Yeah, I totally get that feeling of “is this even worth worrying about?” I’ve ignored little twinges before, thinking they’d just go away, and then bam—next thing I know, I’m in the dentist’s chair wishing I’d called sooner. It’s weird how something tiny can turn into a bigger deal overnight. Trusting your gut is smart, honestly. Even if it feels like overkill sometimes, better safe than sorry... teeth don’t exactly heal themselves.
Funny how you mention that—have you ever had one of those tiny chips in a tooth and just brushed it off? I once ignored a rough spot for weeks, then it turned into a full-blown cavity. Do you usually notice changes right away, or does it take pain to get your attention?
I get anxious about every little change in my mouth, honestly. If I feel even a tiny chip or rough spot, I can’t stop running my tongue over it. I once ignored a weird feeling near a crown for a couple days, thinking it was just my imagination, but then it started hurting and turned out to be an infection. Do you ever worry you’re just being paranoid, or do you trust your gut when something feels off? I always wonder if I’m overreacting, but then again, waiting hasn’t worked out for me.
Do you ever worry you’re just being paranoid, or do you trust your gut when something feels off? I always wonder if I’m overreacting, but then again, waiting hasn’t worked out for me.
I totally get what you mean about feeling like you’re constantly on edge about little changes. I’ve had a lot of dental work over the years (crowns, fillings, even a root canal or two), and I used to brush off weird sensations as just my mind playing tricks. One time, I had this tiny “zing” feeling on one side after biting into something crunchy. I figured it was just sensitivity from clenching my jaw too hard, so I ignored it for weeks. Ended up being a cracked filling that eventually let bacteria in—hello, toothache and emergency appointment.
Honestly, I think there’s a fine line between being hyper-aware and genuinely catching something early. After a few mishaps, I started trusting my gut more. If something feels off for more than a couple days, I at least call my dentist’s office and ask if it’s worth coming in. Sometimes they’ll say to monitor it, but other times they’ll want to check it out. I’d rather feel a bit silly than deal with a full-blown infection again.
It’s not paranoia if your experience has shown that waiting can make things worse. Our mouths are so sensitive that we really do pick up on tiny changes—sometimes before there’s visible damage. I’ve also noticed that anxiety kind of amplifies everything, so I try to give it a little time, but not too much. Like you said, waiting hasn’t worked out for me either.
One thing that helped me chill out a bit was keeping a little “mouth journal” on my phone. If I notice something weird, I jot down the date and what it feels like. That way, if it gets worse or doesn’t go away, I have something concrete to show the dentist. Makes me feel a little less crazy, honestly.
Anyway, you’re definitely not alone in this. Dental stuff can be so stressful because it’s hard to tell what’s “normal” and what needs attention. I’d say, trust your instincts—better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to teeth.
I’m right there with you—my brain goes into hyperdrive over every twinge, especially since I’ve never had any dental work done until now. When I first noticed this weird ache after eating popcorn, I convinced myself it was just my imagination, but then I started poking at it nonstop (bad idea). After a couple days, I freaked out and called the dentist. Turned out it was nothing major, but honestly, I felt better just knowing. I like your “mouth journal” idea—might steal that. It’s wild how much overthinking happens with teeth, but I guess better safe than sorry...
