No one wants to get a dental cavity. Yet they can happen even with good dental care habits at home.  That why seeing a dentist at least twice a year is important in order to avoid dental issue before they start. By having dental insurance you are able to see a dentist regularly for your twice a year checks in most case for free.

In addition if you were to get the dreaded cavity having a filling will not brake the bank. Dental insurance makes having basic and major dental care needs much more affordable compared to not having dental insurance.  Do not wait until you have a toothache to get dental insurance.  Buy a dental insurance not so you can have it for your preventive dental needs as well as for any possible larger future dental care needs

Dos:

When you are not wearing you dentures keep them in cool water or dentist advise denture solution

Keep your dentures safe from small kids and dogs.  Kids love to play with most anything they find. Dentures in a child hands tends to not hold up well.  Also pets like dogs may find your dentures if they are not kept in a safe place and then you may as well start saving your money for a new set of dentures.

Don’t:

Do not use hot water or put them in a dry place as this can cause your dentures to warp or dry out.  Making them ill fitting

Do not put your dentures in a paper towel as not only will a paper towel absorb the moisture but it can be mistaken for trash and be toss out.

In conclusion making sure you take good care of your dentures will make them last long and therefore save you money from having to get new ones sooner then necessary.

There are many good foods you can have that provides benefits for your dental health. One such food item is fruits. Fruits are great for your teeth, especially when eaten in fresh whole raw form.  Fruits keeps down plaque and messages your gums.  You want to choose fruits which are rich in Vitamin C, which hold our body cell together.  If you are not getting enough Vitamin C your gums may become tender and more susceptible to gum disease.

One should keep in mind that dentures are fragile and they should be handle carefully to avoid braking them.  Dentures do not like to be droop and there is a high chance that they will brake when you do.  So be careful when cleaning them. A good idea is when cleaning your dentures stand  on a soft towel or rug so if you do accidentally drop them the chances are lower that they will brake.

You want to make sure the sink is full of water when cleaning so that if you do drop them they are safe   You can wrap your dentures in a hand towel or keep them in their hard cover case when you are moving around your house with your dentures.  As soon as you are finish cleaning your dentures and you want to put them aside make sure you keep them soaked in warm or cold water or in your denture solution. .

Dental cavities can happen in kids as well as adults.  Although a dentist can repair a cavities,  there are simple steps you can take in order to prevent having cavities develop.

Brushing:  Make sure to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.  Also gently brush your gums in order to keep your gums healthy. It is recommended to use a soft bristles toothbrush.

Flossing:  Flossing your teeth at least once a day is important part of your dental health care routine. Flossing helps to remove plaque and food that may be caught in between the teeth where your toothbrush can not reach.

Drink more water:  Limit the amount of soda and other sugary drinks.  Water is not only good for your body but good for your teeth.

Visit your dentist:  The rule of thumb is every six months for your dental cleaning and check-ups, However your dentist, depending your our dental needs may advise more or less dental visits.

Proper denture care is important.  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.   DONT.  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  in under the faucet with warm to cool water.

It is important to understand that even with dental insurance your dentist may advise dental services that are not covered under the plan.  This can happen when the dentist is advising cosmetic dental treatment or if you want to have cosmetic dental services. Many dental insurance plans to do not provide benefits for this type of dental care.

Also keep in mind that the dentist is going to advise what he or she feels is the best coarse of treatment regardless of your dental insurance plan. If you are wanting to stay within the coverages provided by your insurance it is up to you to inform your dentist of the fact.   The dentist may still suggest dental services not covered by your insurance company but then you can over your options and make a more informed choice.

No real surprise that smoking can cause yet another health issue.  According to a New Study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to oral disease.    The mouth of a healthy person contains a stable ecosystem of healthy bacteria, however research on the mouth of a smoker shows a much more chaotic, diverse ecosystem  which is much more susceptible to invasion by harmful bacteria.

Although fillings can last many years they may not always last forever.  Without knowing you can wear down a filling by constant pressure from chewing when eating. Other people also may grind or clench their teeth knowingly or not which will also cause wear on a fillings. People that grind their teeth when they sleep should wear a night guard in order to protect their teeth.

You may not be able to see the wearing down on your fillings but a dentist can.  Normally a dentist will be able to spot weaknesses in fillings during your regular check ups. Without regular check ups filling wear will go unnoticed. If the seal between the tooth and the filling breaks down then you are leaving your tooth open to new decay, which can get under your filling. If left untreated the decay can progress to  the dental pulp and may cause infection and or abscessed.  In which case can lead to larger dental services such as a root canal.

You can see the importance of  regular dental visits. Many times people do not know any of this is going on until they start to have tooth pain.  Preventive dental care not only saves you from unwanted dental pain, but in the long run will save you from having higher cost dental services.   Keep in mind that there are many low cost dental insurance plans such as HMO dental insurance plans that offer free office visits, check ups, X-rays and cleanings. By buying and using dental insurance you can save money and help keep a beautiful smile.

Researchers and Professor Huakun Xu (who led the new study) at Maryland University School of Dentistry have managed to fill a dental cavity using nanotechnology in a material that not only kills the harmful bacteria, but is also able to regenerate the tooth structure that is lost to decay.

Bone-regenerating protein could help to improve the success of dental implant.  Researchers keep finding better ways to help build up bone in the jaw that is too thin to support the anchoring of dental implants.  Studies using bone inducing proteins could help to improve dental implant success in cases where bone-loss presents a challenge, according to Georgia Health Sciences University.

Amalgam fillings are the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use today. Amalgam fillings are durable, highly resistant to wear and they are the lower cost filling option.    Amalgam filling are made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements.  Although amalgam filling are still considered to be safe the concerns that was  raised were about the mercury content in amalgams.

However the mercury when combined with the other metals is renders stable and safe for use in fillings.   Since amalgam filling are able to withstand high pressure they become useful for filling in molars where chewing load is higher. Amalgam filling are well tolerated by most people with only rare occurrences of allergic response.  Some people may have short term sensitivity to hot and cold after an amalgam filling as been done.  Course amalgam filling are silver in color which may be okay for back teeth not easily seen but might not be want you would want to have towards the front of your mouth.

Amalgam fillings are useful in baby teeth.  If a child still has baby teeth but needs a filling you may not want to spend the cost for white color fillings, on teeth that will soon come out when your child start to get their adult teeth in.     In the end amalgam filling still have their place and it should be something to consider when having filling done. Talk to your dentist and find out all your filling options then decide what you may feel is best for you and your family  And remember all dental services are less expensive when you have a dental insurance or dental discount plan in place.  So keep us in mind for your dental plans needs.

Many times buying a dental insurance plan can often get put off until there are larger dental issues that need to be address.  Yet when that happens, you may feel rushed into buying a dental insurance plan without fully understanding the plan you bought,  it’s limitations, and whether or not the plans provides benefits for the dental services needed.

It is not a good idea to put off buying a dental insurance plan until you have a dental emergency.  However if you find yourself in that position,  try and see a dentist for a consult and treatment plan before buying dental insurance.   By doing this you are then able to shop for a dental insurance plan that will best fit your current dental care needs.    Always take the time to read each dental insurance plan terms and conditions carefully and make sure to ask questions if you do not understand something about the plan you are reviewing.

Researchers studied the brushing techniques and times of 12 volunteers who used electric toothbrushes during a four-week study. The participants were taught how to use the oscillating toothbrush, which was hooked up to a computer that took time and pressure measurements. Researchers compared 16 combinations of various brushing times and pressures. Plaque levels on the teeth were also recorded before and after brushing.

They found that plaque removal improved with longer brushing time up to two minutes and with greater pressure up to 150 grams of pressure, which is about the weight of an orange.  “Although we found that you have to brush your teeth reasonably long and hard to get rid of the harmful plaque which causes dental diseases, our research shows that once you go beyond a certain point, you aren’t being any more effective,” says Heaseman, in a news release. “You could be actually harming your teeth and gums.”

If you have an indemnity dental insurance plan or a PPO dental insurance plan the chances are you may have a deductible.  The deductible is what is changed by the insurance plan before they pay for claims.  The dollar amount of the deductible can very but normally it is around $50 per person per year. Sometimes if there is no deductible there is an office co-pay each at each dental visit.  Make sure you check with your dental plan so you can be fully aware of your coverages.

In prior post we talked about the three types of dental abscess. A periapical abscess is when “an alveolar abscess localized around the apex of a tooth root.”

Treating a periapical abscess: Root canal treatment will be used to remove the abscess. A drill is used to bore a hole into the dead tooth so that the pus can come out. Any damaged tissue will be removed from the pulp. A root filling is then inserted into the space to prevent subsequent infections.

A public service ad released by the Oregon Dental Association is attempting to  teach kids how to brush properly in a fun way by releasing an educational video spoofing the rap song “Teach me how to Dougie.”  Spoof of Rap Song Being Used to Teach Kids to Brush Properly  Titled “Teach Me How to Brushy”, the video features local celebrities, a rapper and kids singing and dancing and at the same time imparting the correct way how to brush your teeth.

Your child first dental appointment can be exciting, but for many parents they are not sure what to expect.  In general the dental office will gather information from you to determine the individual dental needs your child has.   At that point X-rays and a complete oral exam will be done by the dentist to  determine what course of dental treatment may be needed.  The dentist will also go over the proper preventive dental care that is needed from home in order to maintain your child good oral health care.

Question: I think I may have a dental abscess but I do not know how I could have gotten one. what is the cause of dental abscess?

Answer: A dental abscess in most cases is a complication of a dental infection. Bacteria, often bacteria present in plaque, infect and make their way into a tooth.  If plaque is not removed by regular and proper tooth brushing and flossing the bacteria may spread within the soft tissue inside the tooth or gums, eventually resulting in an abscess.