Good Dental Coverage is Essential

Working in the dental industry, I couldn't help but notice the downtrend caused by the great recession with respect to dental insurance, dental plans and even dental appointments.  While dental health (understandably) was not on everyone's mind at the time, with the introduction of the Affordable Healthcare Act and the current instability of the the economy it is more important than ever to obtain good dental coverage if you can. Keep in mind that many insurance companies do not cover dental.  Many offer the coverage but it is so limited that it may as well be non-existent. Unfortunately, prices for dental procedures have not gone down to match the economy either, so it's as important as ever to make sure that your family is covered in the event that treatment is needed! 

Tip: A good dental plan is an excellent way to help keep the cost of dentistry down, and in most cases can be used as a supplement to dental insurance. If you are insured, it's a safe bet that your dental insurance plan has limitations.  A good dental plan doesn't.  Take a minute and do some research on Dental Plans vs. Dental Insurance.  You might be surprised to learn that a dental plan has much more to offer!  

The following site is a good place to start!  http://www.savondentalplan.com/comparisonCenter.php

Keep Smiling!

Benefits Of Straight Teeth!

1. Better Brushing - Overlapping teeth can trap food and straight teeth allow easier brushing/flossing.
2. Clear Speech - Crooked teeth can cause many speech impediments.
3. Easier Eating - Crooked, crowded teeth compromise chewing.
4. Less accident - prone teeth - Protruding teeth are more prone to breaking also mouthgaurds may not fit correctly.
5. Fewer headaches - Uneven wear puts pressure on the jaw resulting in chronic headaches.
6. Improved gum health - Lower risk of gum disease.
7. Better overall health - Tooth decay and gum disease is linked to heart disease and high blood sugar.
8. Affordable dental care - Few issues mean few expensive treatments.
9. Lower risk of soft tissue injury's - Cuts sores and infections can result from crooked teeth pushing against soft tissues in the mouth.
10. Self-Esteem - Confidence in any situation!

If you are interested in getting straight teeth contact an orthodontist!!

How to nurse a weekend toothache

So it's the weekend and everyone is busy.. And where are you? At home with a toothache, wishing Monday would hurry up and arrive so you can get to a dentist. Here's a few tips on how to make it throughout that painful weekend with out suffering completely:

- Try rinsing your mouth out first. Take a mouthful of room-temperature water and rinse vigorously. Many times, a painful toothache can caused simply by trapped food.

-If that doesn't work, try flossing GENTLY. This should get rid of the problem, unless your problem is something other than just stuck food.

-Numb the pain- Take a shot of whiskey (do not swallow it), and hold it in your mouth right over the painful tooth. Your gums will absorb the alcohol and it will numb the pain.

-Rinse with salt water- Make sure the water is room temperature. This is very soothing and cleansing and will help keep it from getting any worse.

-Massage your hand- No, I'm not kidding. Rubbing an ice-cube in the V-shape between your index finger and your thumb for 5-7 minutes can reduce the pain by 50%.

-Put a little clove oil on it- You can purchase this over the counter. Simply drop a little right on the tooth.

-Try not to bite- This is a no-brainer. Obviously, if you have a toothache, try not to bite on that side whatsoever.

-Try icing it up- This may not work if you have sensitivity to cold. If you don't, you might try sucking on an ice cube- on or near that tooth. If sucking on an ice-cube isn't going to work, try puting an icepack on your cheek in 15 minute intervals.

-Shut your mouth- If you are having sensitivity to cold, breathing through your mouth can cause even more pain. Try breathing through your nose.

-Take Aspirin- And no, don't put it directly on your tooth or gum, this can cause damage. Actually take and swallow an aspirin every 4-6 hours.

-Keep it cool- Try to avoid getting to warm or hot. And definitely avoid placing heat on the area. Heat draws infection to the surface, making it worse and more painful.

This information is not intended to replace regular, professional dental care. Do-it-yourself dentistry is never a good idea. These tips are to GET YOU BY until you can see a dental professional. This information was gathered from various online sources.

Repost by MoobiDoo April 14, 2009

Fun Facts About The Mouth!

* People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore!
* 85% of the population can curl their tongue!
* Expect to gain 256 colonies of bacteria from kissing!
* If your mouth was completely dry, you would not be able to distinguish the taste of anything!
* Taste is the weakest of the senses!
* Which ever hand you use to write is the side you will chew your food!
* Humans have unique tongue prints just like the fingertips!
* The tongue is the strongest muscle in the human body!
* There are about 9,000 taste buds on the surface of the tongue!
* Humans produce about 37,854 liters of saliva in a lifetime!

Dental Funnies

A little Dental humor to brighten your day.  

Enjoy, and Keep Smiling!!

Why Does Your Dentist Take X-Rays?

Dental x-rays are a important part of dental treatment because they can detect damage to the teeth and gums that are not visible during a routine visual exam.

Some of the most common reason for x-rays are listed below:

• Looking for decay between the teeth - sometimes decay is not visible to the naked eye.
• Checking for bone loss associated with gum disease - Gum disease can cause bone loss and the x-ray can show how advanced it is.
• Checking for decay under fillings - Sometime decay under the fillings can occur and the only way to detect this is by x-rays.
• Looking for infection at the tip of the root - Infections can appear at the bottom of the teeth where the bone is, which x-rays are needed to confirm.
• Examine before procedures - Dentist need a full view of the area they will be working on, whether it is braces, fillings and tooth extractions.

So next time you get upset about having another set of x-rays taken, remember this is for your own oral health!

Would you rather take the x-rays and see potential problems or be blindsided?

Dental Myths - Uncovered

How many of these have you heard of?

Myth: Brushing more than once a day can harm tooth enamel.

• Well, sort of. Brushing multiple times a day with anything other than a soft toothbrush could possibly harm your enamel. That's why most dentists recommend you use a soft bristle toothbrush, and brush preferably after each meal.

Myth: There's no need to take a young child to the dentist because their baby teeth will fall out anyway.

• As soon as your child develops a tooth, it's time to pay attention. Neglecting your child's baby teeth can cause major and even painful problems for them presently, as well as possibly causing major issues for them once the permanent teeth come in. It is never too early to teach your children about the importance of proper oral hygiene.

Myth: Chewing sugarless gum is the same as brushing.

• Nothing replaces actual brushing (with a toothbrush) and flossing. Chewing sugarless gum in between meals can help clean the surface of your teeth and may also freshen your breath, however, it does not remove plaque and food that may be stuck in between your teeth. Also, it does not effectively remove plaque and build-up around the gum line which is what a toothbrush and floss are designed to do.

Myth: Women should avoid the dentist altogether while pregnant.

• Due to the amount of vitamins and nutrients the baby needs, pregnant women often find that they develop more dental problems during this delicate period. It is for this reason that regular dental visits should continue and are, if anything, more important during pregnancy. Of course, there are certain dental procedures that pregnant women should avoid, such as x-rays and dental surgery, but your dentist will advise you properly and this should be no reason to skip out on your dental care.

Myth: I can't see any problems with my teeth, so I don't need to go to the dentist.

• Not all dental problems are visible. You could have a cavity the size of Texas and never see it because it could be on the back side of a molar or in between two teeth. Too many people go by the notion that "if I can't see it or feel it, it's not there." As with many health related issues, you don't always know that there's a problem until it's too late. If you could physically see every problem in your mouth, what would be the purpose of dental x-rays?

These are just a few myths I found and did a little research on, but all comments or additions are welcome!