Why Exactly Dental Health Is Important + How To Find a Dentist Easily

This post was sponsored by Chewsi as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

We all know that one reason modern times are better than even one or two hundred years ago is that we know more about dental health. Not only do more people keep their teeth than they did in the 19th century, but people also actually brush their teeth. That’s a big improvement! But more needs to be done for dental health than that. We need to go to the dentist! In this post, I’m going to explain why exactly you still need to go to the dentist, how to find one, and how to make it more affordable with or without insurance.

Why Dental Health Is Important

Other than cosmetic influences or bad breath, we still need to care about our teeth and the state of our mouths. Regular cleanings (like, by a professional and not by your toothbrush) are important because if plaque and tartar build up, they can cause oral diseases (x). Dentists can also check for progression towards gum disease, and oral cancers. Look, I don’t like it when my dentist moves my tongue around either, but I’m pretty sure I would like it even less to discover cancer when it’s too far advanced, so it’s worth putting up with.

Oral cancer is not the only thing that they can catch. In my opinion, gum disease is a much bigger deal than most people think it is. WebMD says, “Your gums are a barrier that helps prevent inflammation that may damage your body […] gum disease has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature births or low-birth weight babies” (x). Beyond this, your gums protect your teeth. If they recede, more of your teeth will be on display, exposing them to more problems. And the simplest way to prevent gum disease is to brush your teeth, floss them, and see a dentist for regular checkups (x).

Finally, they will obviously check for tooth decay. While getting a cavity filled isn’t the most fun process, it is way better than getting that tooth extracted. Personally, I find cavity fillings very painful. The actual filling isn’t really the issue, as they obviously numb the area, but holding my mouth open and the vibrations from the tools cause massive pain to my TMJs. My dentist and hygienist are aware of this, so they use different types of tools and lower speeds for things that involve these tools, including cleanings. If you have damage to your TMJ(s), talk to your dentist about what they can do to make these visits easier.

And having an autoimmune diseases make dental health even more difficult – and critical. For one, dry mouth is a side effect of a lot of medications, and it’s also a symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome (x). And when you have a dry mouth, it’s because you’re low on saliva, and “saliva contains antibacterial compounds that prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath” (x). If that wasn’t enough, if you have an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, you could have eight times the odds of developing gum disease (x). That’s a lot. So it is extra important to go to the dentist if you have an autoimmune disease.

How arthritis affects the body

How To Find and Pay For a Dentist Easily

No matter if you are new to your area, haven’t seen a dentist in a while, or just want a new one, it can be hard to find a dentist that you want to see. And what if you don’t have dental insurance? That’s where Chewsi comes in. Chewsi is an app that helps you find a dentist and pay through the app at a discounted rate. And if you have dental insurance, Chewsi helps pay for things that your insurance doesn’t cover. Medical care of all kinds is expensive in America, and every dollar saved helps.

How do I use the Chewsi app? Chewsi is available through the Apple App Store and through Google Play. It is super easy to sign up to use the app and it takes no more than 30 seconds to do so. When you sign up, you have the option to add your payment information then or later, so if you want to sign up but don’t want to pull out your credit card on the bus, don’t worry about it.

Once you’re signed up, use the Find-A-Dentist Tool. Input your zip code and the tool will show you all of the dentists in your area who are partnered with Chewsi; you’ll have your pick of hundreds of local dentists! One thing I really like is that the search will show you what type of dentist they are, like general practitioner; periodontist, or a dentist who studies the structure of teeth, periodontal disease, and dental implants; or endodontist, or a dentist who specializes in dental pulp. That’s super helpful if you’re looking for a specific type of dentists!

When you finish your appointment, you’ll pay with the Chewsi app. And the app will also give you an estimate of the cost of your appointment before you pay! Here are some examples from their website of situations different people who use Chewsi might be in, as well as the costs that they might pay for their services:

• “Part-time worker Suzie doesn’t have dental insurance. Because her dentist is a Chewsi dentist, she uses the app to save $62 on her exam, X-ray, and cleaning.”
• “Carlos wants a third cleaning this year, but his dental plan won’t cover it. Fortunately, his dentist is a Chewsi dentist, so Carlos uses the app to save $30 on his extra cleaning.”
• “Recent retiree Brian no longer has dental insurance. He needs a crown at a cost of $1,550. Brian downloads the Chewsi app, finds a Chewsi dentist and saves $370.”
• “Steven needs braces, and his parents don’t have dental insurance. They use the Chewsi app to find an orthodontist near them and save $540 on the total $5,400 cost of Steven’s braces.”
• And more!

Chewsi is a major asset to anyone needing dental care … which is everyone!

Those are great savings! But how do I save money with the Chewsi app? Great question. As you can see from the above quotes, Chewsi helps pay for all sorts of dental visits, both simple ones like a cleaning or more complicated ones like crowns or braces. Every single service is available at a cheaper price – so long as you pay through the app. These discounts aren’t only helpful if you don’t have dental insurance, but they also help if you do have it. Use Chewsi to save on services not covered in your plan or even when you’ve reached the limits of it, like with cosmetic services. We’re a few months out from wedding season, but will you want to get your teeth whitened before your wedding or you’re in a wedding? Save on it with Chewsi.

And there aren’t any monthly fees for using Chewsi! You only pay when you get the service you’re scheduling, like your cleaning or teeth whitening. And here are the nitty-gritty details that I know you’re really thinking about: Chewsi is not insurance or a discount dentistry savings plan, but it is compatible with an FSA. Finally, just to be explicitly clear, Chewsi can’t be used at just any dentist; it has to be a participating one. Luckily, there are tons of those, and you can find them in the Doctor Locator tool.

Download the app and schedule your next dental appointment today!