Brush Up On Daily Dental Care
Tending To Your Teeth Regularly Helps You Put Less Money Where Your Mouth Is
November 21, 2008
By Gloria McMenamin, DDS, DMD, PA
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These days more than ever, we all want to feel we’re using our money wisely. But how can we save on dental care?
It starts with prevention. The less you want to see the dentist, the more you should spend in your daily home care. Daily removal of plaque prevents build-up – and the less build up, the better for your teeth, gums and overall health.
Here are some tried-and-true tips:
1. Brush with an electric toothbrush at least twice daily.
Electric toothbrushes operate at 40 RPM (rotations per minute). Some have dual action; they rotate and pulsate, which means more cleaning power in a shorter time. Pick a brush with a small head so it can individually clean each tooth, especially if your teeth are crooked. You should also reach the back molars up to the wisdom teeth if you still have them.
Electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer to guide you. Two minutes is how long you should brush. Battery-powered toothbrushes lose their power faster and won’t give you a consistent result.
Manual toothbrushes are okay if you brush properly, but realistically nobody can brush at 40 RPM manually unless you are the bionic woman!
2. Floss at least once a day.
Flossing gets rid of residual food and plaque before it hardens and causes more problems. Different-sized floss caters to different needs. People with tight contacts in between teeth should use thin floss, or thin ribbon floss, instead of a waxed floss.
Floss picks are handy to use and carry in your pocket at lunch to get that broccoli out of your teeth before you go back to work. Regular floss can clean better than this if used properly.
3. If you use mouth rinse, use a non-alcohol-based brand.
Mouth rinses are not mandatory but they help reduce bacteria. Alcohol-based mouth rinses can dry out the mouth, which will be counteractive in achieving the result you want. (Some medications, such as drugs for allergies or high blood pressure, also cause dry mouth.) Saliva is a natural buffer and cleanser, but dry mouth will make you more prone to decay and gum diseases. Some mouth moisturizers are available to help lubricate the mouth.
4. Use a tongue scraper.
A tongue scraper removes bacteria from dead cells and food which is converted to sulfur that can give you bad breath. It gives a better result than scraping with your toothbrush.
Lastly, visit your dentist every six months even when something is not bothering you. Catching problems when they’re still small ones will cost less. When you wait for the symptoms to bother you, or when you can’t stand it anymore, then it will cost you more.
If you don’t have insurance, ask your dentist if he or she can work with you. Most insurance companies have not increased reimbursements despite inflation, so many dentists will willingly work with you directly. This is especially true if you have been a patient of record and have lost a job or insurance coverage.
If you are unemployed and a private dentist is still out of reach for you, consider going to a dental school for care. The goal here is to consistently have care to avoid big problems.
Gloria McMenamin, DDS, DMD, PA, is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy school of dentistry. She has been a member of the Academy of General Dentistry since 1995 and practices comprehensive dentistry at her Towson, Md., office. She can be reached at 410-339-5858 or gmdd...@comcast.net.
