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There are lots of statistics floating around the dental professional community, but the one that seems to stick out like a sore tongue is the fact that only around half of the people in the USA see their dentist on a regular basis.
As a practicing dentist in a rural community for the last 35 years, I would be inclined to disagree with that statistic. I’d guess that the number would be closer to 33%. However, it is pointless to argue facts and figures, The bottom line is that there are entirely too many people that are currently DENTALLY unprepared for potential long-term catastrophic events. Add to that the medical conditions that can arise from untreated dental disease, and you can see why there is increased concern for individuals that have neglected their oral health.
What can the SHTF Prepper do to protect himself (or herself) and their respective families? Obviously, the best defense against a wide array of oral problems is simple. Get checked. Get cleaned. Get treated. Now. Dental offices depend on electricity to operate the equipment that dentists and hygienists use on a daily basis. If the electrical grid goes off line, there will be a limited number of dental options available to the patient requiring even the most common procedures.
Once you have taken your mouth into the 21st century, you need to be aware that there is a product available on the market today that has shown some promising and encouraging results after short-term usage. Let me first state that I am not employed by, nor am I reimbursed for any comments I make regarding the company that manufactures and distributes this product. I am simply offering information to the SHTF Prepper that may be beneficial.
Many of you may already be familiar with Xylitol. Although it has no magical properties that would enable you to reverse dental decay or to replace loss of supporting dental bone, the product nonetheless appears to be a potent preventative measure that could control rampant oral disease when used in conjunction with effective oral hygienic home care. It can be purchased in many forms…as a powdered sweetener, in flavored hard candies, and it has also been introduced in saline nasal sprays. Again, please do not misunderstand me, I am not recommending its use as a cure-all. The current research merely suggests that use of Xylitol MAY be favorable during extended times of challenging local or regional events that would preclude periodic visits to the dentist. We currently have a limited number of inexpensive samples available for purchase if you are unable to find the product near you.
It should be noted that Xylitol does have a shelf-life, and the effectiveness of the product can be diminished over a fairly long period of time. Accordingly, it would be unwise at this juncture to purchase large quantities. I would, however, urge you to at least try it.
Finally, it goes without saying that you should be stockpiling quality tooth brushes and tooth pastes. Utilizing dental floss is also highly recommended. In addition, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep away from storing the high-salt, high-sugar foods that can insidiously undermine good dental health. Stick with foods that contribute to overall good physical health, and that kind of diet will also help you avoid potential dental set-backs.
There are a plethora of dental and oral conditions that can often be treated on a temporary or intermediate basis with home remedies or over-the-counter concoctions and elixirs that you can make at home.
If you would like to read more short articles like this one, or if you have any questions, please let us know.
Yours in Good Dental Health,
LennyK
