Oral Health and the Economy
Written by Brian Dean MS, RD, 2010-03-02Last update: 2010-03-02
As the economy continues to freefall, people are scrambling to find ways to save money. While becoming a smart shopper can help, one of the least appreciated ways of putting away some extra crash in a tight economy is maintaining a healthy mouth.
As the saying goes: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Perhaps the saying should be: “An ounce of toothpaste and dental floss is worth $5,000 in dental procedures avoided”. That’s because not only are dental procedures like root canals and periodontal disease surgery are extremely costly, but mostly preventable. In fact, the tiny investment of time and money towards good oral hygiene can offset costly visits to the dentist –saving you the money you need in these tough times.
For example, the Center For Disease Control estimates that 25% of the US population walks round with an untreated cavity. If left untreated, more serious (and expensive) issues like gum infection, chewing problems, and abscesses can crop up –all of which require thousands to treat.
Here are some simple, cheap, and quick ways to keep you mouth, and wallet, healthy:
Basic Oral Hygiene: The cornerstones of oral health: brushing twice per day, brushing between meals, flossing, and fluoride treatments pay dividends.
The difference in cost can be staggering: while an annual root canal can run you $2,500, the cost of a toothbrush and toothpaste over the same time period is under $100.
Rinse Between Meals: Experts now realize that it’s not so much what you eat, but how often you eat it. Grazing tends to expose your teeth to more acidic damage than eating three squares. Brushing between meals is preferable. If that’s not possible, you can rinse your mouth with fluoridated water or mouthwash.
Quit Smoking: As if you needed another reason to quit, the CDC reports that half of all severe gum disease is due to smoking. If the cost of cigarettes didn’t shock you into quitting before, be sure to factor in the extra few hundred dollars that most smokers are forced to pay every year from extra dental visits.
Tap The Tap: Even just one $2 bottle of water per day translates to a whopping $730 per year. Worse yet, most bottled waters are completely devoid of fluoride -one of the most important nutrients for a healthy mouth. The American Dental Association proclaims: “”If bottled water is your main source of drinking water, you could be missing the decay-preventive benefits of fluoride.”
Befriend Your Dentist: This is perhaps the most important piece of the prevention puzzle. A dentist’s cleaning and fluoride treatment can offset the flaws in your at-home regimen and spot minor issues before they explode into full-blown problems.
Unfortunately, many people eschew the dentist’s office because of cost. If you’re insured, the co-pay pales in comparison when compared to surgery or other interventions not covered by insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, you can consider the cost of a biannual routine dental visit as investment for your finances and your health.
So put down the coupons and pick up your toothbrush –your mouth and bank account will thank you for it.