Dental care is an important part of your oral and overall health, but it can be expensive as well. Luckily, there are numerous ways you can save money on dental care!
Nothing Beats Keeping Your Real Teeth
Did you know mouth guards save tens of thousands of teeth every year? When it comes to sports, wearing one is part of the uniform. Basketball pro Stephen Curry tends to push his mouth guard out almost every time there’s a break in the game. But one the action starts, it’s back in place.
And for good reason…
Mouth guards actually improve performance. They prevent teeth from clenching which fatigues jaw muscles. They absorb the force of contact and decrease the possibility of teeth getting chipped, broken and lost completely. Knowing they’re protected allows athletes to better focus on the game.
And they’re not just for contact sports. Even non-contact activities – like gymnastics, ice skating and skiing cause falls. When jaws come together, the teeth hit each other and the resulting damage is permanent. Think of a mouth guard as an “airbag” around your teeth. Protecting those ‘pearly whites’ avoids procedures like root canals and implants. Better yet, you’re able to show off your best smile!
“Brush And Clean In Between!”
Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness of good dental health in children and how this affects them later in life. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums when people are young does have lasting benefits. For one thing, it leads to fewer and shorter visits (and probably less tears!) to the dentist. It also produces prettier smiles!
Even more important, good oral health prevents more serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory infections. When kids establish good habits early on, they’re more likely to avoid these and other poor health conditions as adults.
Currently, thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers and educators lead the effort. This year the theme is “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.” Through press releases and distribution of materials, the push is to promote good oral health to children, their caregivers and teachers across the country.
Getting the kids involved adds weight to the movement. To do this, fun activity sheets that include coloring and puzzles are available online. These sheets can be found at www.ada.org.
