One of the unknowns facing many soon-to-be retirees is “How soon will I run out of money after my last paycheck?” Sometimes It doesn’t seem important to many facing an unknown future. They are tired of years of doing the 9-5 thing; all that matters is finally living on their terms. Often, the money issue comes down to “I won’t need as much money in retirement. I won’t be spending as much money on clothes, transportation, or eating out a lot. I’ll get by. I have a small IRA. When that runs out of money, Social Security checks will take care of me”.
Hot flash: You won’t get by unless you win the lottery or have saved or invested enough to get you through more years than you might have imagined. Money matters a lot, especially when it’s needed, and you don’t have it. You will need more money for more things than you can imagine. Take the cost of taking care of your teeth. Care can be expensive unless you have excellent dental insurance.
Many of us seem to think nobody notices our teeth. Not so! When meeting someone new for the first time, your smile/teeth are one of the first things seen. Are your teeth yellow, brown, crooked, or missing? Yuk.
The future condition of your teeth should be given top-drawer attention well before retirement. If you haven’t done that, now is the time to start, regardless of age, especially if you have bleeding gums.
Bleeding gums? Think Alzheimer’s.
Researchers have long believed that bleeding gums are the entry point for disease-causing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and set off issues leading to dementia. Nearly half of adults over 30 and 70 percent of those 65 and older have periodontal disease. That’s alarming. Don’t assume Medicare benefits will bail you out. Medicare coverage extends only to dental emergencies and doesn’t reimburse the costs of basic dental cleanings, fillings, and dentures.
Letting dental care go if you don’t have enough money to live decently is unfortunate. But, it’s been found that some retirees with ample funds don’t think bleeding gums are a problem and won’t spend the money to heal them. I recall being with an older man with bleeding gums. He said didn’t care. His gums don’t hurt, so he will use his money for eating out and other entertainment. He doesn’t care what others think about his nasty-looking teeth and bad breath. He shouldn’t expect to find a woman who will kiss him.
If bleeding gums can lead to Alzheimer’s or other diseases, it makes sense to do whatever you can to care for what’s happening in your body and mouth.
If you’ve been saving money for a gambling trip to Las Vegas or other expensive entertainment, re-prioritize. Use that money to take care of your health, particularly your teeth. Nothing matters more than your health. When health is gone, what else is there?
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