Red, sore and bleeding gums can happen when people do not practice proper dental hygiene, bacteria in the mouth forms plaque on the teeth. These bacteria may cause your gums to become inflamed, which results in red, swollen, or bleeding gums. For many people with gingivitis, this inflammation is not painful.  That fact tends to make people think it is not such a big deal even though if left untreated it can lead to major dental issue to the point that one can lose their teeth.   Therefor if you start to see your gums getting red or sore, or your gums bleed when brushing your teeth, make sure to see a dentist as soon as possible. Your oral health matters make sure you take good care of your dental health.

When wanting to whiten your teeth quickly for less teeth whitening strips may be a good option for you. Teeth whiten strips are available in most food and drug stores. The can be quite handy and can be worn while you are busy doing other things. They are ideal if you are on a tight budget and do not mind slower results.  However, use them as directed do not over use them as over use can cause teeth damage.

When buying a dental insurance plan think of both current and future needs.

If you do not receive dental insurance benefits though your employer, and you are looking to buy your own dental plan, it is important to not only think about your current needs but possible future dental needs as well.

Sometimes people when buying dental insurance do so only thinking what their current dental needs are forgetting to think what they may need in the future. When this happens it is possible that the plan you have will not fit future dental needs.

Such as there are many good dental insurance plans that only cover for preventive dental care. The benefits of this type of insurance plan is that it is low in cost. Many of these types of preventive only care insurance plans are PPO’s or free choice of provider plans. However, when buying this types of plan it is important to understand there is no covered benefits for anything beyond office visits, X-rays and basic cleanings (few may cover fillings) Therefore the down side is when and if you ever need to have any larger dental service render there will be no coverage available for you.

In today mind set more and more people are wanting the whitest teeth possible.  However, what is more important is to understand that for the most part teeth are not naturally white white. So stop doing the white napkin test, just to feel bad that your teeth are not matching up.

The color of our teeth is genetically determined and just like all the other things in nature  there is a high degree of variability. Our teeth can range from an off white, light yellow or light grey varying the shades of white we see when looking at our teeth and that of others.

With that said it is true our teeth can darken with age due to what we eat and drink as well as how good we take care of our dental health.  If you would like your teeth to be back to their natural color, then talk to your dentist he or she can whiten your teeth without give you that fake white look.

One of the more convenient ways to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home would be at home teeth whitening kits. Being able to whitening your teeth at home provides you with the flexibility to do whiten your teeth on your own time. At home whiten kits are also less expensive then having it done at the dentist, and as long you use as directed it is safe and effective.

Question: I do not have current dental insurance and very little money,  I am told that I need some dental work on my teeth so I started looking for dental insurance.  Right now insurance seems too costly for me but a few of my friends are telling me to stay away from dental discount plans because they are not any good is that true.

Reply: I think any thing that going to help you with the cost of your dental care is going to be good.   There is nothing wrong with dental discount plans what is important is to understand what they are not (insurance) and how they help you.

Dental discount plans are not insurance plans. This is important to note because people that tend to get upset, buy dental discount plans thinking they are insurance plans.  Sometimes that is do to the site not be clear enough or more likely the person not fully reading about the plan before buying.  However, that dose not make discount plans “bad”.  Dental discount plans do what they state they do, for a very low cost of the plan they help to reduce your dental care costs.  You do have to go to plan dentist to receive the savings shown on the plan.

Because these type of plans are not insurance most also start within the next business day of buying them and unlike many dental insurance plans they do not have waiting periods, maximum limitations or deductibles. Your saving may not be a high as some insurance plans but you do receive discounted saving on all dental care received by a plan provider.   I say do not rule out a dental discount plan if it fits your budget better just know what you are buying. I suggest calling the plan provider before buying and confirm that they are still plan providers and anything else that is important to you in choosing a dentist.  That way you can feel more confidence about buying a dental discount plan knowing there are dental offices that also fit your needs.

Helpful Tips to get your child to stop thumb sucking It is normally for a baby or young child to thumb suck, and it rarely a negative thing but when it goes beyond the first few years. That is because thumb sucking can lead to dental issues. Here are some tips that may help them quit thumb sucking.

Try and limit the amount of time you allow your child to suck their thumb. Such as restrict thumb-sucking to in the house, and not in public. Often times kids thumb suck unconsciously, help your child be more aware of their thumb sucking habit and help find them another way to feel comfort.

Do not use nasty-tasting topical stuff on their thumbs or cover them up with gloves or mitten. Remember they are young children and you do not want them feeling bad in order to brake them of this habit

Redirecting: Whenever you see your child thumb sucking instead of focusing on the thumb sucking try to redirect their attention into doing something else that includes using their hands.  Such as playing with blocks or cars etc.

According to a survey around 2600 babies in the U.S. each year are born with a cleft palate and over 4000 babies are born with a cleft lip with and without a cleft palette. At this time the exact cause is not known, there are some steps you can take before and during your pregnancy to help reduce your child’s risk of having a cleft Lip.

There have been studies that suggest that smoking can cause a cleft lip and or cleft platter. Although there is no good reason to smoke if you are thinking about having a child then quitting smoking would be best. Make sure to eat healthy before and during your pregnancy. While there have not been any studies that show that poor died has been linked to the occurrence of a cleft lip, per-pregnancy diabetes has been show to increase the risk.

In a prior post we talked about what supplemental dental insurance is and how it basically works.  However, it is important to note that finding a true supplemental dental insurance plan can be very difficult as their are few companies that offer them.

However with that said there are many dental offices that are willing to coordinate two dental insurance plans.  This happens quite office when one both spouses have dental insurance though work and add each other to their plans.  You can also have dental insurance though work and buy your own individual dental insurance plan but by doing so you want to make sure that you are not just spending more for the cost of insurance then the benefits you will actually receive. If you are not sure call and talk to your dental insurance agent. And remember our websites have a broad ranges of dental insurance and plan options. We are happy to assits you with any questions you may have about our dental plans just call our office at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am-4pm

Supplemental dental insurance is an individual or family insurance policy purchased to cover a portion of the dental costs. Supplemental dental insurance will normally not cover the entire dental care procedure. If you have a primary dental insurance plan that you purchased or your employer provided, the supplemental dental policy typically covers the remaining dental bill.

For example, if the dental plan policy covers half of the dental cost, the secondary or supplement dental insurance plan should cover the remaining balance of your dental procedure. A supplement dental insurance plan may also be purchased to cover the dental charges when there are annual dental benefit plan limits or exclusions.

Full or partial dentures replace your teeth when you have lost your natural teeth, from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury. They will help your appearance and your health including support for facial muscles sag which makes a person look older.

Dentures normally take one month and 4-5 appointments which include the initial exam, wax bite impressions, and final denture adjustments.

Question: New to California looking for affordable dental insurance.

Answer: Our website overs over 40 different dental insurance and plan options ranging as low as $7.95 a month. Lower cost dental insurance options would generally be the HMO options. However, affordability depends on each person and what they feel is affordable to them.

There are plenty of dental insurance plans that will cover dentures, but you need to plan ahead. Many but not all dental insurance plans have waiting periods from 6-18 months.

As an example: Replacing teeth with dentures is classified as major dental services. The average benefit is 50% co-insurance for your dentures. Dentures are covered by some dental discounts dental plans. Remember discount dental plans are not insurance dental plan.

Question:  I live in California and looking for dental insurance what are some good dental insurance companies to get dental insurance with.

Answer: There are many good dental insurance companies in California, such as Delta Dental, California Dental, StandardLife and PrimeCare just to name a few. However, when buying dental insurance you should buy a dental insurance plan that best fits your dental care needs. If you have any questions about our dental insurance plan options please call our member services line at 310-534-3444

Why is Oral Health Important for Men?  Men are less likely than women to take care of their physical health and, according to surveys and studies, their oral health is equally ignored. Good oral health recently has been linked with longevity. Yet, one of the most common factors associated with infrequent dental checkups is just being male. Men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care. Perhaps they are just too busy? What do you think.

Insurance Coverage

I have often wondered why dental insurance is a separate entity from other types of medical insurance… Last I checked, my teeth were still attached to my skull, and their potential to cause misery when not functioning properly is right up there with gallbladders and appendixes and the like.  Good dental care is critically important, and should be affordable and available for everyone.

Dental crowns, also called caps, are expensive, from several hundred to several thousand dollars, with insurance typically covering only part of the cost.  Dental insurance is the most commonly used to pay for major dental problems.  Dental crowns are also commonly referred to as tooth caps, teeth crowns.  Dental benefits plans can be categorized by the options offered for selecting a dentist.  Dental plans can be categorized into three types based on the compensation and treatment provided.  Dental insurance plans differ in the level of reimbursement offered for certain procedures and in annual dental spending caps.

Insurance plans vary, but in general most will not reimburse patients for a replacement until a crown is five years old.  Insurance only then covers up to a certain amount per year (e.  Insurance companies are still paying for bone grafts for bony defects around periodontally involved teeth.  Insurance companies also have all kinds of little rules and limitations, which most patients with very little dental knowledge wouldn’t even know to ask their insurance company.
Some typical features of these plans: High deductibles before coverage begins (well-designed plans don’t apply the deductible to preventive services) Probationary periods on certain procedures that last up to a year Annual dollar limit on benefits Chose your own dentist Your average monthly cost: $15 to $25 companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments.  Dental insurance for family can significantly change the way teeth are improved.  Dental insurance for family can give you some more offers and freebies that no other plan can give.

Get to know our Dental PPO plans for individuals and families. CaliforniaDentalInsurance.com has over 40 different dental insurance plans though several different insurance companies. Out of our dental insurance plan options more the half are dental PPO insurance plans. Giving you a broad range to review and choose from. Our member services at 310-534-3444 is here to help you, if you should have any questions about our dental insurance plan options. We strive to offer as many dental insurance options so that you will be able to pick the best dental insurance that fits you and or your family dental care needs.

Women have  other dental and oral health issues that men do not have.   Women’s  dental and oral health depends on their different stages of life.  Such as  changes  that are directly related to surges in sex-hormone levels, when going though puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation and menopause. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with TMJ, myofascial pain, eating disorders and Sjögren’s syndrome (which causes dry mouth)  Seeing your dentist and maintain your oral and dental health is very important,  and by having dental insurance it will help you keep your dental care cost more affordable.

What is affordable dental insurance? Affordability really depends on the person. Yet if you are looking for the lower cost dental insurance option, you may want to start your search for dental insurance reviewing dental HMO insurance plan options. As HMO dental insurance plans are normally more affordable then PPO and or Indemnity dental insurance plans.

Keep in mind that with and HMO dental insurance you will need to choose a dental office that is apart of the plan network of provider and unlike a PPO plan there is no plan benefits if you go to a dentist that is not a provider of the plan.

Understanding the Basics

Dental crowns are coverings applied over the tooth’s surface, and may be made of ceramic, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), resin, or metal, including gold.  Dental crowns are also useful in patients who grind their teeth or have bite problems, addressing the stressed area and stabilizing it to prevent damage.  Dental crowns usually require 2 to 3 visits to your dentist, depending upon the health of the tooth receiving the crown.  Today’s health insurance, including your dental plan, is designed to help you get the care you need at a reasonable cost.  If you cannot afford a dentist, or are not covered by dental insurance, go to a dental school clinic, where dentists in training work on your teeth.  I think they also offer periodic cleaning at reduced rates as well, by dental hygienists in training.