On average, a single cosmetic dentistry patient will pay $5,000 to $6,000 to help correct imperfections and improve the overall appearance of his or her smile. The good news is, with proper care, it doesn’t have to come to that. Family dentists share what it takes to keep your smile pearly white and healthy, even as we age.
It’s Never Too Soon
With more than half of all dental patients well past their 30s (actually, between 41 and 60 years old), the majority of patients associate dental problems with age. This simply isn’t true, and it can be a dangerous way of thinking — especially if you have young children. Even toddlers and young children can develop serious problems like tooth decay. According to The Daily Mail, this early tooth decay can linger and fester, ultimately affecting adult teeth.
Are Healthy Foods Ruining Your Teeth?
“Raw and uncooked foods can cause damage by chipping teeth or sticking between the teeth, which may lead to serious gum problems,” NBC affiliate, King 5, writes. One patient even reveals that eating apples, raw carrots, and healthy taffy treats wore away part of her veneers, a thin porcelain material typically bonded to the surface of a tooth. Thankfully, the best cosmetic dentists will be able to fix these problems fairly quickly — and even offer longer-lasting alternatives, such as cosmetic dental implants (or mini implants for the partial restoration of any given tooth).
What can patients do to curb cosmetic dentistry costs? Family dentists recommend chewing any raw foods slowly and patiently to avoid unnecessarily chipping teeth. Floss regularly, and take extra care after eating sticky foods, such as dried fruit. Finally, drink plenty of water. Drinking a lot of water is not only healthy for you, it will also help flush any remaining food particles out of your mouth, preventing cavities and even premature tooth loss.
Don’t wait. Teach young children to responsibly and regularly brush teeth, rinse, and floss, and exercise caution even when eating some of the healthiest foods, as they can also be some of the crunchiest and the most likely to chip your teeth.
