Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Eating With New Dentures

Did you recently get dentures? You probably have noticed that they feel awkward and uncomfortable, don't worry, this is the same feeling for anyone that gets new dental appliances,whether its braces, expanders, dentures and even night guards. Eventually you will get used to them.

Adjusting to eating with dentures will take sometime, since you will have to change on how you eat your food.

Here are a few tips on eating with new dentures:

  • Be careful with hot liquids and foods, you will not be able to judge temperatures.
  • Your foods might taste differently at first and will improve over time.
  • Work your way up to solid foods. Start with a liquid diet, move to soft foods then to solids.
  • Replace tough meats like steak with poultry and fish.
  • Cut foods into tiny pieces including fruits.
  • Avoid very hard and sticky foods at all costs.
You can still enjoy your favorite foods, just remember to make sure they are denture friendly!

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Is it better to go to a privately owned practice with one doctor versus a "clinic" with multiple doctors?

The answer to this question lies solely on personal preference. Whether a facility has one doctor or one hundred doctors shows no reflection on the doctors' credentials or capabilities. Privately owned practices with only one or two providers are ideal for those who prefer to see the same doctor on every visit. Larger practices with multiple providers, or "clinics," if you will, are beneficial for those who have a multitude of dental problems that may require the skills of more than one doctor. Also, on-site specialists are common in larger practices and could be convenient if you get referred out.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

A Little Honey A Day May Stop Tooth Decay!

Manuka Honey, Have you ever heard of it? Good, me either!

Honey is sweet and comforting and many people don't even know about all the healing abilities honey has to offer. Honey offers incredible antiseptic, antioxidants and cleansing properties for our body and health.

Manuka Honey is made by bees that feed off of the Manuka bush in New Zealand. This type of honey not only fights infections and helps with tissue healing but it helps reduce the amount of inflammation and scarring. As a side note this honey helps with diarrhea, stomach ulcers and many other problems.

Here are some interesting facts about Manuka Honey:
  • Manuka Honey which has  potent antibacterial qualities, that works just as well as mouth wash.
  • Most honey consumed in the US is processed and will not have the same healing properties found in raw Manuka Honey.
  • Manuka Honey is also known as "Medihoney"

If you would like to learn more about Manuka Honey click here!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Survival Uses For Dental Floss

I'm sure you have heard of all the different ways that you can use dental floss such as; cutting foods, using it as fishing line, sewing and etc.

Did you know that dental floss can become very handy in a survival situation?

Here are just a few different ways you can use it for survival:

  •  Stitches - If you or someone gets a cut and it needs stitches, use dental floss to sew your skin back together.
  • Building a fire - Waxed dental floss burns easily, but the best way to get a fire started is by tying bundles of dental floss together.
  • Straps for trash bags - If you have to travel through muck or snow, wrap a garbage bag around your legs and secure them with the dental floss.
  • A Dummy Cord - Don't want to lose things such as your knife, tools or compass? Tie them together and attach them to your clothes or backpack. 
  • Tripwire - Tie dental floss tightly around trees, anything that comes through will not see the floss and fall before they can get to you. You can also add some cans to make an alarm for extra protection.
  • As Lashing - In need of a larger shelter? Use dental floss to lash branches together so you can build one.  If you already have a shelter use dental floss to make it stronger.
I found these tips to be very interesting. Hopefully you never have to experience a survival situation and if you are into doing survival challenges make sure you pack a bunch of dental floss!

For more survival tips using dental floss click here!

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Why Dental Plans Are Underrated Yet Over Deliver!

I am sure everyone has been in the situation where they are telling their friend about a new food that they tried and had their friend turn their nose up at it and say gross. If so, then you most likely responded with "Don't knock it until you tried it". The funny thing is, I have used that statement many time about dental plans. I have posted multiple blogs about dental plans versus insurance and proved many times how much a dental plan will save you, the patient, a lot of money all around. Yet, I still find that dental plans in general are underrated and in some cases deemed "sub par".

To that I say "Don't knock it until you have tried it". I am not really sure what is so special about the word insurance and why it is put on such a high pedestal over the word plan. Can anyone explain that to me? Why does "dental insurance" appeal more to people so much? Dental Insurance is an industry designed to rip you off. It is in the business of doing just that. What is so special about paying a lot of money for their conditional subpar coverage? What is so special about paying for something that you can't fully use from the get go?

Imagine for a moment that you bought a car. You pay this huge down payment, you are making monthly payments and are told that you can't pick it up for a month, then you can only drive it 100 miles per month for the first 3 months, then 500 for the next 3 months, then 750 for the next 3 months and so on. Once you have the car for 2 years, you can drive unlimited miles. Sound nuts right? You would look at the dealership and tell them that they are crazy and that there is no way that you are going to buy that car. I am sure of it.

Well, it is the same concept with dental insurance. You make a hefty down payment to start the coverage, pay an unreasonable monthly payment for something you are limited to use for while. In general, you may have to wait 1-3 months for it to even go "in effect ". Once it goes into effect, you are only going to get limited coverage for the first 6 months. After that, they will let you have a little more coverage. About 6 months later, they will cover some more things. By then, your coverage is may be up for renewal and they will most likely increase your rates before covering even more. On top of that, they get to choose what they will cover and what they don't. How does this not sound as crazy as the crazy car dealer? It does to me, yet people are flocking to it like new food was just put in the bird feader.

I have said it many times before and will say it again. Dental Insurance Companies are in the business of COLLECTING PREMIUMS not paying claims. Thus.. they are in the business of taking as much of your money as they can incase you do use the insurance and sit back and hope you don't use it. If you do use it, they limit you on how much you can use it, and increase your rates the next year. Bottom line: THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF RIPPING YOU OFF! They don't care about your teeth, they care about your money!

That's why Dental Plans exist. That's how they over deliver. You pay a low yearly membership rate and you get to use it in full right away. You can go to the dentist anytime you want. You don't have to worry if something is covered or not because you have the peace of mind that it is covered. Dental Plans are in the business of SAVING YOU MONEY not taking your money. You get to buy the car in full and drive it all you want, plain and simple.

The biggest reason why Dental Plans Are underrated is that insurance companies have enough of your money to spend millions in advertising. Most dental plans don't because they are not collecting thousands of dollars a year from each person in premiums. Insurance companies come at the consumer with inticing offers that make them line up to get ripped off. $20 per month for up to 80% dental coverage sounds much better than $99 per year for 50% coverage, but in reality it isn't better. Furthermore, they claim that they have the best dentists around and that dental plans have subpar dentists. Well, I can assure that the dentist that take Savon are the same dentists that take all of the major insurance companies. So they are lying to you and ripping you off. I can also guarantee you that we spend more time and work harder to vette our dentist to make sure that they meet high standards required to see our members. Lastly, we visit them constantly to make sure that those standards are being met. Show me a insurance company that cares enough to do that.

So when it comes to your dental coverage and dental health you have 3 choices, 1. Pay for it our of own pocket, (which is really expensive. 2. Get ripped off by the dental insurance company 3. Make the smart decision of joining a dental plan and take the money you save to buy that new car.

In closing, I say this... when it comes to a dental plan.. "Don't knock it until you have tried it"


Thursday, July 7, 2016

Ways To Cure Mouth Sores

We all know mouth sores can be painful, and they usually appear when we are stressed, ate to much sugar or acidic foods, certain medications and many more reasons. 

Regardless on how you get mouth sores, these home remedies can help ease the pain:
  • Raw Onion - Raw Onion is replete with sulfur and helps to treat mouth sores.
  • Coconut Milk - Gargling coconut milk three times a day helps sooth the sores.
  • Warm Salt Water - This is the most common treatment. In a glass of warm water add some sea salt and gargle. Salt has antiseptic properties that help heal the sores.
  •  Basil Leaves - Chew on some basil leaves with some water. The essential oils from the leaves will ease the discomfort and help heal the sore.
I personally have only tried one of the remedies listed above and it was using the warm salt water. 

When I would get mouth sores I put mustard right on the sore. Yes, it burns but I have found relief in doing it this way.

There are many home remedies to try but if mouth sores do not it heal. it's time to see your doctor.

For more home remedies click here!