April 29, 2025. By Nashmil Islam.

2024-25 NC Fellow Nashmil Islam

Reaching your mid-20s can mean many things – finding your purpose in the real world, aging out of your parents’ insurance plan, and yes – sometimes forgetting to schedule your next dental appointment. But the truth is, what you do for your teeth now will make – or break – your dental health decades down the line.

The very first patient I treated as a UNC dental student came to me needing every single tooth removed from her mouth. She was only in her 50s, yet her gums were severely damaged, and her teeth were beyond saving. She shared that she started smoking casually in her twenties, back when it was popular and seemed harmless. “I just never knew how much it mattered until it was too late,” she admitted. Her story serves as a reminder that the choices we make in our young adulthood can quietly shape our long-term health.

Unfortunately, prioritizing dental care can be challenging for many young adults today. Between losing insurance coverage, managing tight budgets, and balancing busy schedules, routine dental visits often slip through the cracks. In fact, adults between the ages of 19 to 34 have the highest uninsured rates of any age group in the United States, according to the 2019 American Community Survey. Without coverage, it’s easy to delay care until something starts to hurt, which is often when the problem becomes more serious and costly to fix.

But here’s the good news: preventive care doesn’t always have to be expensive or complicated! Building a simple dental routine now can save you time, money, and discomfort later. Think of dental care as you might think of a gym routine – do what you can, modify when necessary, and always continue improving:

• Brush your teeth twice daily and floss every night. If you are having trouble building a routine, work your way up each week to achieve this frequency. 
• Schedule dental cleanings at least twice a year. These visits cost a fraction of what fillings, crowns, or implants do – and many community clinics offer them for low to no cost at all
• Limit sugary snacks and carbohydrates. If that’s tough, try rinsing your mouth with water immediately after eating to remove excess sugars.

Call to Action: 

• Think of preventative dental care like a gym routine, but for your smile: the results may not show tomorrow, but your 60-year-old self will thank you in the long run!

• Just aged out of your parents’ insurance? Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/ to explore affordable health and dental coverage options.
• If you live in North Carolina, you may qualify for Medicaid, which often covers dental services. Check your eligibility at https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/eligibility.
• No insurance? Consider visiting local dental schools (like UNC!) or community health clinics for low-cost or sliding-scale care.

Adulting is full of tough choices, but protecting your smile can be an easy one!

Nashmil Islam

2024-25 NC Schweitzer Fellow

UNC Adams School of Dentistry, Class of 2026