More and more, we’re learning the importance of taking care of our teeth. Your mouth can be a source of disease and decay that spreads to your whole body, so if you’re thinking of putting it off or not getting dental work done altogether — don’t! The long term health and financial costs of letting your teeth decay could far outweigh what you might owe to get started now.
Treating What’s Reversible at Home
Letting your oral health fall to the wayside from time to time is nothing to be ashamed of, however, you should always be on the lookout for it. If you do let things get a little dicey as when going through a rough patch or busy time in your life, fast intervention on your own part can help halt or reverse some of the early indications of tooth decay. A couple of the more major things you can help reverse before they cause more problems include periodontitis and cavities.
At some point in our life, most of us have a cavity, and it’s not uncommon for a person to have periodontitis either — something we refer to as gingivitis in its earlier stages. It can be easy to get scared about these things having a domino effect, but even if a cavity or a bit of gingivitis has formed, you still have time to treat them with daily oral health care.
For cavities, most commonly forming on the top of your teeth, brushing and rinsing at more regular intervals may be enough to stop the cavity from deepening. The fluoride in your dental products can help rebuild the enamel on your teeth. For periodontitis, or gingivitis at this earlier stage, it’s very important that you include flossing as well, as this is a gum disease. That means you have to get in deeper than brushing allows. This will help fight not only the periodontitis, but will provide additional cleaning to help prevent cavities on the side or in-between the teeth.
Pairing Treatments
One of the most common ways to save money on your dental care is to not parcel it out more than you have to. While we understand that dental care can be expensive, not only in Florida but the whole U.S., getting treatments done fast and effectively could be key in preventing further damage and costs, that’s why it can be a good idea to pair your treatments.
Oftentimes, when people haven’t been to the dentist in a number of years, they may find their new dentist suggests a variety of treatments. While it may be cheaper in the short-term, the long-term costs may be higher, because not only will you be paying for the cost of treatment but you’ll also pay extra for multiple sedations, more of the dentist’s time, and more lost time at work. Your wallet and your mouth will thank you for getting your dental work done fast and in one fell swoop.
Getting It Done Right the First Time
One option some Floridians have unfortunately resorted to, is leaving the country. While this may seem like the right move in desperate times, we encourage you not to. Seeking dental care from someone who is not accredited to U.S. standards can result in more health problems if it’s done improperly. Some dentists in Florida may even refuse service altogether afterwards, as to not be held liable for damage that’s been done elsewhere. This could be a very slippery slope, ending in infections, tooth loss, and maybe more while you try to figure out the repercussions of leaving the country for your care. All of this will be much more complicated, expensive, and dangerous to resolve than if you had gone to a good dentist in Florida.