I totally get the urge to micromanage stuff like toothpaste and toothbrush before something big like surgery. It’s weirdly comforting, even if logically I know it probably doesn’t make a difference to the outcome. I’ve done the same thing before dental procedures—agonizing over whether I should use my “fancy” toothpaste or just stick to the regular one, and then worrying if I brushed too early or too late. I even have a specific floss I use the night before, which is honestly ridiculous when I say it out loud.
But honestly, having those little rituals does seem to help me, at least in the moment. It gives my brain something tangible to focus on instead of spiraling about all the things that could go wrong. Even if it’s just a distraction, sometimes that’s enough to get me through that pre-surgery anxiety. But yeah, I’ve definitely noticed there’s a line—if I start obsessing over every tiny detail or re-brushing because I’m convinced I didn’t do it “right,” it just adds more stress.
I’ve seen patients do similar things, like bringing their own mouthwash or asking if they can use a certain toothpaste before a cleaning. It’s pretty common, and honestly, as long as it doesn’t interfere with what needs to happen medically, I think it’s fine. The key for me is catching myself when it starts to feel like a compulsion rather than just a comfort.
One thing that helped me was shifting my focus from “doing everything perfectly” to just making sure I felt as comfortable as possible. If that means using my favorite toothpaste or doing an extra rinse, cool—but I try not to let it become an endless loop of second-guessing. Pre-surgery nerves are real, and if a little routine helps take the edge off, I say go for it. Just don’t beat yourself up if you can’t control every variable—sometimes good enough really is good enough.
“Pre-surgery nerves are real, and if a little routine helps take the edge off, I say go for it. Just don’t beat yourself up if you can’t control every variable—sometimes good enough really is good enough.”
This really hits home for me. I’m scheduled for my first surgery soon and honestly, I’ve been obsessing over the tiny details—like, is it better to use mint or non-mint toothpaste? It’s kind of wild how much comfort I get from sticking to my usual routine, even though logically I know it doesn’t change anything big.
I like your point about not letting it turn into an endless loop. I definitely caught myself re-checking if I’d flossed “the right way” and it just made me more anxious. Letting go of that need for perfection is tough, but I’m trying to focus on feeling comfortable instead of perfect. Your post makes me feel less weird about it all, so thanks for that. Sometimes “good enough” really is enough.
It’s honestly wild how much your mind can latch onto those little rituals before surgery. I remember the night before my wisdom teeth removal, I spent way too long deciding if I should brush again after my “last snack” or just leave it. In the end, none of that really mattered—what helped most was just sticking to whatever made me feel most normal.
You’re spot on about that perfection loop. I used to get stuck there too, especially with flossing. It’s like you want to control *something* when everything else feels out of your hands. Eventually, I realized the hospital staff have seen it all—they’re not judging if you used mint toothpaste or not.
Trying to focus on comfort instead of perfection is a huge step. For me, giving myself permission to just “do enough” took so much pressure off. You’re definitely not alone in this.
Funny, I went through this exact spiral with my kid before her tonsillectomy. I spent ages researching the “right” pre-op routine—should she shower at night or in the morning, what pajamas would be most comfortable, etc. In hindsight, none of it mattered as much as just keeping things familiar for her. I get wanting to control every variable, but honestly, hospitals are built for chaos. A little toothpaste or an extra snack isn’t going to throw them off. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, even if it drives me nuts not to optimize everything.
I totally relate to this. I spent the night before my kid's adenoid surgery basically stress-Googling “hospital pajamas vs. home pajamas” and debating whether a bath at 8pm was better than a shower at 6am. In the end, she wore her favorite Spiderman PJs and nobody cared except her… which honestly made things smoother. Hospitals are chaos factories anyway—trying to micromanage every detail just made me tired. Sometimes you just have to embrace the mess and roll with it, right?