i havent had a negative experience. Its definately more a fear of the future rather than a memory of the past

I think a GP appointment might be in order. Im really not coping, its just such an embarrasing thing to have to bring up and im sure they will tell me just to see the dentist (which i have and it hasnt helped)

Ironically, my ED has reared its ugly this evening and ive engaged in a behaviour that i havent done for a while.

Seems to be a destructive cycle of worrying about my teeth and then dealing with the stress by destroying my teeth more

I'm glad you recognise the need for support, OP. I wish you well, OCD is so understood and so debilitating.

The thing is, the teeth are a red herring. If you don't treat the underlying OCD, even if you get your teeth checked, the fixation will just switch to something else instead.

Can you please explain what the anxiety over a dark spot is? I have one and want to know if I should be worried

Please get to the GP asap. Explain the ED symptoms have returned again. Stress that you understand the dental issue is just a symptom of the suspected OCD. You need help quickly before the ED takes a hold again. Good luck.