Too often, dental costs can seem prohibitively expensive. But don’t lose hope: there are many things you can do to invest in care now and save a significant amount of money in the future. Overall, preventative care is the best type of care. This means if you take care of small problems now, they won’t turn into bigger problems later! In a nutshell, do what you can to make sure your teeth are healthy:

• Brush and floss every day to get the most from your smile.
• Find a mouthwash you like and use that nightly before bed to help protect your teeth.
• Make sure your drinking water contains fluoride, and if it doesn’t then invest in a fluoride toothpaste. This is especially important for children’s teeth as they develop.

These are just a few things you can easily make part of your routine now to save you time and money later.

Catching a problem early can also save you a significant amount of money. For instance, if your child gets a sealant put on a molar when they are young, that’s one less cavity to worry about. Sealants can cost less than $50, while cavities can be upwards of $100. If you take care of problems early, you can save yourself and your family hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long run.

Additionally, if you have healthy teeth you’re less likely to experience emergency dental problems and have to miss work to go to the dentist for an emergency visit. Similarly, your kids are less likely to miss school and disrupt their routine, and yours.