I had to get 10 cavities filled this year… my mental health was so poor/ dissociation was so severe during and after quarantine in 2020 that I just couldn’t maintain my dental hygiene, and my teeth are very fucked up now. It just makes me kind of sad and I was wondering if anyone else could relate/ has any tips on not being so hard on myself about this. I was in such a bad situation these past few years that I guess worries about my teeth just went out the window… struggling with homelessness, CPTSD, a dissociative disorder, major depression, various chronic physical health issues, transphobia, ableism… at the same time, struggling to keep up with being a full time college student… escaping my abusive family… dealing with everything on my own, during the pandemic. Nobody else my age has had this many cavities that I know of (I’m only 21). My parents also never taught me to floss, so I didn’t know that was something I needed to do until THIS YEAR.

I guess I just feel kind of ashamed and like a failure. My teeth were in much better shape when I was younger