Your breath might smell great, but your teeth may not. In fact, if you have been neglecting your oral hygiene, it’s possible that no matter how much you’ve spent on toothpaste and mouthwash, your breath still reeks because one of your teeth is rotting in its socket. It’s a common problem among adults who believe that going to the dentist is costly or unnecessary unless there is something wrong with them. However, this thought process needs to change because going to the dentist protects your health and your wealth.

Here are 5 reasons why:

1) Early detection of oral cancer [or other serious conditions]

Oral cancer can be fatal when disregarded.

If caught early, oral cancer can be cured. There are several screenings that dentists use to find signs of oral cancer including the Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) test, which is used by many laboratories across the United States. Additionally, dentists look for moles or other spots on your skin that could indicate cancers like basal cell carcinoma and melanoma; they may not be able to tell you what these spots mean but they should check rather than assume everything is fine.

2) Save money on health care costs

Healthcare costs continue to rise since medical expenses typically increase every year because there are always breakthroughs. However, dental care does have this issue since toothpaste, mouthwash, and other dental tools have not changed significantly over the last few years. For example, do you know what year your toothbrush was made? If it’s more than two or three years old then there is a chance that it’s time to get a new one! Since most people wait until their brush has completely stopped working before buying a new one, they spend more money on teeth cleanings and other dental care needs.

3) Save money on dentist bills

Dentists can be expensive and you need to go at least once every six months for an exam and cleaning which usually costs around $100 each time you visit depending on where you live, but what if I told you that some places in the U.S. will pay you to go to the dentist? Several dental schools in Southern California, like Loma Linda University and UCLA, offer free or low-cost dental services to their community members. For example, at UCLA the first screening is $75 for non-UCLA students while each follow-up visit is $40 after that (and it’s cash discounted).

Now if you take into account the fact that many people may need several screenings before getting diagnosed then this could be worth it! The key is finding out what hospitals exist in your area; they are not hard to find since most have some type of website online.

4) Improve self-confidence 

Everyone wants a bright, white smile but some people are not willing to spend the money on whitening strips. If this is you, then consider going to the dentist where you can get your teeth bleached for a fraction of the cost compared to over-the-counter products. Also, some people might be hesitant about calling out sick from work just so they can go see their dentist but think about it this way: if getting better means being able to miss one day of work due to illness, wouldn’t that pay itself off eventually?

5) Get social security benefits by increasing income

If you are 62 or older and have limited work history because you were a stay at home parent or retired early, then filing for Social Security benefits could prove difficult since most of the time applicants must show proof about their work history. However, there are exceptions to this rule if you can prove that you have extensive dental issues since oral health is very important in the workplace. Plus, if your income falls below a certain level then you may not even have to file for social security at all!

If these reasons do not convince you to go to the dentist, then good luck retaining those pearly whites. If the other way around, visit the website.