If you have been suffering from headaches, the first step of action is often to go to the medicine cabinet for pain relief or a visit to the Doctor. However, if your Doctor does not have a reason for your headaches and the problem persists, it might be something you should mention to your dentist. Many times the persistent cause of headaches lies inside your mouth.

Many dentists are worried that teenagers are putting their teeth and oral health at risk by trying dangerous do-it-yourself teeth-whitening techniques found on the Internet. Many teenagers go to online tips for doing yourself whitening since money and access to proper dental whitening care may be outside their reach. However, Children who mix quantities of different chemicals and apply them for long periods are at risk of eroding their tooth enamel and damaging their gums, increasing their risk of oral infection. The best action is to talk to your dentist about safely whitening your teeth or what over-the-counter products they may suggest.

Dental insurance should be part of your investments for your children’s health and wellness. 

Dental care for children is essential brushing and flossing alone will not be enough without regular dental care from a dentist. Dental cost can be a factor for anyone, so investing in good dental insurance for your children will help keep your children’s teeth happy and save money on your family’s dental care needs. Get your dental quote today by entering your zip code in the quote box provided.

Dental Insurance will make Caring for your children’s teeth more affordable. 

Cleaning and proper dental care of children’s teeth should begin when the first tooth is visible. You want to do this because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in your child’s mouth. Many children do not get the proper dental care due to increasing costs. However, Dental offers low-cost dental HMO plans that make dental care much more affordable. Get the dental care and coverage you and your family needs at a reasonable cost. To review all our dental insurance dental plan options in your state, enter your zip code for a quote comparison.

Teething Tips and Cleaning Baby’s Mouth.

Be sure that your baby gets the best dental care possible. It is a good idea to start cleaning your gums even before they start cutting their baby teeth. Not only is doing so good for your child’s gums, but it gets them used to you doing so and making brushing their teeth easier. Also, try and brush and clean baby teeth and mouth when they are not cranky or overly tired. Make it fun and keep things light. Take your baby to a dentist as soon as the first tooth is cut or on their first birthday. Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth, and good dental care habits with baby teeth lead to good dental practices with adult teeth.

What do You need to Know About Kid’s Dental Care? 

Here are some simple dos and don’ts you should remember when taking care of your child’s baby teeth. 

Dos:  

• Clean your baby’s gums before teething. 
• Take your baby to see a dentist within a few months of them cutting their first tooth or no later than their first birthday.
• Have dental insurance for your child and your family to help with the cost of dental care. 
• Find a dentist both you and your child will like. 
• Try and use non-fluoride toothpaste when brushing your child’s baby teeth. 
• Floss your child’s teeth as soon as two teeth are next to each other. 
• Talk to your child’s dentist for good dental care tips. 

Don’t:

• Do not try and clean your baby’s gums if your child is tired or cranky 
• Do not use fluoride toothpaste too soon. A good time would be when your child can spit. 
• When you do start to use toothpaste, do not overuse it. A pea size amount is all you need for an adult or a child. Even less should be used. for young children. (A little does go a long way)

Discount Dental plans compare and save on dental services not generally covered by dental insurance. Dental discount plans are great low-cost options to save money on dental services. Even those that Dental insurance may not cover dental services, such as cosmetic dental services and preexisting and adult braces. A dental discount plan is also an excellent way to save money when you have dental insurance but are still within the plan waiting periods. Sometimes, it is not advised to wait even when your plan may have waiting periods. In cases like that getting a dental discount plan that offers savings within the next business day is worth reviewing as an option.

For calcium spots on your teeth, consider consulting a Cosmetic Specialist.

Cosmetic dentistry may help you to get your best smile at any age. Bonding is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures for a perfect smile. Cosmetic dental bonding is a relatively painless procedure usually performed in one dental visit by applying an enamel-like material to your teeth which are then shaped, hardened with a special light, and polished. For a more dramatic smile, porcelain veneers can make a drastic difference. With dental veneers, you can control the color, position, shape, and size of your new teeth, which can correct crooked, worn, or chipped teeth. This procedure can cost between $1,200 – $3,500 per tooth. Most dental insurance companies do not offer cosmetic dentistry insurance coverage. If you are with a group dental insurance company through your employer, you may want to inquire if cosmetic dentistry insurance benefits are part of your dental plan. Discount dental plans typically provide cosmetic dental coverage. Discount dental plans usually cover 15 to 20 percent of the cosmetic dental care cost.

What is Supplemental Dental Insurance? 

Supplemental dental insurance is an individual or family insurance policy purchased to cover some dental costs. Supplemental dental insurance will typically only cover part of the dental care procedure. The supplemental dental policy typically covers the remaining dental bill if you have a primary dental insurance plan that you purchased or your employer-provided. 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. You can purchase a supplemental dental insurance plan to help cover the dental charges when there are annual dental benefit plan limits or exclusions.

What is tooth erosion?

It is the wearing away of your tooth enamel by acid. Tooth enamel is what protects the outside of your tooth. However, high amounts of acids in food and drinks that one may consume can cause tooth erosion as well as different medical issues such as acid reflux, decrease in saliva (dry mouth), gastrointestinal conditions, and eating disorders. Here are a few signs to look out for and talk over with your dentist if you should have one or more of these warning signs. Discoloration of your tooth or teeth. Sensitive teeth, rounded teeth, or the tips of your teeth looking transparent in color (mainly your front teeth). There are more advanced signs of tooth erosion which would include cracked or cracking teeth. Rough feeling spots on the tooth surface. Extremely sensitive teeth and tooth decay. Dental insurance will not prevent tooth erosion but will make preventive dental care much more affordable. If you do not currently have dental insurance for you and your family, remember we are happy to help. If you have any questions, please call our member services at 310-534-3444 CA time 8-4 M-F,

One of the main causes of adult tooth loss is periodontal disease (Gum Disease), including gingivitis and periodontitis. Some research states that up to 30 percent of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. If you are brushing and flossing correctly and seeing your dentist regularly, yet still have gum disease issues, you may be in the 30 percent. Because despite aggressive oral healthcare habits, these people still have a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. Now, tests are being offered to help diagnose periodontitis, a bacterial infection in the mouth. Identifying people in this higher-risk area will help through early intervention and proper dental treatment, which may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime. Talk to your dentist and see what is best advised for you. Preventive care is vital, and by visiting a dentist and being aggressive with your dental healthcare, you are helping your oral health and overall health and well-being. Having either dental insurance or a dental plan in place will make having dental care more affordable for you and help you stay on top of your dental needs.

Is Kissing Dangerous to Your Dental Health? 

Oddly enough, yes. Studies have shown that bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted via an open mouth kiss. Within one kiss, you can share over 500 types of disease-causing germs and viruses. Cavities can become contagious. However, it is only an issue if the person you are kissing has several dental cavities yearly, which can signify that they may have an above-average bacteria count. With that said, there is no reason to stop kissing. Before kissing, try brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. If not convenient, chew on sugar-free gum or drink a glass of water. If you feel your partner may be an issue, you can always brush and floss your teeth afterward. In short, kissing is acceptable but know who you kiss and stay healthy.

Steps you can do if you lose a tooth in an accident. 

If you lose a tooth due to an accident and the tooth is recovered quickly, you may save it by going straight to a dentist and having it reattached. However, too much time often passes between losing the tooth and getting the dental care needed. 

At that point, you will need to consider how to replace the tooth. One way is by having a dental implant. Implants are artificial roots for a tooth placed in your mouth and attached to a replacement tooth. They do not rest on other teeth to support the replacement tooth but are rooted into the gums and will look like any of your other teeth and work and function the same. Dental implants are an excellent substitute for dentures and bridge work. They are secure and do not feel or look fake. The only problem with the procedure is the high cost. 

Many dental insurance plans do not cover dental implants, but there is still an option if your insurance plan does not offer benefits for implants. You should get a dental discount plan if implant work is needed. On a dental discount plan, you can save money on dental implants as long as a provider does that type of dental service. It is worth looking into when deciding about dental implant work.

You should take a few steps when considering buying dental insurance for yourself and your family. The first step is to know your own dental needs the best you can. You will be able to see that online; there are a ton of websites offering dental insurance and dental plans that you can have the option to review. However, it will quickly seem overwhelming if you do not clearly understand what you may need from a dental insurance plan. 

Before getting online, ask yourself a few questions. First, are you trying to stay with a dental office? If so, the first step should be calling the dental office you want to keep to find out if they are PROVIDER in any dental insurance plans. The key word is a provider. There are many higher-cost dental insurance plans you can buy that let you choose your dentist, but if your dental office is a provider of a lessor cost plan, would you not want to know about it? At the same time, knowing this information will save you time reviewing dental plans like HMOs, where you must stay within a network. 

With that said, you also need to know the dental services you may want. Such as, if you need a root canal, there may be better options than getting a dental PPO with waiting periods for major dental services. Such as a dental HMO plan with no waiting periods or a getting dental discount plan that lets you see the dentist generally within the next business day of your online enrollment. Make sure you read each dental plan’s terms and conditions so that you can buy a dental plan that best fits your dental needs. And lastly, when in doubt about coverage or plan details, call member services and get a clear understanding the time you put into making sure you get the right plan from the start is well worth it.

How Does Having a Root Canal Save the Tooth? 

A general dentist or, in some cases, an Endodontist specialist can do a root canal. Usually, you would go to a general dentist first, and if they determine that you should see an Endodontist specialist, the general dentist will refer you to one. 

The dentist will remove the inflamed or infected pulp inside your tooth. Then the tooth is filled up and sealed. If you went to an Endodontist dentist for a root canal, you would return to your general dentist for a crown. 

The crown will help protect your tooth and restore it to full function. Even though having a root canal and crown work can be costly, most dentists will advise this procedure to save a tooth. Some people feel that having an extraction would be less expensive; however, that is different if you want to replace the missing tooth pulled. Leaving gaps in your teeth due to pulling is never a good idea because shifting of your remaining teeth will happen over time. That is why it is a good idea to have dental insurance before having any major dental services rendered.

Having good dental care and seeing a dentist twice a year is essential. If you are one of the 3% (depending on what study you read) of the US population suffering from Acid reflux disease, dental care and seeing a dentist becomes a more significant issue.  

People with acid reflux disease may need to see the dentist more than twice a year. Prolonged or chronic acid reflux can start to cause major teeth damage. Day after day of exposure to stomach acids will begin to dissolve away the tooth enamel, which is the protective coating of your teeth, weakening your teeth and leaving them more open for tooth decay. Acid Reflux will cause more significant dental and health care issues. A dentist can help you prevent tooth damage due to acid reflux, but only if you see a dentist regularly. Having a good dental insurance plan will help you control the cost of your dental care needs.

More traditional policies (such as dental Indemnity plans) allow the insured to obtain dental treatment from any provider and be reimbursed for claims made according to the plan’s benefits.

HMO dental insurance plans limit coverage (fee scheduled based) to services provided by the HMO’s providers.

PPOs dental insurance plans provide a list of providers for whom benefits are provided on a preferred basis (while covering dental services of non-listed dental providers can be on a less favorable basis).

When shopping for an HMO dental insurance plan and or a dental discount plan, it is important to make sure they have an in network provider (dentist) you wish to go to. Both of these dental plan types required you to pick a plan provider or go to plan providers. There is no benefits and or savings when going to a dental provider that is not an in network dentist of the plan.

When shopping for dental insurance you want to make sure that it provides coverage’s that will be cost effective for the type of dental care services you will be needing. Such as if you need a dental crown it may not be cost effective for you to buy a dental insurance plan that has waiting periods for major needs such as crowns. By reviewing each plans benefits carefully you will be able to select a dental insurance plan that best fits your needs and your budget.