When looking after yourself feels difficult

We talk a lot about routines when it comes to looking after our teeth. Brush twice a day. Clean between your teeth. Watch how often you have sugary foods and drinks. Attend regularly for check-ups.

It all sounds fairly simple. But sometimes life isn’t simple.

Mental health can affect almost every part of our daily lives. When someone is struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, grief or simply feeling overwhelmed, even the smallest everyday tasks can become difficult. Getting out of bed. Making a meal. Exercising. Replying to a message. Making an appointment.

And, yes, brushing your teeth.

When the little things become big things

Oral health is built around lots of small, repetitive habits. They don’t take very long individually, but they rely on us having the energy and headspace to do them consistently. When our mental health suffers, those routines can be some of the first things to disappear.

Brushing might become once a day, then occasionally. Eating habits can change. We might snack more frequently, reach for different foods or drinks, smoke or drink more, or simply struggle to look after ourselves in the way we normally would. Some medications can also contribute to a dry mouth, which can increase the risk of dental problems. Over weeks, months or sometimes years, those changes can have an impact.

And then another problem can appear: embarrassment.

“I’m embarrassed about how long it’s been.”

This is something we hear more often than people might imagine. Someone hasn’t been to the dentist for years. They know their teeth have deteriorated. They’re worried about what we’re going to find and, perhaps more importantly, worried about what we’re going to think. So they put the appointment off. The longer they leave it, the harder making that first appointment can feel.

We understand that.

Dentistry should never be about making someone feel guilty for what has happened in the past. Our job is to understand where you are now.

We don’t judge

As dental professionals, we see people at very different stages of their lives and in very different circumstances. Sometimes a person’s teeth can tell us that looking after themselves has been difficult for a while. That doesn’t tell us why. And we shouldn’t assume. There may have been illness, mental health difficulties, caring responsibilities, financial worries, bereavement, dental anxiety or simply a period when life became too much.

You don’t need to arrive with perfect teeth to come to the dentist. You don’t need to brush really well for a few weeks before your appointment to impress us.

And you certainly don’t need to apologise. Just come as you are.

Starting small

If looking after your mouth feels overwhelming, don’t feel that you have to suddenly create the perfect routine. Start with something manageable. If twice-a-day brushing feels impossible, concentrate on making one really good brush before bed part of your routine. If you’ve stopped attending the dentist, making the appointment itself can be the first step. From there, we can help.

Sometimes improving oral health isn’t about telling someone to “try harder”. It’s about finding out what’s realistic for that person at that particular point in their life and helping them build from there. At Gunning Dental, our aim has always been thoughtful dentistry that helps people feel supported and confident in their care. Sometimes that means fixing teeth. Sometimes it means helping prevent problems. And sometimes it simply means welcoming someone back without judgement and helping them take the first small step towards looking after themselves again.