A Healthy Smile Can Save Your Wallet

It can be tempting to skip a few dental visits if you aren’t having any problems with your teeth, but it can be expensive in the long run. Preventive dental care, including regular checkups and dental cleanings, prevents small issues from becoming larger (and more expensive) ones.

Maintaining Oral Health

Routine cleaning by a dental hygienist removes stains, plaque, and tartar from the teeth. This minimizes bacterial buildup that can lead to tooth decay or gum disease. Your teeth look and feel better as well. With routine cleaning, your teeth will continue to sparkle, making it less likely you’ll have to invest in teeth whitening or dental veneers to correct stained teeth.

Early Detection of Dental Problems

Regular dental checkups allow us to detect problems such as tooth decay, oral infections, and gum disease in the earliest stages. Early detection translates to early treatment that is less invasive and less expensive. Otherwise, these problems can develop into more complex issues that require costly treatments such as fillings, root canals, extractions, or dental restorations.

Cost Effectiveness

Using preventive dental treatments such as fluoride application and oral rinses is an inexpensive way to add a layer of protection to your oral care routine. They are less expensive than restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, or bridges. By paying a little bit now for recommended preventive treatments, you avoid the higher costs you could incur later in life if your teeth deteriorate.

Fewer Complications

Neglecting your oral health often leads to problems that require expensive, complex procedures. If you ignore your teeth now, you may have to cope with extractions, bone grafting, implant surgery, and more. The more treatments are needed to address an oral health issue, the more likely you will experience painful and potentially deadly complications. Complications from oral surgery are more expensive than maintaining a daily oral hygiene routine and regular visits to our office for dental maintenance.

A Healthier You

Good dental health is linked to good overall health. Preventive dental care minimizes the risk of oral infections that can enter the bloodstream. Once an infection has spread to other parts of the body, it can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Treating these other conditions is expensive and can negatively impact your quality of life.

What Can I Do?

Practicing preventive dental care is the most important aspect of oral health. It is the foundation for strong, healthy teeth and gums. A few steps you can take include:

• Floss every night before brushing your teeth
• Brush your teeth twice daily using a soft-bristle toothbrush
• Check your gums and the soft tissues of the mouth monthly for any changes that a dentist should see
• Schedule a dental checkup and cleaning twice yearly
• Avoid too many sugary foods and beverages