This is a bit out of pocket but I want to rant.
So, I've had a dental splint for like almost 2 years now, I should have got it sooner (like, around 14-15 yo) but honestly I hadn't been to a dentist in like 6 years at that point and the last one had been extremely incompetent.
Anyways, the splint is, for course, to avoid causing damage to my teeth due to jaw clenching and teeth grinding and as such should be used every night (I'm working on being consistent with that) and whenever I'm doing something that requires focus and generates stress, which is basically the description of college assignment and related stuff.
The problem here is that means I should wear it at the library (or whatever space is available for working) when I do college stuff but first of it's definitely not normalised to wear it in public settings (and I have very bad social anxiety), it's also noticeable even with my mouth closed, it's bright green and it gives me a very noticeable lisp when I have to speak while wearing it. Technically I could count on no one speaking to me in the library and some college libraries even have space separators at the desks so I could avoid being seen.
But then I'd have to carry around my toothbrush and toothpaste and the special brush for the splint and I'd have to brush my teeth before using it and then go wash the splint afterwards, which would also be awkward as fuck.
What I mean to say is, if we've normalised wearing retainers and Invisalign (which you have to take off before eating in public spaces as well and brush your teeth before putting it back in) can we please normalise wearing splints at public working spaces because bruxism is a real problem and struggle for a lot of people but I feel like everyone finds the splint too bulky and noticeable and people look at you weirdly for wearing it.
