A few weeks ago I went for a routine dental check-up, expecting to be in and out. Instead, my dentist started asking about my stress levels, eating habits, and overall well-being. He explained that the wear on my teeth would indicate that I’m older than I am and it turns out that I grind my teeth at night without realising it. To preserve my teeth, I was given a long list of recommendations:
- Reduce stress levels
- Visit the hygienist more regularly (does anyone actually go every 6 months?)
- Floss daily
- Brush for at least two minutes (with a timer!)
- Switch to an electric toothbrush
- Limit the number of times I eat and drink per day
- Consider getting a nighttime retainer
How I Felt After
I walked away with mixed feelings:
- I had an amazing dentist—he took time to talk to me about my stress levels and ask questions, which made the experience feel personal and valuable.
- The number of changes felt overwhelming, especially the suggestion to limit how often I eat and drink. Given my history with an eating disorder, I’ve worked hard to listen to my body and not restrict myself.
The Changes I’ve Made (So Far)
A few weeks later, here’s what I’ve implemented:
✔ Flossing daily
✔ Brushing for at least two minutes
✔ Booking my next hygienist appointment
✔ Starting counselling to help manage my anxiety (something I had already been thinking about before my appointment) as well as drawing and reading more often as a form of mindfulness
What I haven’t changed? Getting a nighttime retainer and electric toothbrush (yet) and how often I eat or drink—because maintaining that freedom is important for my current wellbeing.
How This Relates to Movement
Being told to change multiple things at once can feel really daunting and overwhelming—whether it’s dental health, movement routine, or lifestyle habits. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that you don’t know where to start so you don’t do anything at all.
This is where I realised that my experience at the dentist can be applied to any movement or general wellbeing habits. By starting to think about what small things you can realistically do that won’t massively change your whole routine or make you dread doing it, you can more easily incorporate those things into your regular routine.
Flossing my teeth is now just part of my daily routine. Yes, it takes a little longer for me to get into bed after already having brushed my teeth for 2+ minutes (and I never really feel like doing it) but in the grand scheme of things it’s something I’m willing to do for the benefit of my teeth. Having counselling sessions is a bigger commitment and a financial investment. It’s something I’ve been wanting to incorporate into my life again for a while but always had a reason that the time wasn’t ‘quite right’.
For now I’ve decided not to focus on changing the number of times I eat or drink in a day because it feels like the hardest habit for me to change and the one that could actually affect my mental health negatively. Getting an electric toothbrush and looking into a nighttime retainer are also things I’ve not yet done but that’s ok. I’ll get around to them both soon enough and I’m taking the time to appreciate the changes I have made so far.
You don’t have to do everything but you can start with something. If we bring it back to movement, that might be making a walk a day a non negotiable for your mental health, incorporating one strength session a week for the bones of your future self or booking a dance class just for fun.
Thinking of what would benefit future you, what’s one small change you can make to your routine?