Di you know that food texture can create issues for your teeth? Sticky substances seem to find their way in-between your teeth and along your gum line. The bacteria in your mouth interacts with the sugars to weaken your tooth enamel. Therefore avoid such candies as toffee and anything gummy (such as gummy bears) If you do eat this type of treat be extra diligent with your flossing and brushing afterwards.

Gum disease/Gingivitis (gum inflammation) is can be caused by plaque build up, use of tobacco products, poor fitting bridges partials and dentures, poor diet and certain diseases such as anemia, cancer, and diabetes. However by having good oral hygiene habits and by seeing a dentist regularly you can help to lower the risk of gum disease.

Wine may get better with age but did you know it also ages your teeth? With high acidic content wine start to wear down on your teeth’s enamel almost immediately. Wine also stains teeth and can cause dry mouth.

Although root caries is the major cause of tooth loss in older adults prevention is still the best solution. If your gums have started to recede you should make sure to take measures to prevent root decay. Some ways of doing this is to avoid sweets since sugar will promote dental plaque causing bacteria found on your roots. Dry mouth is also a factor that can increase your chances of getting root decay. Make sure to treat dry mouth if you have it. By drinking lots of water, sucking on sugar free candy or chewing on sugar free gum are some ways to help relive dry mouth.

Make sure to maintain regular dental visits, by doing it will allow your dentist to check for tooth rood decay. Other preventive measures that a dentist can do is gum disease treatment, dental cleaning, and if necessary gum grafts. Also remember that preventive care starts at home by having proper dental and oral health care habits. Brushing you teeth twice a day, flossing daily and using a mouthwash that fights against plaque.

Although it can be hard to avoid flour-based, white starchy foods, for good dental health try limiting your refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are correlated with increased inflammation, which in turn causes complications like gingivitis.

Although one of America’s favorite morning and afternoon beverages may be coffee and tea, they have compounds called tannins, which can cause unsightly stains and discoloring of your teeth. Therefore to avoid staining your teeth try and limited the amount of coffee and tea drinking throughout the day. If you are going to be drinking coffee and tea do so with a straw to limited contact with your teeth. Avoid slowly drinking these types of drinks, it can be fun to hang out at the local coffee house and babying the one cup of coffee during your hour or more stay but it is not so fun for your teeth.

HMO’s insurance plans, also known as “capitation plans,” operate like their medical HMO cousins. This type of dental plan provides a comprehensive dental care to enrolled patients through designated provider office. A Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) is a common example of a capitation plan. The dentistry provider is paid on a per capita (per person) basis rather than for actual treatment provided. Participating individual and family dentists receive a fixed monthly fee based on the number of patients assigned to the office. In addition to premiums, client co-payments may be required for each visit.

Some typical features of these plans: Monthly premiums (some require you to prepay a year’s worth) Co-payments for office visits Free preventive or routine care You must select from an approved network of that family or individual dental insurance dentists May have an initial enrollment fee Annual dollar cap Your average monthly cost: $10 to $25 Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments.

When thinking about using a water pik instead of flossing here are some good pros and cons to consider. 

Pros: Water piks are effective, and faster to use the flossing. Water Piks come with multiple wands in different  colors. Great for braces,  Flossing with braces can be difficult water piks are often suggested by Orthodontic dentist.  They come with  adjustable water pressure. Cordless water piks are available. Water piks are good for people that may not floss well. Anything that will make you take care of your teeth and gums better is helpful.

Cons: Cost can be a factor since they can run as high as $50 – $60 dollars. They do brake down some not even lasting a year depending on how well you take care of it. Hard to always see what you are doing which can cause you to make a mess.   So if you are not careful the time you save in flossing is taken up by have to clean sink and counter tops from water mess.  They can be too noisy. Water piks take up to much counter space which is bad if you have a small bathroom. If you are not careful they may over time loosen bridge and crown work. Over use like anything can cause more harm then good so make sure you use as directed. If you are not sure what is best for your oral health care talk to your dentist see what they suggest. Having good advise from your own personal dentist is worth taking in and thinking about as a deciding factor

There have been many benefits linked to drinking green tea. With regards to your teeth, green tea provides a natural source of antioxidant compounds that help to prevent plaque from accumulating on your teeth. There by reducing the risk of dental cavities and bad breath. In addition some green teas also contain fluoride that can further help to prevent tooth decay. You will want to check the label for this before buying.

In prior posts, we talk about the different causes of dental fears and ways to address each one. In the end, regardless of what is causing your dental anxiety and or fears one main way to cope with them is by discussing your fears with your dentist.  Dentist are not mind readers. If you do not talk to them and let them know you have dental fears the need to be address they can not help you with them. When a dentist knows your fears he or she will be better able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable. If by chance you have a dentist that does not seem to take you or your fears seriously it is time to find a another dentist that will.

There are many good general and family dentist out there willing to work with people that have dental fears. Also if need be there are dentist that specialize in handling people with dental phobia and anxiety. Finding a dentist that is understanding is key to helping you get over your dental fears and into good dental health.

Another form and dental anxiety that people can have, is caused by embarrassment of how their teeth may look. This can be a bit of a vicious circle. A person who is too embarrassed to see a dentist do to the way their teeth may look, is not getting the dental care needed to make their teeth look better. In turn, causing their teeth to look worse over time due to lack of dental care. Which in turn can cause even more embarrassment and loss of self-esteem. There are many reason why someone may have bad looking teeth either due to poor dental hygiene habits, medical reasons or medication being taken. Where as personal hygiene habits can be improved, medical conditions or medications that are effecting your dental health may not change. That is why it is even more important to have proper dental care from a dental professional.

This issue can be harder to address since it is based more on personal feelings. Yet it may be helpful to understand that a dentist in not sitting there passing judgment. If a person as poor teeth and gums due to having poor dental habits, the dentist will help to address how to have better dental habits in the future, and provide any necessary dental services needed in order to get their oral and dental health back on track. If dental and oral health is being affected by a medical condition or medications then the dentist will still be able to provide the necessary dental care needed in order to provide healthier teeth and gums. Thus giving the person back a smile to smile about.

It is common for people with dental fears and anxiety to have feelings of helplessness and loss of control. After all when sitting in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, you are not normally able to see what is going on. A way to help address this fear is good communication with your dentist. Letting your dentist know about your dental fears is important so that they are able to take the time needed in addressing your fears with you. The dentist will be able to tell you what he or she is doing while doing it, so that you are not left feeling like you have no control over what is going on. If you feel like you need a break, just let the dentist know so you can relax a little before continuing.

When looking into getting dental insurance for dental bridges try to make note of the following:  Whenever possible do not pull out teeth prior to having dental insurance. Once you have teeth pulled it can be hard to find dental insurance that will cover bridge.work. This is because many dental insurance plans have missing teeth clauses. Meaning that if the teeth were missing prior to the plan effective date they wil not cover for a bridge to be put in. Is is very important to know before buying any dental insurance plan. There are dental insurance plans that have waiting periods.  Making you wait a year or more before they offer major dental services.  If you buy a plan without knowing the terms you may find out it does not work for you when the time comes.  If you are not sure, call and ask the company prior to buying the plan.

Another good tip is whenever you do have a dental bridge put in keep your receipt. If any time latter on you ever need to have the bridge replace, you may need to show how old your original bridge work  is.  Some dental insurance plans will replace bridges, partials and denture but only after you had your old one in for five or more years. (Therefore they will normally ask for proof)

If you do have current missing teeth it does not mean you can not find dental insurance to help you fix your smile. Just read the terms and conditions carefully. Make sure the dental insurance plan you are buying is going to cover for the dental services you want.

I also suggest not to rule out dental discount plans. With dental discount plan preexisting is not excluded, including missing teeth. For a low monthly cost of having a dental discount plan, you get the discounted saving off dental bridge work without any waiting periods or exclusions.  Whether you need to have a bridge, partials and or dentures we are here to help you find the best dental plan that will work for you. So please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about any of our dental insurance dental plan options

Dental fears can keep people from seeing a dentist regularly it is important to understand the different dental fears and address them. One such fear is the fear of injections. There are many people that are terrified of needles and the thought of having one inserted into the mouth is often dreaded. Beyond this fear, other people have a fear that the anesthesia has not yet taken effect or that it was not a large enough dose to eliminate any pain before the dental procedure begins.

One way of addressing this type of dental fear is by wearing a sleeping mask that covers your eyes. Part of the fear is in seeing the needle. Yet when closing your eyes, there can be tension which is not helpful in reducing stress and can intensified the fear. Where as a sleeping mask will cover your eyes without the stress. And remember if you do feel any pain during a dental procedure you only need to tell the dentist, so if need be he or she can numb the area out some more for you

Dentures even when covered by dental insurance can still be costly so making sure to take proper care of your dentures will help them last longer and safe you money in having to have them replaces sooner then necessary.  You will want to use a soft bristle toothbrush in order to avoid damaging your dentures. You still need to brush your dentures carefully. Make sure you are careful not to damage the surface of your dentures or bend the attachments. You can clean your dentures is by using over the counter denture cleansers available in most food stores.

Although you can use regular toothpaste I suggest avoiding them since dentures are sensitive and you can easy damage their surface, with abrasive toothpaste. Another cleaning option for dentures is by using an ultrasonic denture cleanser. However I suggest making sure you buy one that has been proven safe.  Do not use bleach when cleaning your dentures. Also do not use vinegar as it can cause your dentures to dry out. Do not use house hold cleaners. Though there are some people that will use mild hand soup or dish soup I would not suggest doing so. If you do make sure you rinse them thoroughly under the faucet with warm to cool water.

There are many reasons why a person may have dental anxiety one is the fear of pain. One very common reason why some people avoid going to the dentist is fear of pain. This fear can stem from a past dental experience that was unpleasant and or painful, even by dental pain and horror stories that was told by other people. However thanks to the advancements in dentistry over the past years, most of today’s dental procedures are considerably less painful or even pain free. If you have a fear of pain speak to your dentist ahead of time. So they can take any needed time necessary until you can feel more relaxed with the dental service needed.

Did you know if you are missing one or more teeth you may see a difference in your chewing as well as speaking. You may even notice a difference in your face and profile. For many people missing teeth can cause low self esteem. Making them smile and laugh less for fare of people seeing their teeth. Proper dental care can and will help fix your teeth. Bridges will not only fix the gap cause by missing teeth but will restore the shape of your face as well as alleviate the difference in your bite. A dentist could also advise fixed or partial dentures when needed. Bridges and partial will look just like your normal teeth and give you back the smile you want to have. Another option though be it normally a more costly option would be dental implants. Dental implants are artificial teeth that attaches directly to the jaw.

Not everyone can have implants but a dentist can advise if dental implants  is an valid option for you. Talk to a dentist, go over all your dental options and see which one you feel will be best for you. Most dental insurance plans will cover a portion of the cost for dental bridges, partials and or dentures. At this time it is still hard to find dental insurance that offer coverage’s for dental implants. Therefore when it comes to implants you may want to review dental discount plans for cost savings. However read your dental insurance plan terms and conditions and when in doubt call the company so you can know for sure what you are and are not covered for. Keep us in mind for any of your dental insurance dental plan needs. We are hear to help you get the best dental plan for your current dental needs.

If you have dental fears or anxiety know that you are not alone. Between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear. When shopping out a dental insurance plan to help save money on your dental care cost, it is important to make sure you are going to have a dentist that knows how to manage dental anxiety under the plan.

Dental insurance plans such as HMO make you choose a dentist within their plan network of providers. Therefore before buying an HMO it is a good idea to make sure they have dental providers that will be able to address your dental anxiety.

Where as PPO plans may also have a net work of dental providers, most will let you choose a dentist that is outside the provider network (sometimes at a reduce coverage). The key is finding a dental insurance plan that will work well with your dental needs as well as a dentist is able to address your fears and or anxiety.

As suggested in a prior post Pediatric dentist may be a better choice for autistic children. Pediatric dentist are specialist and are often times more equipped to provide dental care services to children with special needs. If you have current dental insurance or looking to buy dental insurance, you will want to make sure it provides benefits for specialist. Many dental insurance plan do but sometimes at a higher cost to you.

HMO’s

HMO Dental Insurance Plans: HMO plans are generally a fee based schedule laying out your cost for services. However those cost are based on their general dentist providing the services. Generally with specialist your saving is normally around a 20-30 percent off what the specialist normal charges. With HMO plans if you are thinking about buying one make sure they have specialist that will fix your child needs before buying, since there is no outside provider benefits.

PPO’s

PPO Dental Insurance Plans: On PPO and Indemnity insurance plans you have the benefit of choosing a specialist without referral, as well as one that is in or out of the plan network of providers. However, PPO and Indemnity insurance plans also normally base the coverage’s on general dentist cost, and pay out coverage’s based on UCR (Usual, Customary & Reasonable).  Since specialist will normally cost more then a family or general dentist,  it is important to understand you may have applicable UCR fees. If you have current dental insurance talk to your insurance rep and confirm what your benefits are for a specialist. If you are looking for a dental insurance plan we are always happy to help you with the dental insurance plan options we have to offer.

As stated in a prior post getting a second opinion is advise whenever you feel unsure about a dental treatment plan provided to you by a dentist. However it is also important to know what you need to do in order to make sure you have benefits under your dental insurance plan for a second opinion. If you have a dental PPO plan it may be a little easier to get a second dental opinion since you are not assigned to any one provider.

However most PPO insurance plan will only cover for one set of X-rays a year. Therefore you may have to have your X-rays transferred to the new dental office where you are getting the second opinion. Transferring X-rays should not be too hard to do but the original dental office may charge you for it.

If you have an HMO dental plan you will need to call the insurance company in order to change dental providers. Under and HMO plan you are assigned to the dentist you pick and although you can change dentist within the plan network you have to call in the change. You do not just want to see any dentist even if they are in the network without letting the insurance company know before hand.