Think dental insurance is too expensive to have in your 20s? Think again!

If you’re a young adult who doesn’t already receive dental benefits through your employer and you’re too old to be on your parent’s plan (over age 26), chances are you are without dental insurance. And without dental insurance, you’ve been putting off going to the dentist because you’re scared of the cost for your check-ups and cleanings. Or maybe you think since you’re young, you’re invincible and nothing bad can happen to your teeth? But, what happens if you wake up with a terrible tooth pain or you chip your front tooth at your flag football game? You are now in a dental emergency with no coverage and no dentist to run to.

You’re probably in the mindset that it’s tough to fork out the money for dental work when you have a car payment and student loan debts to think about. But, while student loans and buying a car is important, your health has to be your top priority. Do you know that you could be putting yourself at greater financial—and physical risk—by not going to the dentist and having a dental plan?

For starters, if you wind up needing major dental work, such as fillings or a crown, you’ll be paying a ton for it. [A ton = hundreds and hundreds of dollars]. Wouldn’t you rather put that money towards traveling or buying that new computer you’re eying? Additionally, studies confirm that there is a strong connection between poor oral health and other serious health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, making it that much more important to take care of your teeth.

Need someone to relate to? Meet Micah. He is a 26-year-old young professional who lives in Minneapolis. Micah is active, enjoys going out to eat with friends and has a gym membership to stay healthy, but hasn’t prioritized spending his money on dental insurance because he thought it was too expensive. Watch the video above to see his “ah-ha” moment when he found out that Delta Dental offers a dental plan for only $24 a month. Like Micah, you too will realize that prioritizing your oral health is easy (and inexpensive) when you look to Delta Dental.