Some lessons are more painful to learn than others. After several return visits to the dentist this last month, I finally asked my dentist how I could avoid so many trips to come see him. Some answers I knew and hung my head in dental shame but some surprised me.
“I wish I could quantify how a minute a day flossing would help people save a lot of money in dental care,” says Dr. Dan Thomas of Springford Family Dental. He reminded me that the cost of dental floss is significantly less than the amount people spend annually on the repercussions of allowing food to sit in between their teeth and rot the enamel. Chewy candy is especially harmful since it sticks to the teeth in hard to reach places.
Leaving food between the teeth by not flossing can also cause periodontal (or gum) disease and gingivitis, not to mention bad breath. Periodontitis has even been linked to rheumatoid arthritis in studies (according to Jerry A. Molitor, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the division of rheumatology and autoimmune disease at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis).
On WebMD.com, I learned that “according to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). And one study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels.”
Dr. Thomas shares that while most people do a pretty good job when brushing their teeth, you simply cannot get all the food out without flossing. He says that another way to avoid periodontal disease is to stop smoking.
“It doesn’t sound frugal but spending a little more on an electric toothbrush in the beginning will actually save more money in the long run too. They are the most effective kind of toothbrush,” adds Thomas.
Dental assistant, Angela Schnovel, shared that children should start flossing when their teeth start touching and that some bacteria in the mouth is not all bad. Those who use mouthwash products to kill the bacteria after every meal actually kill too much and sometimes end up with thrush, evidenced by a white film on the tongue. Using mouthwash once a day is okay but more often could cause additional problems.
When asked about whitening techniques, I learned that the dental strips in the stores are becoming more effective and easier to keep on the teeth. The difference between those and the ones in the dentist’s office relate to the amount of bleach in them, with the latter ones containing more. While the doctor did not negate my use of peroxide and baking soda taught to me by a neighbor, he had seen wide success with the bleaching strips and is looking into the newer yearly treatments that have come out. Apparently the older long-term treatments caused a great deal of sensitivity which patients wished to avoid.
With the timing of my visits, I couldn’t help but ask about Halloween and all the candy that poured into our houses. I was told to make sure my children brush well at night. Sounds like good advice anytime of the year for them and me. Right now, I have flossing to do.
In the Phoenix, November 7, 2009
