Toothing It Out: Dental Health On A Budget
Life can be much harder when you're living paycheck to paycheck, and it's especially hard to take care of your dental health under those circumstances. But taking care of your dental health is extremely important because poor dental health can make the rest of your health suffer. So what are you to do if you're living hand to mouth but want to make sure that that mouth is as clean and healthy as possible? If you're looking for a few tips to keep up on your dental health without hurting your bank account, then here's what you need to know.
Hammer In the Basics
Because you don't have the cash to get your teeth professionally cleaned every month or to purchase expensive whitening strips or other dental treatments, it's imperative that you really focus on the basics—brushing and flossing. Making sure to brush at least twice a day (better if you can brush after every meal) and floss every night, making sure to rinse with water afterwards (unless you floss before you brush at night) are two of the best things that you can do to stave off bacteria and cavities. You don't need fancy floss or expensive toothpaste to keep your teeth clean—you just need to constantly maintain them.
Mark Your Calendars
Yes, getting your teeth professionally cleaned can be a bit expensive, but not getting them looked at every six months can be even more expensive in the long run. In this case (as in many cases) an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure; getting your dentist to thoroughly clean your teeth and ensure that you don't have any cavities forming will prevent you from having to come in for an emergency appointment and get a toothache or cavity taken care of. If you're a student, many dental offices (especially those around universities) offer student discounts for cleanings and x-rays; look around your neighborhood for the best dental deal your limited funds can buy.
Watch Your Diet
While eating a diet high in carbohydrates can be much cheaper than many other types of foods, it's much worse for your teeth; all carbs contain sugars, which, if allowed to sit on your teeth even for a little why, can cause decay. Beef up your vegetable consumption—canned veggies are quite cheap, along with being good for you—and cut back on your carbs to give your teeth the best fighting chance they can have.
For more tips and advice, talk to a dentist at an office such as Randolph Dental Group.