You may see where I am going with this: sometimes we were never taught how to effectively prevent problems with our gums and teeth. We might visit our dental office only once per decade to avoid the bad news we expect. I encourage you to take control of your oral health, and become the expert on your own health. There may be an initial expense, sometimes large, but after you gain good oral health it is easier and cheaper to maintain it. Then your future oral health can be bright.