Dental Care On The Cheap

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Most people avoid paying higher dental bills by simply not going to the dentist, no matter how much they might need to. But dodging the dentist may be penny wise right now but over time it will be pound-foolish.

"Our research tells us that many people in California have been avoiding routine care that might have cost about $100 for a checkup and cleaning, and then find themselves in the emergency room, where they get only an antibiotic, a bill that can average over $600 and instructions to see a dentist," says Len Finocchio, a senior program officer at the California Healthcare Foundation, a health advocacy group.

According to a 2007 Harris Interactive poll found that 30% of Californians have not seen a dentist in more than a year; 10% have never seen a dentist or have not seen one in more than five years.

Thankfully many California cities, most notably San Jose, are modernizing their city's water system so it contains fluoride. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), adding fluoride to community water supplies is an relatively inexpensive for community to support dental health because this mineral helps prevent cavities, meaning less Americans have to get fillings.

But Californians aren't the only ones finding it tough to afford quality dental care. In fact, one New Jersey resident may have started a trend by bartering his skills for a checkup. Robert Josefs of Hillsborough, NJ chose to trade his services for the dental work he couldn't afford. Instead of writing a check, he paid his dentist back in web design work, making up for his bill that was reportedly around $1,000. While the concept seems a bit dated, at least it means some like Josefs are actually visiting the dentist.

I suppose the ultimate form of "dental care on the cheap" would be if you didn't have to go to the dentist at all. Actually, this may not be so far-fetched as it seems because there's a new product called EvoraPlus which aims to deliver teeth-friendly services in the form of a mint candy. Reportedly, EvoraPlus promotes whiter teeth and good bacteria in the mouth and its website states that this super mint may also help prevent against cavities.

Developed by a Dr. Jeffrey Hillman --a former researcher at the Forsyth Dental Center in Boston-- these probiotic mints introduce beneficial bacteria that helps cut down on lactic acid from carbohydrates and sugars that in turn discourage cavity-causing bacteria from feeding on these substances on the tooth surfaces.

Finally, if you're looking for ways to cut your dental bills look no further than my free special report entitled "Tips For Lower Dental Bills" which several people have e-mailed and told me how much they benefited from reading this report. Maybe it will help you as well.