How can we people on low incomes keep our teeth looking good?

Question

Another piece of my already broken tooth has just chipped off. Now I will HAVE to go to the dentist. I don't make much money. How can we keep trying to look OK when pop stars and movie stars do it on unlimited incomes?????

Answer 1

what a good question. We people who are low income can't even afford the good food that keeps our teeth strong and healthy. And then you have dentists who have their fancy cars and fabulous homes who charge an arm and a leg for their services. Really good question. My teeth are crap, and I do brush, floss, and use flouride every day, I can't afford to eat but maybe once a day, and that usually means hamburger helper, let alone afford to go to the dentist to fix or keep up with my decaying teeth.

Answer 2

There are many ways to take care of your teeth on a limited income. With some dedication and a little time, you can have beautiful, healthy teeth and only spend about $180 a year at the dentist.

The most important thing is PREVENTION!!! Preventative dentistry includes having your teeth cleaned by a dental hygeinest or dentist every 6 months (hence the $180). Cleanings allow the hygeinest to remove calculus and plague that eventually harm your teeth and hide decay. It's imperitive that these things be cleaned away from your teeth. Unfortunately, we can not do it ourselves. The substances are too hard for us to remove.

Prevention also includes brushing at least twice a day with a soft tooth brush and a toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. The dentist I work for recommends Colgate Total. You don't have to brush hard, either. That can actually cause toothbrush abrasion, which feels like a cavitity.

Flossing is also a MUST. When you don't floss, there is actually rotten food stuck in between your teeth. It smells bad and is just gross! I keep a pack of plastic flossers in my car so I remember to floss on my way to or from work every day.

Stay away from sugary drinks. Kool-Aide, soda (including diet), many sports drinks and juices all corrode the teeth. Dentists can actually tell if you drink a lot of sugary drinks by the location of the cavities in your mouth. Cut them out to save money and eliminate an expensive dental bill.

If you have a large family and can't afford to have bi-annual cleanings for them all, find a dental hygeine program near you. The students (supervised by dentists and Registered Dental Hygeinests) clean teeth for free.

And use a local university's dentistry program for the other treatment you may need.

Get your teeth in shape now and make a commitment to keep them that way!

Best Wishes!

Answer 3

If all you are doing is providing a couch or bed. There's not that much to cover. If in the future you want to continue helping some of the families. I'd find out how many children, ages, genders. For years I participated in a program where I bought the same child, a winter coat, new school shoes, 2 christmas gifts and since I had a girly girl, I'd buy her a girly dress for her birthday. It's so little spread out over a year.

Answer 4

Three basic and cheap routines:
* Brushing twice a day. Morning either before or after breakfast, and night straight after your last meal.
* Flossing twice a day, after eating, and
*Rinsing with mouthwash, after flossing.

But as I don't know what you have been doing prior your tooth breaking, it maybe too little too late. Ask your dentist of the overall condition of your remaining teeth. If they're still in good shape then it may not be too late. Involve your partner and/or children if you have any, looking after your teeth has to be a habit. We only have one REAL set.

Answer 5

I hear ya!
Dental care has gotten so expensive you have to be a pop star to afford beautiful teeth.
Preventative care is real important-Get a battery powered tooth brush, floss and buy a good tooth paste-like crest whitening.
If you can get a job with dental insurance go for it-it still is expensive.
My grandmother always said " be true to your teeth or they will be false to you" he,he.

Answer 6

I don't know your zip code of I would look and see what providers I have in your area. You can check for yourself though at http://www.qualitymedicalcare.org

Plans are really reasonable. $11.95 for a single or $19.95 for an entire household.
You can even sign up online at the same address by clicking on Join Now!
You don't even have to wait for your card to arrive. I have had patients use just their number and tell the dentist that they are waiting on their card!

Answer 7

That is a very good question. I grew up on on limited funds, and still am. My daughters don't have insurance and it cost so much just to have your teeth cleaned. I know you have free clinics, but, all they do is pull or fill teeth, and I think there ought to be some sort of plan, like I'm on medicare, now they have a drug program but nothing to do for teeth. I'm only 43, have had teeth problems all my life and had a severe wreck that put me on disability, and from the wreck, the one and only time I had the money to get my mouth fixxed right, the dentist took advantage of me, over 20,000 worth, pulled all my teeth, which didn't need it, put two implants in, which are going to have to be removed, and yes took him to court, which took 6 years, had the very best from all over the US testify on my behalf and still lost. He tried to pay me off, knowing he had thrown my bone in my jaw in the garbage, but, after six years of not having any teeth, false teeth falling out, ect...and still do, a specialist I went too at the beginning to get a second opionion and another dentist that learned about it in another big city are doing my mouth for me for free, and that twenty something is now turning into over 150,000 dollars to fix...and they are just doing it out of the good of their heart, which I will be on brochures all over the before and after, but, get this, the dentist that took advantage of me even bragged in the dental association how he was brought to court and won, even with the jurors walking out saying they were sorry to me, and I couldn't do anything, because if I did, I would go to jail for depramation of character, isn't that a bunch of crock.....I don't understand and wish I could get people like you and other's up and get something for lower income people to have dental care, because I know all too well, that dental care is as important as medical, because, if you get infections ect. and can't fix it, it can really cause major medical problems...I will tell you, I'm from the southern states, and there are schools who will help you for a low price, and also check out various dentist in your areas, like me, they might need someone to do work on for practice which sounds horrible, but, look at me, I'm going to have a healthy mouth, more so than I would have ever won in court, and I had a specialist prothodotist as my attorney with a big law firm that doesn't take cases unless they win, and she might not practice anymore but still teaches at one of the top schools prothodotics, so, I got literally screwed because I'm poor and thanks to these two dentist, one is a specialist, they are getting all the bone, which he threw in the garbage donated, all the implants ect.. donated from various dentist and taking the time our of their weekends to do this for me..but, check into schools that teach dentistry, and also, some clinics...good luck, and if you want to get something up with me sometime, I want something passed for people such as you and me and my kids...good luck

Answer 8

Baking soda, toothpaste, peroxide, mouthwash. there ya go. :)