We have a lot of fears. Some make sense; others, not so much. This latter type will be featured once monthly until we run out of material, at which point, we might begin accepting the fears of our readers. 

Welcome to the fear I hope is irrational the most! Up to three times a day, I will hesitate for a moment before I begin brushing so that I can worry to myself. “Will this be the day that they just cave into my face?” I don’t have a lot of tooth loss nightmares, but daymares. I know exactly how it would feel, how it would look as I watched it happening. Somehow, the thought that they might snap off at the root is a thousand times worse than losing them at all. Maybe there would be blood, but probably there would just be a smell. Oh god.

I have been having this thought ever since I had my adult set come in, whatever age that is. I have never had a cavity. The dentist was always kind to me, and encouraged me to keep doing whatever I had been doing in my dental care routine. And I have! I just brush and feel good about it. I concentrate on that little “tooth prayer” which isn’t a prayer so much as it is a reminder of my vows to my teeth, which I take seriously and trust that they do the same. Teeth, please never leave me. Please never abandon my head.

I’m so afraid.