You don’t have dental insurance. So, you’ve been putting off going to the dentist because you fear the cost. What happens if you need a lot of work? Who wants to fork out the money for that??

Guess what? You could be putting yourself at greater financial—and physical risk—by not going to the dentist. If you wind up needing major dental work, you’ll be paying a ton for it. And, a study found that poor oral health increases your risk of heart disease by 180 percent, risk of stroke by 300 percent and risk of respiratory infection by 500 percent.

Um. Those are high percentages. And, the choices you make when you’re younger really do affect you later in life—especially when it comes to your health.

There is an affordable alternative for you to consider. Take a look at discount dental plans.

These plans are not insurance. Instead, they offer access to services by participating dentists at a discounted rate. So, in return for the monthly fee, you can choose among a network of dentists who will typically give 10 to 60 percent rate reductions for certain services. For example, a $1,000 crown might only cost $600 for a member of a discount dental plan.

Here are some other features:

• They usually cost less than traditional dental insurance.
• You pay for the service in full, or negotiate a payment plan with the provider.
• There is no claim paperwork to fill out, since there is no reimbursement.
• Typically there aren’t any restrictions on how many procedures you can get at a discounted price annually. Some traditional dental plans, however, limit coverage.
• These plans generally run for a year, so you can switch plans if you need something different. If you have a dentist already, find out if he or she takes the plan. If not, you'll need to find one who does.
• Many discount dental plans include elective services, which are usually not covered by traditional insurance plans. For example, cosmetic procedures like tooth whitening are included in many discount plans' schedules of services.
• Discount plans may throw in freebies—like vision benefits, for example.

Sounds pretty flex, right? It’s worth looking into. Taking good care of your mouth is so very important…yes, even when you’re young!