[cw: dentist stuff] God, the places around here...

I think this sums up my experience with searching for Medicaid-accepting places

The absolute closest one that has nearly 5 star ratings across the board is like. 1 1/2 hours away. So basically 3 hours of traveling just to see a dentist... When I don't want to go, in the first place!!

ig at least there is one around at all that doesn't suck

god

Yeah. And this is a thing I've been considering pushing myself through, despite how bad my phobia towards them is. So it's this back-and-forth in my head of "nope nope nope" and "yes but your teeth! you have! literal holes in them!!!"

Half my fillings just. Crumbled out of my mouth one day, like..... 5 years ago?

But the last time I tried going into a dentist office I had a major panic attack that nearly had me passing out on the spot

So I've been working super hard to rework my perception towards dentists. Though I've been really confused but pleasantly surprised that I don't just have endless toothaches. Just because of rinsing my mouth several times a day, drinking a ton of water, and lightly brushing my teeth every single time I go into the bathroom

And ofc brushing them fully every morning and every night

Me: Why the fuck couldn't my parents teach me this shit as a kid????

Like, I wasn't even taught to floss. I didn't even know what flossing was until I was.... 14? Give or take

Dental horror is the worst

It really is

I also had unfortunate dental habits taught from parents which led to dental trauma

but it's awesome you're doing this ❤️

Yeah. Lazy parents did me no favors but I strive to become more than they set me up for

My parents forced me to develop good habits but it doesn't seem to have helped