Bacteria enter through the cavities and affects the dental nerve and gum tissues. They are responsible for causing gum inflammation, swelling, bleeding, and tartar deposits.  However bacteria infections can be prevented by having good dental care habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, using anti-bacterial mouthwashes and by seeing a dentist regularly.  If you do have any dental pain make sure to see a dentist right away.

Trying to maintain regularly dental checkups at an affordable cost?  If so, think about buying dental insurance.  The fact is most dental insurance plans provide preventive dental services at no cost to you.  Dental insurance companies know one way to avoid having to pay out larger dental claims, is by providing preventive dental care at either a very low cost or at no charge to their insureds.   The hope is, that people who have dental insurance are seeing their dentist regularly for their preventive dental care needs, thus reducing the risk of having to have larger dental needs in the future.

However, if larger dental services are needed, the dental insurance plan will still help to make larger dental care needs more affordable.    Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This saying holds true with preventive dental care.  Seeing your dentist for your regular dental checkups is much better then having to go to the dentist for a root canal.

Maintaining good dental health does not stop at good at home dental habits.  Yes it is very important that you have good dental habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily.  However if you are stopping there you not doing all you can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums.   Regular dental checkups helps control dental plaque.  This is done by cleaning free floating oral bacteria before they build plaque. However your dentist does not only clean your teeth during a dental check up.  The dentist looks for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and overall oral health care wellness.

Although I have Medical insurance though my employer I do not receive dental benefits.  I am looking for a dental insurance plan that does not mind that I have diabetes.

Answer: Most all dental insurance plan do not mind that you have diabetes as an pre-existing condition.  Infact maintain your dental health is very important when one is also a diabetic.  On this website we provide many good dental insurance plan from HMO to PPOs and even a few dental discount plan options.

Onion are rich in powerful anti-bacterial sulfur compounds, which kills the bacteria that harms your teeth and gums. For best results eat onions in the raw.  About the only downside of eating onions is just the said of effect it may have on your breath.  Therefore eat raw onions when you are not worried about an bad breath issues.

My parents do not have dental insurance and I am looking for some.  Is there anything thing that is has a low monthly cost around $20.00 or so that is all I can afford for a dental insurance plan.

Answer: Our website provide many low cost dental HMO insurance options in California ranging as low as $7.00 a month to as high as $20.00 a month just enter your zip code in the quote box provided to review all our dental insurance plan options

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.

I have been with out dental insurance for over two years now.  I am not trying to buy dental insurance but I really do not understand which dental insurance plan is the best. Which is better for me to get a dental HMO or a dental PPO.

Answer: Which dental plan type is better depends on your own dental needs and requirments.  Such as if you are trying to stay with a current dentist then which plan type you buy would depend on what that dental office may accept.  Where as if you are on a fixed income you may what to have and HMO dental insuance plan as they tend to be more affordable then PPO dental insurance plans.  Try and keep in mind neither one is better then the other only what is best for you by knowing your own dental needs will help you pick the best plan that right for you.

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.

I receive medical benefits though my job but my job does not provide dental benefits. So far everything I been looking at comes as a package medical and dental.  Can I only get dental as I do not need medical insurance?

Answer: You need to look for stand alone individual/family plans. There are many different dental insurance plan you can find on line. But for a fast and easy individual dental insurance quote just enter your zip code in the box at the top of the screen. All the dental insurance plans and options we provide are dental only for individual and families to buy direct without medical

I have not worn my retainers for a little over a year. Mostly the cost of going to the orthodontic dentist at the time was too much. Now I can better afford going, is it possible to just get new retainers or will I need to start all over.

Answer: It would depend on just how much your teeth may have shifted.  If they have not shifted much you may get away with just getting a new retainer.  However you will not know for sure until you consult with an orthodontic dentist.  If cost is an issue I suggest getting dentist insurance plan to help reduce the cost of your dental care needs.

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

Question:  Is there any dental insurance plans for a signal person for no more then $15.00 a month?  I am on a fixed income and that is all I can afford to spend.

Answer:  Yes you can find low monthly cost insurance. What you would want to look for are dental HMO insurance plans. Dental HMO plans normally run between $7.00 $20.00 a month for a signal person.

Another low cost dental option would be a dental discount plan. They to are very affordable on a monthly cost and will help reduce the cost of any dental services needed.

Question:  I have a white sore on the right side of my upper lip in my mouth. My tooth is rubbing on it and making it hurt worse. How do I get rid of it?

Answer:  Sounds like you may have a canker sore. Canker sores are small, red or white, shallow ulcers occurring on the tongue, soft palate, or inside the lips and cheeks. They are quite painful, and usually last 5-10 days.  Treatment is directed toward relieving discomfort and guarding against infection. A topical corticosteroid preparation such as triamcinolone dental paste (Kenalog in Orabase 0.1%) is helpful.   Consider consulting a physician if a mouth sore has not healed within two weeks.

There are many reasons why a person may have dental anxiety.  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

Billions of people across the globe are suffering from major untreated dental problems, according to a new report led by Professor Wagner Marcenes of Queen Mary, University of London, published in the Journal of Dental Research.

Consuming dairy products is vital to maintaining good overall health, and it’s especially important to bone health. But there has been little research about how dairy products affect oral health in particular. However, according to a new study published in the May/June 2013 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), consuming cheese and other dairy products may help protect teeth against cavities.

A new survey carried out by the British Dental Health Foundation has found that seven million Britons do not clean their teeth regularly.

The survey also found that some 21% of those surveyed also forgot to floss their teeth. In addition, one in seven people admitted to going two whole days without brushing their teeth.

The results of the 2013 survey are alarming as they show that people’s attitudes towards oral hygiene have not changed since 2011 when a similar survey found that 28% did not brush their teeth even once during 24 hours.

Having proper dental care habits is important not only for your oral health but your over all wellness. So when should dental care start?  Proper dental care begins even before a baby’s cuts their first tooth.   Just because you can not see the teeth does not mean you do not have have you provide oral care habits for your baby.  By running a damp washcloth over baby’s gum daily you will help to clear away harmful bacteria. This also helps get your baby used to oral health care habits they will have for a live time.

Parents can start brushing their kid’s teeth as they come in with an infant toothbrush, using water with just a smear of toothpaste until about age two. At around age two most kids will be able to spit while brushing. Use can then use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.  Kids should have adult supervision while bushing their teeth until around the age of five.

There are many reason why your teeth can become sensitive.  If you find you have sensitive teeth you should see your dentist.  Having sensitive teeth could be a warning sign to other more serious dental issues. Here are a few reason for tooth sensitivity

* Brushing your teeth too hard. This can wear away the enamel layer.
* Poor oral hygiene. This may allow tartar to build up at the gum line.
* Long-term tooth wear
* Untreated cavities
* An old filling with a crack or leak
* Receding gums that expose the tooth’s roots. Receding gums often are caused by periodontal diseases or by brushing too hard.
* Gum surgery that exposes a tooth’s roots
* Tooth whitening in people who have tooth roots that already are exposed
* Frequently eating acidic foods or drinking acidic liquids