Save money on dental care with these dental prevention tips.
Dentists are expensive and time-consuming. The best way to save money and time is to not have to visit one in the first place. Besides the standard brush & floss directives, there are more things you may be able to do to keep your teeth in good shape.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking causes a number of dental problems. Besides the potential for mouth cancers, smoking can cause or exacerbate gum disease. Since the ultimate outcome of gum disease is loss of teeth, quitting smoking can be one of the cheapest ways to avoid the dentist. Avoiding the pain, cost and daily inconvenience of needing dentures should be enough to motivate most people into giving up the habit.
Review Your Diet
Most dental advice related to diet urges you to avoid sweets. Things like acidic sodas or foods can cause tooth damage. Sports drinks like Gatorade and energy drinks like Red Bull were found to be the worst at eroding tooth enamel in a study. Sodas, diet sodas, and fruit juices were also found to have a significant eroding effect on tooth enamel and roots. Even healthy acidic foods like citrus fruit and salad dressings can erode teeth.
Sticky carbohydrate foods can also cause dental problems. Those carbohydrates feed acid creating bacteria that create plaque and erode teeth. Things like bread, pasta, and potato products can stick to teeth, creating the perfect conditions for dental decay and plaque buildup. If you find that bread or similar foods seem to stick in certain spots between your teeth, that area may need extra attention to keep it clean. If you can’t keep it cleaned with a normal toothbrush, an inter-dental brush may help.
Toothpastes are not created equal
Toothpaste is supposed to aid in removing plaque and reducing bacterial conditions in the mouth. Some do a better job than others. While the ADA has a “seal of approval” program, the criteria for inclusion are somewhat limited. As long as a company provides its own testing data and financial disclosures, the data is generally accepted by the ADA. This means true 3rd party testing is usually not required. This doesn’t mean an ADA seal on the box is meaningless, it also isn’t the ultimate proof a toothpaste will work well for you.
For a toothpaste to work, you have to actually use it. If you find the flavor or other properties of a toothpaste off-putting or an unpleasant experience you are less likely to use it. There are a few options if you dislike mint. Many of the big-name brand toothpastes have very strong and artificial flavors. Natural or specialty toothpaste may be easier to tolerate if this is an issue. We found a number of flavors of Marvis toothpaste that still contain mint but may be a better experience. This herbal sage toothpaste or this coconut toothpaste are alternatives if mint isn’t your thing.
Toothpastes include foaming agents and additives like glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, and other chemicals that can be problematic for some people. Tooth powder may be an option to avoid some of the pitfalls of toothpaste. Pre-made powders are available, like this one. Tooth powders can also be made at home using baking soda and minimally processed sea salt. Sea salts that still contain trace minerals may provide some additional benefits. Flavorings via essential oils can be added as can calcium powder as it helps remineralize teeth.
Various toothpastes focus on specific issues such as remineralization, sensitive teeth, or whitening. There can also be a confusing amount of bells and whistles that do not provide any significant benefit over other options. Unless you have a specific goal or need, these extra features may not be necessary.
Toothbrushes might matter
Consumer Reports reviewed a group of studies on the effectiveness of electric vs. manual toothbrushes. They found a slight improvement with electric brushes but not a huge improvement. Electric toothbrushes might be a helpful tool for those who need one, but most people do fine with a cheap manual toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes with different types of bristles may help reach difficult areas if that is a problem, standard toothbrushes may be sufficient for most people. There are eco-friendly options that can be composted if that is a concern.
Flossing? Maybe
All that overzealous promotion of flossing may not have sufficient evidence to back it up. The federal government for years promoted flossing as necessary. Then they discovered there were not enough studies to back up this claim. The studies that had been conducted didn’t find an incredible value in flossing. It might help, even more so if you have problem build up in certain areas. The review of studies did find it made a significant difference when hygienists flossed children’s teeth daily during weekdays. Good luck convincing your kid to do that level of flossing every morning.
Taking care of your teeth can help you avoid big dental bills. When you do need dental care, check out our guide to saving money on dental care to avoid common scams, and get the best value for your dollar.