How have you overcome the trichotillomania?
The urge to pick just went away. I thought it was a teenage thing because it started in my mid-teens and ended a couple years later. I started up again around the time I was diagnosed with depression. Now it's like I switched from that to the mouth picking.
Do you have any kind of mouthwash you could use to disinfect the area?
Yes, I use an anti-bacterial mouthwash every night. The concern I have is that with my mitral-valve prolapse (a heart condition), any infection I get in my mouth goes straight to my heart. The infection is more dangerous with me because that valve doesn't work properly. It used to be that people with MVP had to take antibiotics before teeth cleanings because they worried about gums getting cut and infection occurring from unclean utensils. However, they're not doing that anymore because I guess the risk has been proven to be very low. My doctor says it's not necessary but my mom's Dr. still insists on it. She has an appointment with a cardiologist because she's been having chest pains, and plans to ask about the antibiotics, if it's needed, and about my picking habit. I've been doing better today, though I went through a spell when I got upset over something. I think when I'm idle and worrying over things is when it's worse, so I plan to put my retainer (my orthodontic night retainer) in at those times. I typically only wear it at night, but wearing it during the day helps me because it covers up the roof of my mouth. But then I notice I'll move onto pulling my hair. Luckily, the trich isn't severe - some women get bald spots from plucking so much.
