I try not to stress about perfection and focus on what’s doable without breaking the bank.
I totally get the budget side, but I’ve actually found that skipping too many nights kind of backfired for me. Ended up with a cavity that cost way more to fix than a couple extra tubes of toothpaste would’ve. I’m not saying perfection is realistic, but I guess I learned the hard way that “good enough” sometimes isn’t, at least for my teeth. The cloth wipe trick helps in a pinch though—used it when my grandma refused to brush some nights.
I really relate to the stress about not doing enough. My kiddo hates brushing and sometimes I just give in, but then I worry all night about cavities or worse. It’s tough balancing what’s realistic with all the guilt. The cloth trick is a lifesaver on stubborn days, but I still feel anxious skipping even once. Your story makes me rethink letting it slide, honestly...
It’s tough balancing what’s realistic with all the guilt.
Totally get this, but honestly, missing a brush here and there probably isn’t the end of the world. My dentist once told me stressing too much can do more harm than a skipped brushing now and then. I still try my best, but if we have an off day, I just remind myself it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Guilt’s real, but I try not to let it eat me up.
I hear you on not letting guilt take over, but I gotta admit, after seeing my mom rack up a huge dental bill last year from a couple missed weeks (not just days) of brushing, I’m a bit more strict about it now. The cost alone made me rethink how “okay” it is to skip. I try to keep things light, but in the long run, those little lapses can add up—especially if money’s tight. Maybe not every single brush matters, but for us, consistency saves us headaches and cash down the road.
That’s a really good point about dental costs adding up fast. I’ve seen it with my own kid—one stretch of skipping brushing, and suddenly we’re talking cavities at the next checkup. I get wanting to avoid guilt, but honestly, it’s just so much easier (and cheaper) to stay on top of it daily. Even if we have to make it a bit of a game or routine, the payoff is worth it—especially when money’s tight and dental bills are no joke.
