My boyfriend is a smoker. He has cut back smoking to about two to three cigarettes a day.  Can his continue smoking cause gum disease? He whiten his teeth to keep them from being stained but I am trying to tell him that he still messing up his gums.

Answer:  Tobacco use and smoking is harmful to both your oral health and over all health care. Many studies have been done show links to smoking and gum disease.  According to recent studies they have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. In addition, following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process and make the treatment results less predictable.

Many people have sensitive teeth and think that having sensitive teeth is not a big issue. However, when you feel twinges of pain or discomfort in your teeth due to drinking or eating cold things, drinking or eating hot things, eating sweet or by touching the teeth with other teeth or your tongue, these are warning signs that should be telling you to see a dentist.

I just wondering if a person can have gum disease without know about it.

You can have gum disease without any clear symptoms.  That is why seeing your dentist at least twice a year for dental checkups and periodontal exams is important in order to maintain good oral health. There are however many warning signs that can signal a problem with the health of your gums. Therefore if your notice any of the below symptoms you should see your dentist right away.

1) Red, Swollen or Tender Gums.
2) Gums that bleed while brushing or flossing your teeth.
3) Consistent bad breath.
4) Loose or separating teeth
5) Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
6) Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bit.

Brushing our teeth twice a day every day is an important part of our dental care habits.  However brushing our teeth too long or too hard can do more damage then good.
Make sure to brush your teeth with a soft bristle brush for two minutes. Do not apply a lot of pressure.  Brushing your teeth too hard can wear away your tooth enamel. Over time wearing down your enamel leaves you tooth exposed to dental decay and tooth sensitivity.

I need to have some dentures but have no idea how much they will normally cost.

Answer: The fact is the cost of dentures will very depending on may factors such as what type of dentures, do you have dental insurance, state and where you live ect. Here are some typical cost ranges for dentures.

Basic Denture:  A basic set of denture start at around $300 to $500 per plate (uppers/lowers) or $600 – $1000 for full set (both uppers and Lowers)   Mid Range Denture: Mid range denture start at around $500 – $1500 per plate or $1000 – $3000 per set

Premium Dentures:  Premium Dentures start at around $2000 – $4000 per plant or $4000 – $8000 per set.  If you have dental insurance it may help you with the cost of dentures if dentures are determine to be medically necessary.   Each denture type comes with different benefits and warranties. Talk to your dentist in order to determine which is best for you and your dental care needs.

I just cracked my tooth while eating.  Does a cracked tooth have to be pulled.  I want to keep it and I worried if I go to a dentist they are going to pull it.

Answer: A good dentist will always try and save a tooth whenever possible.   Whether or not your tooth can be save depends on just how badly cracked it is and how far the crack goes down the tooth.  Talk to your dentist let him or her know that you want to do whatever possible to keep the tooth and that pulling it would be the last option.

With in the past few weeks I notice my gums are starting to be sore.  I am not sure why I do practice proper dental hygiene.

Answer:  There are many factors that can cause your gums to be sore.  Some of these factors include inflammation due to plaque on teeth, Canker sore, Gingivitis, Periodontitis, Dry mouth, and Poor dental hygiene. Other less common causes for sore gums can include a variety of conditions that may irritate the gums such as misaligned teeth, rough edges of fillings, and ill-fitting or unclean mouth appliances Sore Gums.  If you still continue to have sore gums see a dentist.  A dentist will be able to find out why your gums are sore and determine the best coarse of treatment.

I have a baby tooth that is wobbly and is only hanging on.  My gum is red in that area and I have been trying to pull the tooth out but it hurts.  How can I pull this tooth out?

Answer: Normally baby teeth will come out on their own when the adult tooth behind it pushes it out.  However sometimes the tooth root may have a bur/hook on it keeping if from coming out easily.

You may want to see a dentist to have him or her pull the baby tooth out. Which they can do causing little pain to you. Also another benefit is that the dentist will be able to make sure there are no other dental issues that need to be addressed.

What can really happen if you do not brush your teeth. My brother does not brush his teeth at least not regularly but when he goes to the dentist he does not have any cavities.  Makes me wonder if brushing your teeth is really a big deal.

Answer: Your brother is just beating the odds right not but by not taking care of his dental health it will catch up to him at some point. There is nothing good that comes from poor dental hygiene.  By not brushing your teeth or by not brushing regularly, bacteria, plaque and mineral deposits will start to build up on your teeth. This will progress into causing many dental issues such as bad breath, cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, infections, loss of teeth, and yes sometimes even death.

I am 19 year old with no dental insurance and I was just told by my dentist that I have ten cavities and that three of them may need to have a root canal done. He will not be sure until he remove the decay.  I am scared to have this much dental work and not sure if I should have it done.  Also cost is a large fact since in order to pay for my dental care I would have to use all of my savings.

Answer: If you are scared that your dentist is advising dental work that is not needed then the best thing to do would be to get a second opinion.  However whether it is one cavity or ten you are dealing with putting off your dental care is not advised.  Decay will only continue and cause further damage to your dental and oral health.

I can understand that cost is a large factor, therefore I would advise you buying a low cost dental HMO insurance plan before starting your dental care treatments.  Having a dental HMO insurance plan in place will help to make your dental care much more affordable.

Also talk to your dentist address what is needed right away then schedule out what the rest in a time frame that you can handle this will also make paying for your dental care easier.

In an advance toward solving a 50-year-old mystery, scientists are reporting new evidence on how the fluoride in drinking water, toothpastes, mouth rinses and other oral-care products prevents tooth decay.

According to an updated position paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, A strong connection exists between the food people eat and their oral health.

According to the paper, dental caries “is the most prevalent, chronic, common, and transmissible infectious oral condition in humans.” In addition, a person’s overall health can be affected by tooth loss, since declining periodontal health can lead to diminished dietary quality because of lack of essential nutrients in a person’s diet.

Researchers at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) reveal that it is not necessary to throw away your old toothbrush and get a new one after you recover from sore-throat, cold or flu.

The study done supports that it is probably unnecessary to throw away your toothbrush after a diagnosis of strep throat.

Moms should having their children drink lots of water.  Drinks such as Gatorade, Juices, Kool-Aid and Sweet teas contain large amounts of sugar and even though they may be tasty and refreshing, they can cause cavities.   You can easily encourage your kids to drink water by drinking water with them. You can add flavor to your water by slicing up fresh fruit, cucumbers and mint leaves. Doing this will provide the fruity water that the kids like with much less sugar.   Another option is Crystal Light On-the Go as an alternative to juice that your kids can mix into their water bottles during a trip.

If you need to go the dentist for dental treatment are you require to pay upfront at the time services are render?  Or can the dentist invoice you latter if you do not have all the money needed for treatment?

Answer:  That depends on the dental office in question.   Each dental practice sets up their own policy regarding payment.  You would need to call around and confirm with the dental office before booking a dental appointment to verify it they will accept payment plan for their services.

No one wants to have a cavity by they do happen. In order to treat a cavity, the first step is to remove the decayed part of the tooth.  A dentist is able to offer three choices for decay removal.  The a “drill”, microbrasion and laser treatment.

This post will address the more traditional method the drill. The drill called the handpiece, remains the technique of choice for removing tooth decay. High speed handpieces make dental treatment quicker and more comfortable then in the past, however with the handpiece you may feel vibrations during the dental treatment.

I need to have invisaligns, however and the only insurance I have is Medicare. I would like a list of all the kinds of dental insurances that will help cover some of the cost for invisaling treatments, and I do not care if it has a year waiting period.

Answer:  Generally speaking most dental insurance plan do not offer benefits for invisaligns. Dental PPO plans may have limited coverages for invisaligns but many do not provide orthodontic services to adults and when they do it is very limited. Therefore in most cases with regards to adult braces and PPO plans they may not be cost effective.  Make sure you read the plan terms and conditions carefully.

HMO dental insurance plans often provide benefits for adult braces. These plan are very affordable and are cost effective however they generally only provide benefits on basic braces and not invisalings.

Another non insurance option would be a dental discount plan. These dental discount plans are not insurance, but they do provide dental saving on all dental care services done by network providers.  Average saving for braces 20 percent including invisaligns.

Most parents want to hear at the end of their child dental appointment that there where no cavities.  Preventive dentistry is keeping more and more children fee from tooth decay then ever before. Half of all U.S. children under the age of twelve have never had a cavity. That good news, however it also means half of them do.

If a child has tooth decay new dental treatments are available that are far more attractive and comfortable then in the past.  A parent can be a wise consumer if you make sure to know your options and discuss them with your child pediatric dentist.

Besides brushing my teeth right after drinking coffee which is not always possible how can avoid having coffee stain my teeth while I am drinking it?

Answer:  I enjoy drinking coffee too, so I know where you are coming from since the last thing I want is coffee stained teeth.  Therefore try drinking any sustainable drinks such as coffee and teas though a straw.  This will help limit the direct contact the coffee has with your teeth.

Dental crowns are use for many different reasons some of the main goals include:

* Restoring discolored teeth (that can not be whiten by bleaching)
* Restoring chipped or broken tooth
* Restoring a tooth that has extensive tooth decay
* Mask developmental defects such as pitted or small teeth.

Dental crowns will greatly improve the look of your teeth, the are very durable, yet dental treatment can be costly.  Make sure to have current dental insurance to help make dental crown work more affordable.