Healthy Changes—Dental Health, Part 1


Image at Mighty Girl

 

I’m realizing that an important component to healthy changes is getting my teeth healthy, too.  So far, it has not been pleasant. 

I have always had good teeth…in fact, I am so good at brushing my teeth that I have actually had to have fluoride treatments because I have brushed my teeth too hard.  I also have had several hygienists comment on how white my teeth are naturally…also a result of brushing my teeth too hard.

But, my luck has finally run out and my teeth are no longer good.  In fact, they are very, very bad.  And they are very, very bad because I am very, very bad.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time I went to the dentist.  Why?  Well, one of the down sides to self-employment is terrible health and dental insurance…huge deductibles and bad coverage.  Also, I have four daughters who need regular dental care and three daughters who have worn braces and one more who will, and they come first.  As a result, I have neglected my own dental care and am now paying the price…literally.

I finally went to the dentist last week because I have been complaining about a tooth for months and my husband was sick of hearing it so he made me an appointment and I went.  Now I am in the midst of a series of fillings and at least one root canal.  Every few days I drive an hour to go to a dentist where my measly dental insurance actually works.  I then sit in the chair for at least an hour of uncomfortable care, write a check for a few hundred dollars. and then I drive an hour home and stumble through the next few days in pain.  I feel okay for about a day and then I do the whole thing again.  This will continue for the next several weeks or until I run out of money.

I could have avoided most of this by paying $97 every six months for a regular exam and cleaning.  But at the time it seemed too inconvenient and too expensive.  What was I thinking!…obviously, I wasn’t!

11 comments:

  1. I've had a smoker friend who complained a lot about his dental health and all the yellowing his teeth has, and of course, it was followed by a short lecture how smoking is bad for oral health.

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  2. If you had health insurance you could have avoided all the hassle from paying for check-ups and you should change insurances so you can access more dentist near you.

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  3. A little too much fluoride does damage your teeth, that's called fluorosis. That's why brushing excessively is highly discouraged by dentists.
    downers grove dentist

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  4. Regular visit to the dentist will help ease tooth problems. Proper care is advised as well.

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  5. As they say "prevention is better than cure" so the best way to prevent dental problems is through Monthly visits to the dentist.

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  6. I agree. You should schedule a monthly appointment with your dentist. Dental health is vital for us to be able to eat properly.

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  7. Dental health should always be a priority. Make sure you consult your dentist for a regular check up.

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  8. As they say the best way to prevent excessive expenses to the doctor/dentist is through prevention so you must practice oral hygiene daily and drink lots of milk.

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  9. I suggest you use a toothpaste that has less flouride because you might get flourosis Which destroys teeth.

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  10. Hygiene doesn't necessarily mean "overdoing." An excess application of fluoride in teeth wouldn't help.

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  11. I agree. I think the best way to prevent bad teeth is doing oral hygiene daily but not overdoing it.

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