Note from Crystal: I know that this topic might be a bit controversial and I personally would differ with some of the conclusions of the guest poster and do believe that regular dental visits are something that should be prioritized if you can at all make it happen in your budget. However, I decided to share this post here because I thought it might give some great ideas for those of you who are unable to afford regular dental care. It also is a great reminder for all of us to think outside the box and this might be a great option for in between dental visits and/or to reduce the costs of needing extra expensive dental work.
Please do your own research and do what is best for you and your family. If you have other suggestions for ways to save on dental care, I’d love for you to leave them in the comments. As always, sharply critical comments will be deleted but we welcome kind and gracious comments that contribute to the conversation.
Guest post from Liberty:
When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned? How about your kids’?
If you’re like many people, you find it challenging (particularly on the budget) to faithfully book teeth cleanings for each family member every six months.
The average cost of a regular teeth cleaning is $137. Multiply that times a couple of children, plus parents, and you have a regular six-month monstrosity of a dentist’s bill!
It can be difficult enough living on a tight budget without worrying about a huge extra bill, or the worse alternative. an outbreak of cavities (bigger cost alert!)
We all want to provide the care our kids need to enjoy clean, healthy teeth for a lifetime, but sometimes it’s harder than getting your six year old to eat shrimp at your friend’s dinner table!
The good news is you can professionally clean your entire family’s teeth at home for less than the cost of a new crockpot!
My grandmother, a dental assistant for 30 years and only recently retired, taught my family how to clean our teeth ourselves.
I grew up cleaning my teeth at home (and watching my mother clean my teeth when I was younger) and neither I nor any of my siblings have ever had a cavity.
Every once in a while, we’d visit our grandmother and she’d offer us free teeth cleanings at the dentist’s office. But she always ended up saying, “I don’t even know why I do this, your teeth are just so clean!”
The best part about cleaning your teeth at home is that it’s unbelievably easy and extremely cost-effective, in addition to causing other health benefits you may not expect. Teeth cleaning is so easy teenagers can do it — and that’s saying a good deal!
There are four simple steps to clean your teeth:
1. Floss thoroughly.
Run the floss between every tooth twice: once up and down on one side and once up and down on the other side.
2. Scale and scrape.
Gently scrape your teeth with a scaler along the gum line, between your teeth, and over the flat surface of each tooth. Be sure to gently scrape out any grooves you may have in your teeth, and to avoid widening cracks.
You’ll want to use a professional-quality, stainless steel scaler — they’re actually quite affordable. Don’t use one of those cheapie Walmart teeth-scaling kits.
3. Polish and brush.
Put a small amount of pumice polish on your toothbrush and give your teeth a good brushing. Pumice whitens your teeth and removes plaque and tartar at the same time.
Brush with side-to-side, up-and-down, and circular strokes. Make sure you brush along the gum line as well as the surface of the teeth themselves.
4. Replace your toothbrush regularly.
The pumice polish ruins your toothbrush’s regular cleaning capabilities, so buy yourself a new toothbrush each time you clean your teeth at home.
Yes, even replacing toothbrushes every six months doesn’t raise the cost to more than a fraction of the cost of a crockpot!
It can be intimidating to clean your teeth the first time — you may want to begin by cleaning your family’s teeth at home, and still going in for a cleaning occasionally to see how well you’re doing. Get x-rays. Ask the hygienist if there’s much of a buildup on your teeth. Make adjustments to your home-care routine accordingly until you have the process mastered.
You’ll still save money without worrying about sacrificing the health of your teeth in the process.
DIY teeth cleaning is a cost-effective, rewarding experience!
As you run your tongue along your teeth and feel the newly-smooth surface (the rough plaque having vanished along with the pumice), smile big and show your teeth as you think of all the things you can do with the money you saved.
Legal Disclaimer: As you’ve guessed, I am neither a dentist nor claim to be. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for obtaining professional dental advice. Please use at your own risk.
Liberty is so fascinated with effective DIY teeth cleaning that she wrote an eBook about it: Goodbye Dentist! Professionally Clean Your Family’s Teeth (in Under $20). You can download your free copy (opens in Dropbox) of this step-by-step, pain-free, detailed guide to becoming your own dentist and saving hundreds of dollars.
I really loved this article, I think it’s great that you’re helping people stay healthy who can’t afford to go to the dentist. I’ve scaled my own teeth for quite some time now, but I didn’t even think about that pumice polish? What brand would you recommend? Is there a specific one?
There are ALWAYS going to be “haters” when you post ANYTHING, but I appreciate the tips!! I have read the Entire Post and understand that you are saying for people that CANNOT AFFORD nor cannot find free dental care, this maybe helpful information to them. I am not a small minded know it all that sits behind a keyboard looking for people to attack. I’m sorry you are being attacked for being helpful!! Will definitely try the polish!!
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement! -Jordan, MSM Team
I would like to mention that for years I took my 4 kids to our crazy busy pediatric dentist for regular checkups. I followed all their suggested treatment plans and did everything I was “supposed” to do. One day my 15 yo son deveped a lot of pain in a tooth they had filled. I took him on, and they said he needed a root canal. They also suggested I begin taking him to our family dentist that my husband and I were using.
So I did. When my dentist took x-rays, he was in disbelief. He questioned me over and over regarding my six month appointments, etc. My son had a mouth full of cavities that were not fresh, and there was decay in and around several fillings, including the one that needed a root canal. I immediately transferred the records of my other three children, and I was in disbelief at what was found. I think between the 4kids there were about 16 cavities. Hundreds of dollars and many painful procedures later, we are on a great path to oral health. Had I used this home cleaning remedy on my kids, I have no doubt they would be better off now. The point of my comment is this…not all professionals do a professional job. This method is definitely better than nothing and also definitely better than an incompetent professional.
This was an interesting post and its associated comments. My husband and I have not had dental insurance for about 10 years now. We are on a very tight budget (but we have everything we NEED). We have taken my Grandma’s words of advice, “Take care of your teeth” to heart. We budget a little every month for my once a year, out of pocket cleaning, with no x-rays. My husband goes every 5 years and again, we budget that in. It helps us to break down the cost and put a little aside each month towards those larger (for our budget) bills. Also, I worked with an adult with special needs who did not have the money for a dental procedure she needed. I searched around for free clinics or students needing the practice and got nowhere. Finally, I called her dentist, told him her situation, and asked him what options he knew of for her. He generously did it for free! The bottom line I think is just to do your best to take care of your teeth.
Hi Rachel!
Glad to have you join in the discussion! 🙂 I totally agree that taking responsibility for one’s own teeth is a major factor in maintaining good dental health . . . having a dentist clean your teeth is a wonderful luxury when you can afford it, but you still should have the mindset that it is YOUR responsibility to keep your own teeth clean and healthy.
Blessings,
Liberty
Thanks Liberty for sharing! As someone who has not been able to afford dental visits for 8 years, I appreciate having an option to get my family and I’s teeth cleaner while we are making plans to eventually be able to take our family to the dentist more often. I think too many people put too much stock in “experts”. Anyone can become an expert if they are willing to study and research a subject out to its end. M
Hey Missy!
Your comment made my day!! So glad to share this method and I hope it’s is able to help you and your family.
I also totally agree when you say “I think too many people put too much stock in ‘experts’. Anyone can become an expert if they are willing to study and research a subject out to its end.”
While I respect and appreciate the special expertise of those who receive years of schooling in this profession (and similar ones), I also believe that ordinary people who do a little research can help themselves to some extent–even if it’s not up to the level of a professional. Some of us just can’t afford to go to the experts!
😀
Blessings,
Liberty
I think is actually an interesting post! We have dental is insurance but my husband and a I grew up poor and rarely went to the dentist. I know I went at least 6 years between cleanings at one point as a child.
There are still some people in my extended family that just do not have money and never go. This is a helpful post
Thanks for your encouragement, Amy! Truly appreciate it! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
The issue I see with this suggestion for cleaning teeth at home is that it relies on the assumption that all people and all teeth are the same, and that, when done correctly, if something worked well for one person then it will work well for another person. But this is not necessarily the case, and because of the variations between people, something that works for one person may actually cause complications for another, even when done in exactly the same manner (a good example is drug side effects—not everyone gets them even if they’re taking the same dosage). This is why the role of any diagnostic healthcare provider (like a dentist, doctor, etc.) is more about interpreting the situation and determining the best course of action for this specific patient, and less about providing a certain service. When you go to the dentist for a routine appointment, you aren’t paying for just the act of cleaning your teeth, but are instead paying for the entire preventative care package that includes a dentist assessing your teeth and providing appropriate care and recommendations as indicated.
That being said, I do understand that dental insurance is expensive and paying for regular dental cleanings just is not possible for some. But don’t let the upfront cost cause you to forget that the role of preventative care is to identify issues early, ultimately saving money in the long run. If dental care is something you can’t fit until your budget, perhaps rather than jumping right to cleaning teeth at home, it would be better to first try to obtain dental care from a professional (such as from a student, free clinic, groupon, or any of the other idea that have been suggested) to identify your speficic risk factors and dental needs. Be open and honest with the dentist about the cost issue and ask specific advice for you on how to best maintain your oral health at a cost that you can actually afford.
I grew up in a one income family of 6 without dental insurance. We were always looked down upon when we did go to the dentist because of lack of insurance. I remember it vividly. I will say that it would surprise some of the commenters how few people actually carry dental insurance. I have lived in a few regions of the US and have seen wide ranges of poverty. Yes professional dental care is needed but some options mentioned by the commenters are not always available or easily accessible to every region.
I have also seen dentists who have lied about a patient having cavities and needing fillings. This breeds distrust between the patient and the dentist and future dentists.
Thanks for sharing Ruth!
I think it’s funny that your first statement is exactly true for me too: “I grew up in a one income family of 6 without dental insurance.”
😀
Blessings,
Liberty
Thank you for your post! I go to the dentist twice yearly but tend to have heavy tartar buildup. Was told it was just my body chemistry. The dentist told me that I could come in every three months but the extra cleanings would be totally out of pocket. Asked the hygienist if I could do it myself and her response was ‘Yes”.
My husband has a fantastic job, great benefits. I have a lowly job of bookkeeper and am around low income workers. I can certainly tell you that many do not get ANY dental care. Some try not to smile too big or wear bushy facial hair to cover up bad teeth and bleeding gums. We can be thankful that many of us are not in this position but this do it yourself cleaning has got to be better than nothing.
Hi Heather!
You’re welcome for the post! Thanks for taking the time to respond! 😀
Blessings,
Liberty
Some of these comments made me think of my friend. Life is less than ideal for many people. My friend was finally able to see a dentist for the first time in her in her 50’s. Something like this would have been very helpful for her.
Hi Lou!
Thanks for your positive feedback! It means a lot to me when so many folks in the comments don’t seem to understand that some people simply can’t afford dental care and this is an alternative that can help. 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
Unfortunately in our country dental care is not available to everyone. It very sad that children and adults have to suffer because they don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay. I am positive that Liberty would say you should go to the dentist if you can afford it or have insurance. I think this method is better than doing nothing. I can’t believe that someone would say do nothing if you can’t afford a trip to the dentist. We are here to help each other and her advice is practical to those in need. Thank you for putting this information out there.
You are exactly right, Cheryl! I do recommend going to the dentist if affordable.
The post and eBook are meant to help those who can’t afford anything better and giving this method a shot may help their dental health dramatically.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Blessings,
Liberty
Thank you so much for your article. I already downloaded your eBook and can’t wait to read it. As a homeschooling mom to 3 and having only a single income that doesn’t allow us to get dental insurance, I really appreciate this article and eBook.
I really can’t afford a homeopathic dentist but that is where I really want to go with my children. I don’t want my children to have all that fluoride, sealants and x-rays that want you to get.
Hey Sharla! Thank you soooo much for your encouraging feedback! I’m so glad you downloaded the eBook and I really hope you find it helpful!!!
I’m totally with you on not wanting the fluoride and all the other things they administer with all their side effects. That’s another side benefit to cleaning your teeth at home–you get to decide exactly what is done to you and your children. I believe parents should take this responsibility seriously rather than just going along with whatever’s recommended at the time by science and the medical profession. Not all things are healthy, despite the claims.
Good for you homeschooling, too! I grew up homeschooled and I’m going to homeschool my children. 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
$12 for a dental cleaning supervised by an actual professional: https://www.sfcollege.edu/health/dental-programs/dental-clinic-at-sf/index
You can find the same thing in your own town too. If you want to save money on dental cleanings, go to your town’s community college, university, or dental school. Dental students about to graduate perform the cleanings, they are supervised and the work inspected by actual dentists. Where I used to live this is only $12 for children and $32 for adults. Used to be $25 when I went there.
I would never scale my own teeth. You could easily erode your tooth enamel, create an abscess because you are not properly sterilizing with an autoclave like a dentist, or create MANY more problems that are way more expensive than just going to a full price dentist in the first place.
Be smart. If you want to save money, do what I suggested above. Recommending otherwise is dangerous and irresponsible and I am surprised to see such posted on here.
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! The option for low cost dental cleanings you mentioned sounds great.
I have to disagree, however, that recommending DIY teeth cleaning is dangerous and irresponsible–IF accompanied by warnings about what can happen if you use the scaler incorrectly, and IF accompanied by careful instructions about exactly how to scale properly, which are extensively explained in the eBook.
Thanks again for sharing!
Blessings,
Liberty
We went through some rough financial times and used the local dental hygiene school. It was $10 for a cleaning and included toothbrush, sample toothpaste and floss. They also had a half price clinic with dental students there. My husband used a dentist and had a good experience. I have to admit I did chicken out and went to an endodontist for a root canal I needed. We can now go back to a regular dentist, but it was an option for us when we needed it.
Hi,
O.k. I’d be scared to scale my own teeth and even more afraid that I would miss something that a trained professional would see- oral cancer, cavity, receding gums etc. Further, since I can’t fill my own cavities, take my own x-rays, or replace my own fillings, I’d want a professional to be aware of what I need from the get-go.
There are discounted dental plans out there. I haven’t tried this one yet (only for NY & NJ), but I have a friend with 8 children who speaks highly of this one:
https://www.sele-dent.com/
Hi Therese,
Thanks for sharing! I perfectly understand the fear of cleaning your own teeth, so if you can afford to have the dentist clean your teeth, that’s great! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
I am surprised that so many people are against this helpful solution for those who CANNOT AFFORD to go to the dentist. I’m not sure people are getting the CANNOT AFFORD part. Yes, there are alternatives like trying a dental school (my sister did) or buying insurance (we have a dental “insurance” that gives us discounted prices at a limited number of dentists…usually the dentists that are the least “popular” and may not be the best). But there are some people (perhaps not all the folks who read Money Saving Mom) who DO NOT have the money to see a dentist, once a year, let alone twice a year.
Yes, if you don’t go regularly the dentist might not spot the mouth cancer, cavity or other problem. Yes, you may damage your gums scaling them yourself. But if you have NO MONEY to go to the dentist – what do you do? My parents had 5 children on a single income – though my mom babysat to make extra money, including babysitting for a dentist in exchange for dental services!
There were times when my parents didn’t have money for groceries or just lived for awhile on the bare minimum of potatoes, eggs and milk. There was almost no money for school supplies, clothing (most of our clothes were hand-me-downs from other families) etc.
My husband, children and I are blessed to not be in such dire circumstances but I do understand that there are folks like that out there. Why make them feel worse or guilty by INSISTING that they find a way to visit the dentist when they already overwhelmed and burdened by just trying to get by. They might not have cable tv, swimming and dance lessons, trips to the beach or money to eat out – that they can give up in order to pay for the dentist.
Maybe a lot of the readers on Money Saving Mom are not in dire poverty (I admit that I am not) – but I appreciate the blog and realize that not everything in it is for me.
Amber,
A very reasoned response, thanks saves me time from posting a long comment. Liberty, thank you for your post and the link, have already taken a look.
Hi Mary!
Glad to help and thanks for showing appreciation! I hope you find the eBook helpful!! 😀
Blessings,
Liberty
Hey Amber!
Thank you sooo much for the encouraging comment!!! You understand my point and eloquently explain who the post is for. 😀
Blessings,
Liberty
Another great money-saving option is to look at local colleges that offer a dental hygiene program. Many times, they offer appointments with students looking to gain experience (supervised by a certified professional). I know that the college in my area offers a full dental experience (x-rays, cleaning, exam, etc.) for $25/person and they do have options for those who may not be able to afford this fee. It’s a win-win because it provides the student with a great learning experience and a very thorough level of care for the patient(s). While I was in college and unable to afford dental insurance, I took advantage of this option and would highly recommend it!
I have been working in general dentistry for 20 years as a dental hygienist. PLEASE do not try to scale your own teeth at home! I have personally seen many horrible accidents of people that injure themselves, just trying to save month this way! Look into a local dental school or hygiene school instead. Some might charge $20 for a full cleaning, x rays, fluoride, and toothbrush is included too. Also, I can tell you that people that avoid dental visits to save money in the long run pay MUCH more money when they discover larger problems that years ago could have been cheaper smaller problems!
Check to see if you have a local college that offers a dental hygiene degree. If you do, most offer complete cleanings, x-rays, sealants…..everything for a fraction of the cost. (In our area, an adult cleaning is $25) It takes longer because the students are learning, but their work is checked by an instructor and a dentist, so you know you are getting good care. We do cleanings twice a year at the dental hygiene clinic, with the blessing of our dentist. If there is anything of concern, we go to her for another look.
Wow, that’s a good idea, Christi! I’ll definitely have to look into that.
Thank you for joining in the discussion!!
Blessings,
Liberty
I buy my dental checkups on Groupon. I can usually get a cleaning and x-rays for under $50 using a coupon code. It’s cheaper than paying for dental insurance through my husband’s job.
That’s a GREAT tip! Thanks for sharing!
I agree with the professionals that it is still important to go to the dentist regularly, but we are simply not able to do that where we live and the quality of dentists here is very poor. This sounds like a good option for those in-between times when getting to a dentist is very difficult, if not impossible. Our dentist friend even gave us a professional scaler to help remove tartar for the times we couldn’t see him. But avoiding the dentist altogether or only going once every 5 years or so is definitely not a good idea. I really appreciate the article, but it might be a good idea to include a little disclaimer.
Hi Dana!
I appreciate your feedback, and I just wanted to let you know that in the eBook there is a section on visiting your dentist periodically for a check up.
There are those who can’t afford to go to the dentist–ever–and this is meant to help them as much as possible, but for those who can afford it, of course it’s a great idea to still get a check up at the dentist and get x-rays and find out how your teeth are doing.
Thanks again for your kind words! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
I had no idea you could purchase this stuff for home. Our family goes to the dentist regularly now, but when i was a child my mom was a young, single mom- uneducated ad living in poverty- and I never went to the dentist. I have fillings in litterally every single one of my teeth except my top front two teeth. Maybe someone in a similar situation could do this and not end up how I did. There are a lot of people in the country who cannot afford regular dental care and end up getting served at the ER or rare free dental clinics. This may not be for everyone but it could be a helpful practice for someone!
I met a man who was in his 60s and needed most of his teeth pulled because he’d never spent the money on himself to go to the dentist. When his kids were little he spent it on them. It was really sad but I know you’re right that not everyone goes to the dentist.
Hi Bobbi!
Wow, I’m so sorry about all those fillings! I really hope that sharing this do-it-at-home method is able to help those in unfortunate circumstances who simply can’t afford going to the dentist regularly. 🙂
Thanks for your positive feedback! 😀
Blessings,
Liberty
I love this idea to help supplement the appts we do! I had no idea you could purchase a scaler for home use. I have bad teeth and one of my kids has inherited them, with lots of buildup and tartar. I love the idea of being able to contribute to our dental health by doing these home cleanings too!
Hi Kelly!
Thanks for your positive feedback! Glad to help! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
I’m going to go against the grain here and say thank you for an awesome post.
While my husband was in graduate school he did not have any Dental insurance. (And this was at an Ivy league school on fellowship!) During his time there he got a horrible cavity. We went to the local dentist school and had it filled (which was not free or cheap but much less costly than a “real” dentist). Maybe if he had been following a routine like the one described in this post he could have avoided a cavity in those years.
Also, I wanted to add, years ago when I was laid off from my job and living in California my unemployment did not cover dental. It was the middle of the recession and it took me a long time to find work that had a dental plan. I ended up with cavities as well.
I honestly think it’s best to have a dentist clean your teeth but for those who do not have that luxury, this is worth a try. Thanks for posting.
Hey Linda!
Thanks for going against the grain!! 😉 I appreciate your kind words.
I think many of those opposed to this post believe I’m implying the world doesn’t need dentists–which is not what I’m trying to say at all. I’m merely saying exactly what you nicely summed it up as: “It’s best to have a dentist clean your teeth but for those who do not have that luxury, this is worth a try.”
Thanks again!! 😀
Blessings,
Liberty
We have had many different life circumstances. We have been blessed with great jobs with excellent insurance and also been through tough times with no medical or dental insurance. We bought medical insurance on our own and it did not include dental or vision care.
This post is very helpful. It is not your standard money-saving advice, but it is good to think outside the box. This would have been helpful during those years we went without dental insurance.
I tried to find inexpensive or free ways of getting dental care. Some went well, including a program our school had for low income families. I felt like my children received high quality care, although it was a little embarrassing to go. Most people were not aware we were out of a job at the time. We went to one dentist who offered “free” dental care on a certain day only to find out that we had to pay $60 for fluoride and $100 each for x-rays. Our local public university, which is about an hour away, offers low cost dental care for low income families. You have to wait months for an appointment and then wait in line once you arrive. It is not practical if you are looking for work or have small children.
In the end we just paid cash out of pocket for cleanings. The staff was not happy, but we held off on any expensive work like x-rays, crowns and gum grafts until we could afford it. My dentist worked with us on a 2-year plan to catch up on needed procedures once we regained dental insurance. I am thankful that he did that.
Nowadays, to save money, I ask for a pre-authorization on any work we are going to have done. It takes a couple of weeks to receive back, but it is worth not being surprised by the cost. My dentist we have been going to for over 20 years has also been very generous with us.
I am very thankful for good dental insurance and a good dentist.
Hi Laura!
Thanks for your positive feedback! 🙂 It sounds like you have a marvelous dentist, good for you!!
Blessings,
Liberty
I’ve heard of many dental schools who give free cleanings to those who need it (those without insurance who wouldn’t get dental care otherwise) as part of the dental students’ training, so that would probably be a safer and just as frugal option.
At the risk of sounding nit picky, I have to point out that it’s not a professional cleaning if you’re not a professional. It may be a thorough cleaning, but I suspect that it lacks many other services and screenings performed at a dental visit that a patient may be completely unaware are being performed.
This post is fascinating. Thank you. From a 45 year old who has never had a teeth cleaning, I really appreciate the info. When people have talked about the procedure before I always thought, Wow, what a neat luxury. Now, I can’t wait to try it.
Hi Amy!
Thank you so much for your encouraging feedback!!! This method is definitely a life-saver for those of us who view regular dentist cleanings as a “neat luxury.” 🙂
I encourage you to download the free eBook for all the details!
Blessings,
Liberty
There is a lot of negative statements or warning against it. If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford I see this is a good idea at least to do every other time. So go to the dentist once a year and do this once a year for example.
The problem is that her advice is to phase out professionals altogether. I get being frugal but this is just a bit much.
Hi Lisa!
Thanks for joining in the discussion! I appreciate your positive feedback!
Going to the dentist once a year and cleaning your teeth at home once a year is a good idea. That’s what my father did for many years, and I especially recommend it for those first starting to clean their own teeth at home.
Blessings,
Liberty
I understand needing to be frugal, but don’t feel this is a good idea. One of my children had impacted canine teeth. It was discovered on a dental x-ray during a routine check up. If that hadn’t been discovered he could have eventually lost his front teeth from the teeth pressing on the roots of his front permanent teeth.
NOT a good idea. My twisted Registered Nurse brain is thinking many things right now but I will refrain from the possibility of offending. I will just re-state again this is not a good idea.
Perhaps at the beginning of the new year a Christmas saving account or a prepaid credit card can be opened at your bank. Than on your payday, one could apply budgeted amount to account of choice. Choose the plan that works best for your family. The Christmas account will pay out at the end of the year, so maybe everyone visits the dentist only once a year. Prepaid credit card no interest when used. My Mother for years used the Christmas saving account for years for paying her property taxes.
Do not do home cleanings….this can be a safety and health problem. I am an RDH and there is a reason we go to college and have lots of clinical hours then sit for boards before getting licensed.
whoops, I think I misspelled her facebook name, Tashi Handmade Naturals. She is chemist who makes wonderful products. I am sold on her tooth powders.
I have been using a charcoal based tooth powder made by chemist, her online store is found through her facebook page: Tashi Handmade Naturals, since using her charcoal toothpowder, my mouth feels the cleanest it has ever felt. I brush my teeth with the tooth powder and swish my mouth with small amount of water with tiny bit of the minty flavored toothpowder in it. this is another option that is super inexpensive as a container of the toothpowder lasts a long time, months. might be tough to use with little kids. but great for adults.
I’m all about saving money. But I’m not going to put my family’s health at risk by avoiding routine health screenings!
I’m certain the method shared here can do a decent job of cleaning the teeth. But a visit to the dentist is far more than a cleaning.
The dentist and dental hygienist are assessing the mouth, teeth, tongue, and gums for potential problems that you might not be able to see at home. Dentists can recognize signs of diabetes, heart disease, leukemia, oral cancer, kidney cancer…all from looking in your mouth. They can see a small cavity and repair it before it becomes a much more painful and expensive abscess.
I would be willing to try this for one of my two annual dental visits, or when my teeth are feeling particularly grungy between cleanings. But please think if this is the best way to save money for your family.
Thank you!!!! I’m wondering if these people realize that there is “tarter” below your gumline and you have to be able to feel it and remove it without seeing it to prevent periodontal disease. If it was as easy as she says then I wouldn’t have had to get a 3 year degree to do it…PS dental assistants don’t kniw how to clean teeth either, it’s illegal for them to do so ?
Hi Jessica,
Yes, because of hours spent on research when writing the eBook, I am very aware of the tartar build up below the gumline. In the eBook, I explain how to use the scaler to gently remove it–including a link to a video made by a dentist showing how to scale just under the gum at the correct angle.
This article is by necessity a very abbreviated version of all the details and research shared in the eBook. 🙂
Thanks for your feedback!
Blessings,
Liberty
I personally believe in what you’re doing, and I thank you. Don’t let these other people bring you down. Your article was incredibly helpful! And I really am thankful for all the effort you put into it.
Hi Chantel!
Thank you so much for the encouragement 😊 I hope you enjoy the eBook and find it helpful!
Blessings,
Liberty
100% agree.
Not to mention dental cleanings (preventative service) are free with every insurance we’ve ever had…and we don’t have good insurance, either.
Hi Dee,
A homeschool family like mine does not necessarily have the finances to regularly visit the dentist OR to afford insurance. At all. Period. Consequently, teeth-cleaning at home has been a life-saver for us.
Thanks for joining the discussion!
Blessings,
Liberty
Yes, I was going to mention this also. If you have dental insurance, then cleanings are covered. If you don’t have dental insurance, you are taking a big risk with your health. Some schools even have free dental services for kids without insurance coverage.
Not everyone has dental insurance! I don’t! Or health or Vision. Because I can’t afford it. I’ve been trying to get vision or dental insurance for the past couple of months, I just literally cannot afford that. I would love to be able to, but for a healthier living, when you can’t afford otherwise this article is amazing. It’s really helpful, but help me and my family live healthier, and really just gives power and control back to the people to take care of their families away they feel necessary.
I believe her point is- if you cannot afford it this is a better option than not having any cleanings whatsoever. Also, she stated that she still took her children in and their teeth were clean. I think that this is informative and it’s a good option.
It might be informative but I wouldn’t call it a good option. It’s just an option.
Hi Mrs. Wilson,
You got it, that’s exactly my point. 🙂 A homeschool family like mine does not necessarily have the finances to regularly visit the dentist , and this is a life-saver to fill in the gaps and seriously help (thank you, Crystal, for adding “life-saver” to my vocabulary!).
Thanks for your positive feedback!
Blessings,
Liberty
I agree. Dental school is very competitive to be accepted to and is a long program. If one is paying that much out of pocket perhaps one could look into dental insurance. Ours covers 2 cleanings and dentist visits a year.
Hi Christie,
I agree that professional check-ups are very helpful to recognize and prevent many diseases . . . when you can afford them. 🙂 The main point of this method is for those who are not able to regularly visit the dentist, in which case this is a very helpful option to help prevent cavities.
Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
I totally agree, Christie! Good dental health is essential for a healthy heart, healthy organs, etc. Not to mention that you can seriously damage your teeth if scaling is done incorrectly. I’m sorry, but EVERYONE should at a minimum have their teeth professionally cleaned once a year (even better if twice). Why not encourage looking into a competitive dental insurance plan instead???
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to mention that the eBook thoroughly addresses how to avoid damaging your teeth and gums by scaling properly, including a link to a dentist’s video showing how to scale under the gum line at the correct angle.
In regard to your statement and question, “I’m sorry, but EVERYONE should at a minimum have their teeth professionally cleaned once a year (even better if twice). Why not encourage looking into a competitive dental insurance plan instead???”, I agree that having your teeth cleaned by dentists twice per year is the ideal situation.
However, many families can’t afford this luxury (see multiple comments on this post), and the option of cleaning their teeth at home is all they have–the only chance they have at removing plaque and tartar while still putting food on the table.
Also, many families like mine cannot afford dental insurance at all.
Thanks for joining the discussion! 🙂
Blessings,
Liberty
If you have a college close to you, that has a dental hygiene program, you can get cleaning for a very small fee. And they have dentist on staff that check your teeth also. Also, xrays are included. It takes longer than going to the dentist. But it can be a huge savings.
Thanks for the great tip! -Jordan, MSM Team
The point is not everyone can afford a dentist! Especially in the United States. As a child I never got teeth cleanings because my parents would rather me and my siblings have a roof over our head and food on the table, mind you, my father worked sun up to sun down 7 days a week. Luckily we lived in Los Angeles so when we did have cavities we’d wait until my parents could take time off from work to drive us over the border to Tijuana, Mx. where we could afford for all of us to see a Dentist. Knowing things like this would have been super beneficial to us. I understand that not all people know that kind of struggle, I understand seeing a Dentist regularly is important, but those of us who have and do know about the struggle appreciate any help we can get that wont require a $1000 bill.
If you choose to go to the dentist with your family, then that’s okay. But the person who wrote this article and many people like her do not. The prices to go get something done that’s healthy, like a dental cleaning are absolutely outrageous! Not everybody has that privilege. And I do not know what kind of dentist you’re going to that can tell if you have serious health conditions like leukemia, or heart problems. I understand fully that the bacteria in the mouth can go into the lungs, or heart, or gut and cause health issues. And that in fact yes, these issues can show in the gums and teeth. But I don’t know a single dentist that I’ve ever gone to with my family, or my kids, and this is speaking from four different states and two different countries, that ever was able to see anything going on. And if they did they never mentioned it to any of us. I’m not saying it can’t be seen, I’m saying they don’t look for it because they’re not doctors. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take care of your family in the cheapest way possible. I personally think that what this person wrote is amazing! This is going to help us (my family) live longer, be healthier, and smarter, and save money. If you choose to see your dentist religiously, that’s okay. That is your choice for your family. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But you sound a little judgy to the writer and the rest of us.