maintaining a healthy smile in the new economy
working people in america today having more and more difficulty finding employers who offer dental insurance as part of their benefit package. in american culture, good oral hygiene is extremely important, both socially and professionally. people with "bad teeth" are often seen as low class, unattractive, or simply disgusting.
young people in particular have been led to various home remedies to deal with plaque, bad breath, and the gum disease gingivitis. of course, brushing and flossing are important, but these are no substitute for the attention of the neighborhood d.d.s. (or at least hygienist). with increases in energy costs, traditional methods like chewing charcoal and gargling with petroleum distillates such as kerosene and diesel fuel are increasingly out of the reach of the working poor, leaving many in a quandry.
in a site full of health conscious young bachelors and bachelorettes like this one, surely there are as many tricks for keeping one's pearly whites on the straight and narrow as there are secret ramen recipes. i invite all of you to share them below.
