DIY Tooth Repair-Would You Dare?

I thought this one was worth reposting as it is so relevant in today's DIY oriented world.
Here goes:

There are all kinds of stories out there about people fixing their own broken or decayed teeth, dentures and whatall; some even using dental floss and fishing line to craft DIY braces...but is this taking it a little too far? Probably, but it is a world of extremes we live in and lets face it, dentistry is high priced and unless you have excellent credit or say, 10 to15K in an account earmarked specifically for dentistry, it's not really affordable. I would venture to say that lack of affordability and fear of the dentist are the two major reasons why people might try to repair their own teeth or dentures.

There is a shift occurring in the way people think and do things nowadays and goodness knows there are endless supplies of DIY solutions out there, so why not for dentistry, right? How hard can it be, after all? Now, don't get any ideas just yet. Google some of those stories! Trust me, they didn't all end well. Having said that, there are some success stories too...so just try to use common sense (please) if you plan to attempt a home repair on your teeth, and maybe keep these simple, humorous yet "common sense" suggestions in mind.

Well, I know the first one is futile, but I still feel the need to say it:
   
     DO NOT TRY IT AT HOME!!!!!!   followed by:

     Super Glue can be TOXIC.
     Gum doesn't hold. Really, it dissolves.
     Dental Floss was not intended for use in home orthodontia.  
     Neither was fishing line.
     Rubber bands, either.
     Seriously, shield your eyes if you're going to actually use that Dremel tool.
     Put the pliers away and forget you ever thought about it.

Now, on the flip side, there are products out there that you can use to TEMPORARILY (and I cannot stress that word enough) temporarily, repair a broken tooth, or, cover a lost filling and yes, believe it or not, make a temporary tooth if you happen to have one missing and there is a wedding to go to on Saturday.  Notice I'm not naming any products here.  If you dare to make your own dental repairs you'll just have to Google the rest of the info yourself. :)

Keep Smiling!

   
   

   

Coffee Or Tea, Which Is Worse For Staining Teeth?

There are a variety of foods and drinks that can contribute to staining your teeth over time, but some are distinctly worse than others. We all know that berries, beets, hard candies and sports drinks can color our teeth, although this is not usually permanent. But coffee, tea and colas are notoriously bad because drinking these beverages daily can slowly stain your teeth over time and it isn't always enough just to brush and floss. As to the question of whether Coffee or Tea is worse? Well, the answer is Tea. Black Tea, specifically. It has properties that can stain your teeth more rapidly than any other drink. If you've ever brewed black tea and poured it into a white coffee cup, you probably noticed that it left a ring, or stain. This is from the tannins combined with acidic properties in tea. Now, there is speculation that using mineral water or hard water to brew your tea and coffee can help to keep those staining agents at bay, but the sacrifice may be that your morning drink won't taste as good! As for me...I would sacrifice the teeth for the taste; I would much rather have good tasting coffee in the morning

Vitamin D = Better Oral Health!

We all know Vitamin D is essential for healthy life but did you know that Vitamin D is also good for oral health?

Not only does Vitamin D help prevent tooth decay, it can also help prevent gingivitis and cavities. Even though you may brush and floss your teeth daily, tooth decay can sill occur if you have low Vitamin D levels.

If you are experiencing tooth decay even with using proper dental care practices, you may want to take the needed steps to increase your Vitamin D levels:

• Spend 10 minutes in the sun each day without sunblock.
• Eat foods high in Vitamin D (Fish).
• Drink 2 glasses of milk each day.
• Take a Vitamin D supplement.

Following these steps might lead you to a healthier smile!

*To find out if you have low Vitamin D levels, visit your primary care physician for a simple blood test* 

Article found here!

Eggsperiment For Children

Are your children on that week-long hiatus from school which is also known as Spring break? Are they already bored? Don't worry I have a fun toothy eggsperiment for them!

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs (3 boiled. 1 raw)
• 1 can dark soda (ie: Coke, Pepsi, Root Beer)
• 1 cup coffee
• 1 cup of tea
• 1 cup vinegar
• 5 clear plastic cups

Directions:

1.  Take the hard boiled eggs and put them in separate plastic cups and cover one with soda, one with coffee and the last one with tea.
2. Put the raw egg in a plastic cup and cover with vinegar.
3.  After 5-10 minutes have them check on the eggs covered in the soda,coffee and tea to see how stained they are. Then check on them periodically through out the day to see the difference in color.
4. Let all eggs sit overnight and check on them in the morning.
5.  Talk with your child about how the soda, coffee and tea affected the egg shells and how that can affect their teeth the same way. 
6. Now take a look at the raw egg that was covered in vinegar. This will represent how plaque eats away at the tooth's enamel just like it dissolved the shell.  

I think this would be a fun visual way to show children how important brushing our teeth really is.

I found this experiment here!

How To Manage Dental Costs If You're Uninsured

For most people, a toothache that turns into an expensive procedure like a crown or implant can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. Even routine check-ups with x-rays and a cleaning can add up to hundreds of dollars. It has been estimated that over one third of Americans have not visited a dentist in the last 12 months.

Given the nature of insurance companies and the cost of premiums vs. the actual procedures covered, relief from dental bills is not likely to come soon. That leaves it up to consumers to find smart ways to reduce their dental care costs without sacrificing their oral health. So, we did some research on ways to cut back on dental related costs. 

• Consider a good dental plan.  Better than insurance, some dental plans offer discounted fees with low premiums and no limit or "cap", no waiting periods on procedures, no exclusions and immediate coverage. 

• Try having your dental care done at a Dental School Clinic.  Teaching facilities have amazingly skilled dentists and in most cases the cost is cheaper than a private practice facility. Not to mention they use the most state of the art equipment so that your experience is more comfortable.

• Space out your treatments.  If you have extensive work to be done, most dentists will work according to a treatment plan, and a "pay as you go" strategy can go a long way toward helping the patient so those out of pocket expenses don't have to break the bank all at once! 

• Disclosure-No Surprise Fees!   Make sure to always, ALWAYS get the cost for the treatment plan or procedure before you agree to have it done, or sign anything.  Many patients agree to procedures while they are in the chair and don't fully understand that there may be an additional cost...an exorbitant additional cost.  Keep yourself from sticker shock by asking first and discuss other options if you cannot afford the procedure.  

• Prevention, Prevention, Prevention!  The key to saving on dental costs (just like having your car worked on) is to fix small problems before they become big ones.  Have your teeth cleaned twice a year and don't skip that oral exam. 

Here is a parting thought for those of you in the market for dental coverage.  PLEASE check the benefits carefully when considering dental insurance.  The premiums will always be more than the pay out...coverage is always limited and there will almost always be a waiting period for expensive procedures. They want to make sure they have your premiums firmly in hand before the payouts begin. It's the truth....do your homework carefully! A good dental plan is more effective at saving you money than an insurance company will ever be. 

Keep Smiling! 

Teething Symptoms

Do you have a baby that is getting ready to teeth? Well they will be going through a process called teething syndrome. (Teething is the growth of teeth through the gums in the mouth of infants and young children.)

Swollen gums are a good indicator your child is starting to teeth. Also if your child has a fever over 101 degrees teething is most likely the cause of this. If you child has lower persistent fevers you may want to contact you physician.

Some things to help relieve the pain of a teething child are a light gum massage, chilled or frozen toys to gnaw on, also chilled food and/or drinks!

Teething pain cannot be completely prevented, but you can help comfort them and this will help the baby get through it with less distress.

Root Canal Myths

Are you terrified of getting a root canal? If so, your not alone. Millions of people have their teeth treated and saved each year by endodontic therapy.

If your nervous of an upcoming root canal appointment because you have heard negative comments about them, Don't be! check out these myths below to ease your mind:

• They are painful - The dentist will completely numb the area and make sure you are comfortable before beginning the procedure. Patients have reported that the procedure is painless but have some discomfort as the tooth is healing.
• Extraction of the tooth is better - You want to conserve your original tooth. Extractions remove the tooth entirely which can lead to more dental work (Implants) and more money!
• If your not in pain then you don't need the root canal - Infected pulp inst always accompanied by pain but an infection wont heal itself and will only get worse. 

The longer you postpone treatment the more you risk the chance at saving your tooth!