Every day, dentists across the world give the same spiel about how flossing will saves lives and brushing prevents premature death. I assume each doctor is required to give this speech to a live audience before their college professors will present their diploma. Being on the receiving end of this talk, I realize that it’s difficult to take the dentist seriously. After all, they’re getting loaded while poor, suffering patients empty their pocket change for the sake of their teeth. However, a good set of pearly whites is both desirable and critical to your health.

My dentist seems to think it’s important to remind me each time I see him that my cavities are a result of not brushing. If I am not alone in this fact, then it should be common knowledge that brushing prevents cavities. However, I recently learned that people who are at risk for heart disease need to be extra careful about brushing often.  Also, not flossing causes infections in your mouth…which is pretty much the worst place I can think of to have an infection.

There are many tips about oral care, most of which we’ve all heard. But taking care of your teeth is not only beneficial for your health, but also for your pocketbook. Dentists are doctors of the mouth, and they’re not afraid to charge patients a hefty fortune. It’s still a good idea to visit your dentist once every six months, but if you’re brushing and flossing often, you only need to worry about paying to get your teeth cleaned.  Sitting through the dentist’s cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness speech is unavoidable, but paying for a root canal isn’t!