teeth:

I flossed and brushed my teeth today.

It is hard to admit that I've been more or less able to regain the motivation (not sure if right word?) for at least two showers per week minimum, but a regular teeth cleaning thing has been impossible to sustain.

I tend to smile like this unless I am actually laughing like this

How are your teeth?

[Caelix3]

I only brush my teeth in the morning and floss.

Shower...let's just say I'm working on it. Usually only once a week. I know it's nasty but I have such low energy.

[childofchaos831]

Originally Posted by emptynightmare

teeth:

I flossed and brushed my teeth today.

It is hard to admit that I've been more or less able to regain the motivation (not sure if right word?) for at least two showers per week minimum, but a regular teeth cleaning thing has been impossible to sustain.

I tend to smile like this unless I am actually laughing like this

How are your teeth?

I hardly ever talk about this, cuz most people don't get it... for me, it's PTSD related but also kind of sensory overload. I have a really hard time brushing my teeth. My dentist kind of understands, because I've done my best to explain it to him.

Talking with a hygienist and the dentist where I go, and also some people online, I came up with a few ways to make it easier for me. First, I use kid toothpaste (currently a bubblegum mint flavor) because they don't burn as much. Second, I use a toddler toothbrush, which I geet from the dentist when I go in for check ups.

My teeth are still pretty awful tho. I've had several root canals and one extraction, and too many fillings to count... even with that, I still can't get myself to do it regularly. It causes anxiety for me. I try to do it before bed, so that I can take my meds, and knock myself out after pretty much.

I actually keep track of certain things, in an app called daylio, including showers and brushing my teeth. I just looked, and in the month of October, I've brushed my teeth a total of 2 times (which is actually pretty good for me).

You are not alone, whatever the reason is, we all have certain things we struggle with...

[ptangptang]

I've been through spells of poor self hygiene. But like a lot of things it comes down to habit, even if you feel low and have to force yourself. I'd say , get an electric toothbrush, it's easier and probably better. Bath once a week and shower every other day or if extra sweaty seems a reasonable.goal.

I brush twice daily and floss at night now that I've been told by the hygienist that I have mild gum disease but nothing serious. My gums used to bleed lots but now that I brush often, they have started to bleed less.

[Shazerac]

I brush once a day. My dentist said that's good enough. I get my teeth cleaned every 3 months because my mom lost all her teeth and I don't want to of down that road. He gives me happy gas for the cleaning so I can handle it.

[CepheidVariable]

Okay, how many people flossed their teeth after reading this thread?

I've always been good about brushing my teeth since I was a little child and able to do it on my own. Some habits stick.

Flossing, not so much. I have tight spots and gaps, and so it's not something I can quickly toss off. It's a slow, tedious process that I always think I'll do later.

So, thanks for the thread.

Oh, and my teeth overall? Pretty good. Gums okay. One filling from years ago (which really irritated me) and one false tooth (knocked out in an accident as a child).

[bornunderabadsign]

I'm usually good about showers but dental hygiene is a weak point for me. I go through spells where I to right and brush twice and floss but usually I go two to three days between brushings.

[Carmina]

When I was in my teens I was really depressed for the first time and seriously neglected my teeth and personal hygiene. I mean I went for weeks sometimes between cleans and wore the same clothes for days, I must have been terrible to be around but I just didn't care about myself at all. I actually would have loved it if someone had said something about it or done something to motivate me but no one else seemed to care either, certainly no one at home. In the end I realised the only person who could rescue me was myself and that I couldn't rely on anyone else. The day I left home was the day I started looking after myself again, I also started to break some annoying OCD habits.

Unfortunately the downside was that I felt I didn't need anyone anymore and couldn't trust anyone, it's taken me a long time to deal with that (if I have) but at least I was taking responsibility for myself which was a step forwards.

(I'm pretty good with hygiene now btw although I do have to push myself - I'm presentable again )

[nikon]

thanks for posting this thread these days I do quite well with showering - probably a combination of being in recovery from depression mostly at the moment, and realising that if i don't shower I actually smell pretty much after skipping one day. in the worst depressions I think i went for weeks without showering. brushing my teeth used to be easy because I used to like the taste of toothpaste, but that has actually become harder. right now i'm better at it and sometimes brush twice a day, but some days i'm so apathetic about self care that i skip out brushing even at night time, which i know makes me feel physically yuck in the morning cos my mouth gets dry and tastes horrible.

I changed my toothbrush today morn