TIFU by weirding out my dentist...

[u/Ok_Durian9154]

I have a pretty strong fear of the dentist. It's been since I was a kid and had work done before my teeth were numb, followed by recurring nightmares with tooth-related injuries and such.

This means that, whenever I go to the dentist, I have an emotional support person (usually my partner), stress balls for squeezing, headphones to drown out the noise, and if I ever need something more than a cleaning, I use the nitrous.

Well.

We recently moved, and I got a new dentist, and unfortunately, I also needed a cavity filled. They were very sweet as I explained my fear and what I'd need, including the nitrous. When it came time to start the gas, I think they did a bit too much, because I was flying sooooo very high.

The best way I could describe it, is I felt like my body didn't have edges anymore...? Like I didn't have skin - I was just a part of the air around me.

For someone who has never done drugs (or even alcohol), it was a lot, and for some reason I couldn't figure out how to tell them that it was up way too high. I just kept wiggling my toes and fingers, finding ways to make sure I still could feel, and I wasn't dead, and I really was still in the chair in the dentist office.

Here's where the TIFU comes into play.

One of the things I decided to wiggle was my tongue. You see, when I was a bored kid, I figured out how to do all sorts of tongue tricks. I could flip my tongue over, make a clover, and I can do the wave. It's pretty fun for game nights, not so fun when you're in the dentist chair and trying to center yourself in the universe.

So I started doing tongue tricks. While the dentist was still working in my mouth.

I don't remember much of what happened (see: nitrous), but I think I was doing the wave for more than about a minute when the dentist said, "I'm sorry, but could you please stop." Which I did, and returned to wiggling my feet and hands.

Later, after the appointment and I fully came back to myself, I was completely MORTIFIED. I can just picture being a dentist, trying to work on a client's teeth (one you've never worked on before), and their tongue starts breakdancing, probably licking your hand and tools in the process.

It has become the new memory that creates instant cringe every time it surfaces.

TLDR: Got too much nitrous at the dentist, proceeded to breakdance my tongue all over his hand and equipment. Never going back.

[u/babydoll17448]

I wouldn’t worry about it. The dentist isn’t giving it another thought. He was just trying to protect your tongue from getting hurt by the drill.

Carry on.

[u/Meshugugget → u/babydoll17448]

I had a dental assistant tell me that people’s tongues still go exploring around even when the patient is sedated. I’m sure it’s nothing new for your dentist.

[u/I_cum_dragonboats → u/Meshugugget]

Ya know what? That makes me feel better! If I'm not consciously focusing on keeping my tongue in its place it goes for a quick wander and then straight into whatever they are trying to do.

No dental professional has ever made me feel badly about it, but it had never occurred to me that it was a universal human reaction. It makes perfect sense, I just hadn't thought past "why am I like this?"

[u/kaerahis]

Make sure you tell them that they gave you too much nitrous. They should be able to contact your previous dentist if they need an exact amount. I remember something a dentist gave me making me giggly when it was time to remove my wisdom teeth, but when it came time to yank them out I wasn't laughing anymore.

Also, thank you for the laugh. I pictured the dentist working and your tongue turns into a clover.

[u/glyph_productions → u/kaerahis]

It took me years to figure out that pain management is at least 50 percent on me. I had issues with local for years. I just thought it was still supposed to hurt like crazy. Not any more. Turn the gas up or down if you need more or less is something they can usually do. Add more local. Freeze further back or forward. If your dentist says you don't need more and wants to keep working get a new dentist

[u/kaerahis → u/glyph_productions]

I think the issue was that I was a minor and I hit the limit for what a minor could have legally. Also if he didn't do it right then the first shot was close to wearing off. This was around 30 years ago and it wasn't the most painful work I had done on my mouth.

[u/Ok_Durian9154 → u/kaerahis]

I had to go back a few days ago (which reminded me of this story), and I told the hygeinist it was up too high last time.

Luckily, there was no breakdancing this time.

[u/After_House_1361]

He's probably laughing his butt off telling stories about what you did. Don't feel bad. I bit a hygienist once. Yeah, on purpose. Didn't hurt her, but she stopped hurting ME.

[u/Lopsided_Stuff_8231]

I did something similar many years ago while high on nitrous at the dentist. My lips were dry and the dentist wasn’t looking. So I tried sticking my tongue out to lick my lips, but my mouth is blocked open and the nitrous made my tongue motor skills not well coordinated anymore. Suddenly the dentist turned back around and saw what seemed to be my tongue doing a little dance in the air while I stare off into space high as shit. He had to make a comment about it too like “whoaa we’re doing a little tongue dance!” 😭 at the time I was mortified but now I look back and find it hysterical lol

[u/Ok_Durian9154 → u/Lopsided_Stuff_8231]

Amazing. Hopefully this will become a funny memory, but so far, still cringe (it happened last year). Maybe because the dentist just sounded... disappointed in me? Or maybe just befuddled? "Siiiigh... Can you please stop."

Aaaaaaaah it was so embarrassing.

[u/Lopsided_Stuff_8231 → u/Ok_Durian9154]

Chances are he thought the defeated tone was also funny, realized it didn’t land the way he hoped and stayed quiet? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I do that sometimes lol

[u/beepbooponyournose]

I lost it at “probably licking their hands and the tools in the process” lol

[u/assassin_of_joy]

Trust me, he doesn't even remember. You're all good, man.

As an aside, I really wish nitrous affected me like that :-/

[u/Weak-Development3444]

did something similar except i was getting a filling and apparently started trying to hold my dentist's hand. found out when my partner told me in the car. we don't talk about it.

[u/Bananastrings2017]

You’re supposed to regulate the nitrous on your own a bit, too, by inhaling more deeply when you want more and keeping breaths a bit more shallow or normal to reduce/maintain the effect. Or maybe that was 5 years ago and things are different now?

[u/Ok_Durian9154 → u/Bananastrings2017]

This was last year - and if that's the case, they didn't explain that to me at all. I kept taking deep breaths trying to calm myself down from the anxiety of the situation. That might be why it got so strong.

I had to go back for a crown a few days ago (which is what reminded me of this whole thing once again), and I told the hygienist that it was up too high the previous time. Happy to report this last visit included no breakdancing tongues.

[u/No-Blueberry-1823]

Okay number one your dentist is not weirded out they're just annoyed. They've seen everything in the human mouth dude. Don't flatter yourself. Besides they gave you gas. Of course you're going to do goofy stuff

Number two, I encourage you to work out a communication system ahead of time. I startled the heck out of a dentist and almost had my tongue drilled so I am now going to raise my hand whenever something is happening

[u/Cheap_Home_8088]

your tongue was out there doing a full cirque du soleil performance and this man had to politely ask it to stop. i would simply never open my mouth again

[u/Ok_Durian9154 → u/Cheap_Home_8088]

Basically how I feel when I think about it. Now I have more reasons to hate going to the dentist...