Dental Health

Only floss the teeth you want to keep.  You also need to floss to keep your gums healthy.  You need not floss those teeth you don’t plan on keeping, but if you lose your gums, you’re in big trouble.

There was a time when we lost our teeth and used “dentures”, but those days are gone.  Now we can get “crowns”, implants and other treatments to keep our teeth working.

Dentists have had a long run of success without taxpayer subsidies. Teeth cleanings are about $100 and cavities can be filled inexpensively.  Wisdom teeth can be removed affordably if you shop around for a good price.

The price of “crowns” has climbed from $500 to over $1500, so you really need to shop for these.  Implants are even more expensive, so you really need to take care of your gums to prevent bone disease.

Periodontal treatment can be prevented with cleanings every 3 months, measuring pockets and lots of flossing. This gives you a chance to beat your gums into shape.

If you chip a tooth, you can get the damage fixed with the magic of “composite filling”. You can get your teeth whitened and your teeth rearranged to get a better smile.

Dentists watch out for signs of cancer, but will refer you to an ENT for antibiotics to cure your blocked salivary gland and they will refer you to an Oral Surgeon or Periodontist for really scary stuff.

Dentists have done a good job protecting their profession from our government and you would be well advised to follow their example.

Your mouth only needs to last about 90 years, so you need to make sure it continues to function until everything else is worn out. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader