Help I haven't brushed my teeth in months.

[FailGirl]

I've been diagnosed with anxiety, BPD, MDD, and PTSD. To treat it, I've been prescribed setraline, hydroxyzine, quetiapine, and prazosin. I feel empty after I take my medication, which doesn't sound good, but the alternative is being insanely depressed. I don't know. I know I should talk to a pyschiatrist about it, but I don't want to. I don't want to talk to anyone. I haven't been talking to anyone for the past couple of days. I've been trying to reinvent myself in isolation.
Am I helping myself or hurting myself? I've been taking care of myself. Kinda'. I shower, but I haven't been brushing my teeth. I don't even have a toothebrush or toothepaste. I don't know why I don't like to brush my teeth, but I'll get around to it. Yesterday I combed out my hair for the first time in over a month. Today I took my anti-depressants for the first time in the same amount of time too (which I why I talked about feeling empty).

I'm aware that I'm ruining my mouth. So far, I've had to get a couple of deep cleanings and a root canal; but I don't care. That's not enough motivation for me. I just feel like I'll get around to it when I get around to it.

 

[ForeverCaHa]

I'm currently in the exact same boat. I've recently been put on a few new meds. I bathed today for the first time in a while, but still haven't brushed my teeth in god knows how long. I have regular visits from a crisis team, and they've assigned me a psychologist who will start seeing me on Monday, but I don't know what to say to people anymore.
I eat, I drink, I sleep (I try to that is), and I'm slowly getting back into work. But yeah. It's just going through the motions until something happens.

Hope you're feeling a bit better. It's a long, winding path. My DMs are always open if you need to chat!

 

[Darkover]

I brush my teeth about 1 week ago
When you don't brush, food particles and bacteria accumulate on your teeth, forming a sticky film called plaque.
The bacteria in plaque feed on leftover food particles, producing foul-smelling compounds that cause bad breath

 

[ma0]

Oof, you just reminded me that I still need to brush my teeth, I haven't done it in like several days...

Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Praestat_Mori]

You're not alone - I also have bad tooth hygiene. I brush mine once or twice a week bc I'm lazy.

I should do it more often but idc. My teeth and gums are fine.

But I will brush my teeth later before I go to bed, it's just 1-2 minutes or so. I shouldn't be lazy.

 

[RainAndSadness]

I've been diagnosed with anxiety, BPD, MDD, and PTSD. To treat it, I've been prescribed setraline, hydroxyzine, quetiapine, and prazosin. I feel empty after I take my medication, which doesn't sound good, but the alternative is being insanely depressed. I don't know. I know I should talk to a pyschiatrist about it, but I don't want to. I don't want to talk to anyone. I haven't been talking to anyone for the past couple of days. I've been trying to reinvent myself in isolation.
Am I helping myself or hurting myself? I've been taking care of myself. Kinda'. I shower, but I haven't been brushing my teeth. I don't even have a toothebrush or toothepaste. I don't know why I don't like to brush my teeth, but I'll get around to it. Yesterday I combed out my hair for the first time in over a month. Today I took my anti-depressants for the first time in the same amount of time too (which I why I talked about feeling empty).

I'm aware that I'm ruining my mouth. So far, I've had to get a couple of deep cleanings and a root canal; but I don't care. That's not enough motivation for me. I just feel like I'll get around to it when I get around to it.

Try to brush your teeth while you take a shower. It's what I've been doing when depression was too much. Makes it easier and you save time. Just put the tooth brush into the shower with the tooth paste. I hope this helps.

 

[Izzythebelle]

At the peak of my depression I'd have my toothbrush and toothpaste next to my bed and I'd spit everything into the garbage can, it wasn't ideal and god it was gross but it helped me out.

 

[starlights]

Mouthwash and toothpaste tablets!! I hate getting up and having to do it too but if you do it in the shower or when u take your medicine it helps build a little routine

 

[lastch]

I brush my teeth maybe twice a month. I shower at best probably once a week. I am in such a dark place right now that I don't have the motivation to do either of those things regularly and I don't leave the house so it's not like I even have a social obligation not to smell bad. Part of me worries that I'll get to a point where I want to live but my teeth will be ruined. It also doesn't help that I smoke and drink a lot of fizzy drinks.

 

[getoutgirl]

I did that also. So sorry you are going through that :( Lot's of love your way
One thing I did in particular is I would get so anxious and stressed out I would start gnawing on the toothbrush until I pretty much destroy it, often eat or had to spit out the plastic and fibers and little metal layers, and I never finished brushing when I did that. Had to buy a new toothbrush every week or so.
It sucks. Again I'm sorry. Try an get that habit back as best as you can and be kind to yourself about it regardless, you are going through enough as it is <3

 

[quietbird]

I've been diagnosed with anxiety, BPD, MDD, and PTSD. To treat it, I've been prescribed setraline, hydroxyzine, quetiapine, and prazosin. I feel empty after I take my medication, which doesn't sound good, but the alternative is being insanely depressed. I don't know. I know I should talk to a pyschiatrist about it, but I don't want to. I don't want to talk to anyone. I haven't been talking to anyone for the past couple of days. I've been trying to reinvent myself in isolation.
Am I helping myself or hurting myself? I've been taking care of myself. Kinda'. I shower, but I haven't been brushing my teeth. I don't even have a toothebrush or toothepaste. I don't know why I don't like to brush my teeth, but I'll get around to it. Yesterday I combed out my hair for the first time in over a month. Today I took my anti-depressants for the first time in the same amount of time too (which I why I talked about feeling empty).

I'm aware that I'm ruining my mouth. So far, I've had to get a couple of deep cleanings and a root canal; but I don't care. That's not enough motivation for me. I just feel like I'll get around to it when I get around to it.

These may be silly ideas but ... what about a cute toothbrush with flowers or spongebob. Even a kids one would work. And flavored toothpastes like bubblegum or cinnamon? This may help jazz this up and feel less like a chore. Aim for small goal changes. It's not all or nothing. You can be proud for anything!

 

[FailGirl]

These may be silly ideas but ... what about a cute toothbrush with flowers or spongebob. Even a kids one would work. And flavored toothpastes like bubblegum or cinnamon? This may help jazz this up and feel less like a chore. Aim for small goal changes. It's not all or nothing. You can be proud for anything!

You are a genius.

 

[EmptyBottle]

Oof, you just reminded me that I still need to brush my teeth, I haven't done it in like several days...

Thanks for the reminder!

I also didn't do it this morning, will do it before I sleep and I'll try not to forget to brush.

Edit: I brushed tonight (around 12:11am, mere hour(s) after posting)

 

[meetapple]

I used to not like brushing my teeth. However, the money spent on dental work got me to change. Why don't you start a mini habit by say brushing one tooth and incrementally progressing by one more tooth each day?

 

[ivetried089]

Brushing would be good but something like only using mouthwash may feel easier, and it's definitely better than nothing. If you don't feel like having to go out and buy the toothbrush / toothpaste, there is also the option of getting those things doordashed from CVS, walmart, etc. There will be a delivery fee but they're generally only a couple dollars and could be helpful if the other option is just not getting anything.

 

[quietbird]

I also didn't do it this morning, will do it before I sleep and I'll try not to forget to brush.

Edit: I brushed tonight (around 12:11am, mere hour(s) after posting)

Yay!

 

[EmptyBottle]

Yay!

Also, I find that remembering to brush can become simple if associated with triggers:
Morning trigger: After the next meal and use of restroom
Night trigger: Before flopping on bed, after use of restroom

 

[quietbird]

Also, I find that remembering to brush can become simple if associated with triggers:
Morning trigger: After the next meal and use of restroom
Night trigger: Before flopping on bed, after use of restroom

I agree. Triggers being in place create good routines. I myself should build some for other things that I struggle with often.

 

[EmptyBottle]

I used to not like brushing my teeth. However, the money spent on dental work got me to change. Why don't you start a mini habit by say brushing one tooth and incrementally progressing by one more tooth each day?

By the time the toothbrush has toothpaste applied, the 'scripted' routine of cleaning all teeth a few times begins. Even an alarm for toothbrushing, helps one remember and not delay too long

 

[musingsofaghost]

Although it isn't a perfect replacement, try using teeth wipes as an alternative. The waterless disposable ones are great. I use them on the days I can't get out of bed :)

 

[Linda]

If you don't take reasonable care of your teeth, the damage (or some of it) is cumulative and irreversible. Also, if you get inflamed gums, the inflammation itself can cause unrelated problems. (Chronic inflammation anywhere in you body promotes cancer, among other things.)
You should take good care of your body. If you don't ctb - and you can't be sure whether you will or not - it will need to last you a long time.

 

[meetapple]

What really helped me was altering my environment. For instance, if you take water every night before bed put the glass of water ahead of time in the bathroom. When it is time to drink the water you'll already be in your bathroom and it will be easier to brush your teeth.

 

[AllAloneAndSad]

Me too. I find it strange that I get a 3 minutes of brushing my teeth twice a day and taking a 5 minute shower, and yet, there is nothing that motivates me to those 11 minutes a day to do that. I don't even leave the house. Depression rules me.

 

[quietbird]

Me too. I find it strange that I get a 3 minutes of brushing my teeth twice a day and taking a 5 minute shower, and yet, there is nothing that motivates me to those 11 minutes a day to do that. I don't even leave the house. Depression rules me.

I understand. I know not everyone can or does. Your feelings are real and valid, and I'm so sorry. Juat try to do your best, whatever that look like for you. (I think this is what I wish I'd heard more often when I was struggling in my deepest depression.)

 

[AllAloneAndSad]

I understand. I know not everyone can or does. Your feelings are real and valid, and I'm so sorry. Juat try to do your best, whatever that look like for you. (I think this is what I wish I'd heard more often when I was struggling in my deepest depression.)

It happens. I just don't really care anymore from the day to day routine. I wake up. Do the same things every day. And go to sleep. When I do, I sleep 4 to 5 hours at most and my head won't leave me alone. So I wake up at 0400 or 0500 or somewhere in that timeframe and I am asleep by midnight.