Many people believe that some have bad teeth and others are just lucky, but that's not quite true. A small group of people with congenital or acquired diseases/disorders need more dental and gum disease prevention. However, most people don't fall into this category, and with the right help, could face fewer challenges and lower dental bills.
Holding our breath and crossing fingers during dental visits is common, hoping for no drilling, as remembered from an old toothpaste ad.
Dental diseases are lifestyle diseases; a healthy lifestyle means lower disease risk. Keeping plaque away reduces the risk of dental diseases, but knowing how to do it effectively is crucial. Standard solutions like "brush twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste" and "use dental floss" are not always enough.
Studies show that even though 69.4% of people brush their teeth multiple times daily, many still have moderate or poor oral hygiene. Nearly 90% of participants with moderate oral hygiene in the study reported visiting the dentist at least once a year for the past five years. 63% had gingivitis.
"Many patients brush multiple times a day but still have visible plaque and gingivitis," says dental hygienist Liselotte Hinrich to Dagens.com.
How to save money on your dentist bill
You can't expect your dentist/hygienist to reduce your dental bills; only you can do that. If you have repeated cavities, periodontitis treatments, or IFBs, expect your dentist/hygienist to help you avoid these in the future. That's precisely how you can save money on dental bills.
"All dental and gum diseases are preventable, but it requires professionals to spend necessary time educating patients," concludes Liselotte Hinrich.
