I have a horrible toothache but I do not want to go to the dentist because I have dental fears that stop me from seeing a dentist. Is there anyway I can get pain killers from my doctor?

Reply: You may be able to get pain killers from your doctor. However please note: You can take all the pain killers you want, this will only get rid of the pain. Not the problem. A horrible toothache means there is something wrong with your tooth. A pain killer will not fix your tooth. Only a dentist can do that. Being scared of a dentist is an issue that dentist can understand. Tell the dentist of your concerns they are there to help you and if they know that you are scared they will explain to you what they are going to do. Knowing what is happening helps relive fares. Dentist really are not out to hurt anyone. They try and make what they do painless as possible. If you do nothing but mask the pain you are only going to have a bigger issues, and in the end have to see a dentist anyway. Why put yourself though that?

Chewing Tobacco and Dental Care I only Dip/Chew three to four times a week. Is chewing really all that bad on my teeth? After all I still brush my teeth twice a day.

Answer: Just because you are not smoking tobacco does not make it any less harmful to your dental and oral health. Using tobacco can harm your health, including your teeth and gums, in a number of ways such as:  tooth discoloration and gum disease to throat, lung and oral cancer and, ultimately, death.

Smokeless tobacco users can also experience: Bad breath, decreased sense of smell and taste and they are at a greater risk of developing cavities

My teeth are really yellow and all the over the counter whitening products do not help. Can I get Veneers for my teeth.

Answer: You can get dental veneers for yellow teeth. However I would first talk to dentist about having your teeth professionally whiten. A dentist can whiten your teeth much better then any over the counter product.  Whitening is also much cheaper then dental veneers. If you choose to get dental veneers make sure you talk to a cosmetic dentist and keep in mind that both teeth whitening treatment and dental veneers are normally not covered under most dental insurance plans. If you wish to save some money of these types of dental care services I would suggest looking into a low cost dental discount plan which can save you around 15 to 20 percent.

Canceling Dental Insurance After Use of The Plan.

Question: I do not want to buy dental insurance on a regular bases. I would like to buy a dental plan to get a dental check up and cleaning done since is see many dental insurance provide this service at no cost. However can I cancel the plan right after having this service provided. Or am I forced to keep the plan.

Answer: You will need to read the terms and conditions of the plan you are looking at. Some insurance plans do require you keep it for a year. Where as other plans have long term waiting periods which would be okay for you if all want is preventive care but may not work out very well if it is determined you need additional dental services other then preventive care. You may want to look into getting a dental discount plan since most of these type of plans will let you cancel with a 30 day written request. As long as you buy based on monthly payments and not yearly.

Although sugar is bad for your teeth it is not the only villain that undermines healthy teeth. Acidic, low-pH foods such as sour candy, soft drinks, and fruit juices will also soften teeth. Too much of these types of food can result in enamel erosion and diminished tooth size. Dentist warn to stay away from ultra-sour, ultra-sticky, ultra-sugary candies such as Warheads and Toxic Waste. However even sour gummy vitamins can be culprits.  It is suggested that if you are going to consume highly acidic foods, do it during mealtime to help minimize the effects by consuming them along with other foods.

Does baking soda help to whiten your teeth? I can not use over the counter whiten strips because I have braces but can baking soda help?

Answer: Baking soda can help to white your teeth however you should not use baking soda to whiten your teeth when you have braces. Baking soda is believed to erode orthodontic glue and fasteners. Before trying to whiten your teeth talk to your orthodontic dentist first to make sure you do not damage your braces.

I have a dental appointment for a root canal. However I am not sure that it would be best to have a root canal or just pull the tooth. What is best in the long run?

Answer: Normally when a dentist can save a tooth with a root canal they do not suggest pulling it. You want to keep your teeth whenever possible. However if you choose to pull the tooth then you will need to think about what you are going to do afterwords. Such as are you going to leave a gap, get a bridge or dental implant. If you leave the space empty it can cause your other teeth to shift over time. If you go with a dental bridge then you are having to crown the two teeth on either side of the gab to make a bridge and bridges do not always last a life time. Dental implants are more costly but they do last a life time with proper dental care habits. Talk over your options with your dentist and see which one you feel is right for you

Cranberry juice has been hailed as a healthy beverage choice, but it also appears to stop the bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease, according to preliminary research from the University of Rochester. In one study, two doses of a beverage with 25 percent cranberry juice stopped bacteria from clinging by as much as 85 percent.

As a parent you know that your child/children need to maintain good dental and oral health. Yet increasing dental care services make it harder and harder to afford their needed dental care check ups and cleaning’s let alone any other larger dental care needs. That is why having dental insurance for your family is an important part in keeping your dental family dental care cost low. Your budget and dental care needs for your family will help you choose which type of dental insurance plan would work best.

Our website offer a broad range of dental insurance plans from PPO’s, Indemnity and HMO dental insurance plans. We also offer dental discount plans for a lower cost alternative. Review our plan options for your state and if you have any questions please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 as they will be happy to help you with any of our dental plan options.

Benefits of Orthodontic Insurance Plans

The maximum amount covered and percentage that your provider pays for will depend upon your orthodontic Insurance plans.  Benefits of Orthodontic Insurance Plans are: It can help covering braces affordable It will solve all your dental care issues thus give you the peace of mind It can help you in preserving your overall health If you do not have the orthodontic insurance plans, go get it now to cover all the risks and costs.  If you are interested in adult orthodontics, ask if your plan includes adult orthodontic insurance.

Dental discount plans and orthodontics insurance Dental discount plans provide an alternative solution if you do not have a dental insurance or if your policy offers no or minor orthodontic insurance coverage.  How to get the best of your orthodontic insurance coverage before you take the final decision for your orthodontic insurance provider, make sure that you can find a suitable orthodontist in your area that accepts your dental braces insurance or dental discount plan.

After our last post you may be wondering how do you safely store your toothbrush. Here are some tips you may want to practice.

1) Make sure to rinse your toothbrush well after brushing your teeth. Before putting your toothbrush away give it a good rinse with tap water, making sure not to leave any toothpaste or debris in the brush

2) Put your toothbrush upright, in a cup or a holder, this will allow the water to drain away from the head of the brush. You want the toothbrush to air dry thoroughly. So make sure it has access to good air circulation, and is not suffocating in a small drawer or cabinet when not in use

3) Keep your toothbrush away from other people’s toothbrushes. Even if you are all family members do not let your toothbrush touch another toothbrush. Bacteria on one brush can cross-contaminate another.

4) Avoid keeping your toothbrush too close to the toilet and sink. In tip two we tell you to keep your toothbrush out in the open for it to air dry thoroughly. However you want to make sure it is not too close to the sink. You do not want it to get splashed with dirty or soapy water when family members are washing their hands. Likewise, keep the brush at least four feet away from the toilet.  If you have a small bathroom that dose not let you keep this distance store your toothbrush in a different room away from your bathroom

5) Sanitize or Not. Although you can buy toothbrush sanitizers (usually a small counter top device), there is no evidence that these make a difference to your health. They can, however, provide you with a safe zone for storing your brush. Also, there has been no study that shows soaking your brush in an antibacterial mouth rinse makes a difference.

How Carbonation Can Cause Tooth Decay According to the ADA (American Dental Association) sugar in soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks can lead to tooth decay. Acid is produced each time sugar comes in contact with the bacteria in your mouth. This acid eats away at your teeth for about 20 minutes after yo u take a sip and this acid can result in cavities. Unfortunately, diet soft drinks and carbonated water are not any better. The ADA says that most soft drinks also contain phosphoric and citric acid, which can cause tooth erosion. To improve your dental health, you should try to limit your soft drink consumption and instead snack on nutritious foods. Other dental health tips include making sure you brush twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly for a check-up.

Tap Water and Dental Care Fluoride Helps to Prevent Tooth Decay.

If your main source of drinking water is bottled water, you may be missing out on the decay preventing benefits of fluoride. This according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Most bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride and some do not contain any at all. If you just prefer drinking bottled water, consider using tap water in other ways, such as when preparing meals and for mixing juices and powdered drinks.

Your teeth are more important to your overall health than you might think.

In prior post we talked about tooth loss. By losing your teeth, you not only look unhealthy, but tooth loss may be a warning sign of a serious health problem. Identifying dental and overall health issues early gives you a greater chance to recover quickly and prevent future complications. Even if you are engaged in bad oral hygiene habits in the past, you can make a fresh start today and prevent further damage to your teeth.

Orthodontic Insurance Options

Orthodontic insurance works like other types of insurance.  You may also need a supplementary form of dental orthodontic insurance in order to cover your costs.  The maximum amount covered as well as the percentage that your provider pays for will depend on your orthodontic insurance plan and on your insurance company.  With monthly or yearly premium for these orthodontic insurance you can avail maximum benefit from your insurance company for your orthodontic care.

Braces, x-rays, retainers and regular checkups for your orthodontic care are not affordable and you always need an extra helping hand, which comes as orthodontic insurance.  Looking out for best orthodontic insurance company is always advisable for you all.  If your dental insurance company is covering the costing for your orthodontic care then it good to go with that dental insurance company and if it says that they will not cover your orthodontic care then it is time to look out for a orthodontic insurance company to make your orthodontic care affordable and easy.

With great number and proportion of dental patients alone in united states reveal that how important it is for you to go for best orthodontic insurance.  If you are looking for complete peace of mind for you and your family just go for any best or affordable orthodontic insurance plans.  The first step in starting your search for orthodontic insurance is to review what you have currently.  Most people think that orthodontic insurance is the dental insurance.  However, this is not true as orthodontic insurance is totally different from dental insurance.

There are many types of plans available and a person may find some orthodontic insurance plans that limit his choice of orthodontists.  Main purpose of orthodontic insurance is to make orthodontic equipment, procedures and general orthodontic care affordable.  Some people call orthodontic insurance as orthodontic dental insurance also.  It has been observed that orthodontic treatments and specialists are expensive ones to bear and thus, if any person wishes to undergo any type of treatment in future, like orthodontic braces etc, it is better if he goes for orthodontic insurance.

In return, insurer will bear the orthodontic care cost up to the maximum limit mentioned in the orthodontic insurance.  It has been seen in many cases that a person is paying for his dental insurance and still requires separate orthodontic insurance.  Some areas that must be carefully looked for in the orthodontic insurance are co-pays, premiums, exclusions and deductibles.

When you are searching for the best dental plan for you and or your family dental care needs, here are a few tips you may want to keep in mind

* Estimating Your Needs: You will want to give though and estimate your future dental needs. Consider whether you or a family member will need major dental work or oral surgery. Or maybe you just want basic, preventive care like regular checkups and cleanings.

* Staying with Your Dental Current Provider: If you currently have a dentist that you want to stay with then it is important to find a plan your dentist accepts. If you have a particular dentist you would like to continue seeing, check to see that she or he accepts the dental insurance plan you are considering.

* Budget: Many people can be on a fixed budget if you are one then you will want to consider your budget and how much you are comfortable paying. Decide whether you’d prefer to pay premiums and co-pays over time, or pay the full amounts to the dentist all at once.

Question: Are there any dental plans for a child only? Need dental insurance for my fourteen year old.

Answer: Few dental insurance companies will let you buy their plans for only a minor. So it really depends on the plan you are reviewing. Such as our PPO plan though Standard Life dental insurance and our HMO plan though California dental will write a child only on the plan where as our other dental insurance plan required at least one adult which means buying a couple plan. You may also wish to review our dental discount plans though Careington as they too will let you have the plan for only a minor child. If after reviewing our dental plan options you have any questions please call our member services at 310-534-3444 as they would be happy to help.

In a prior post we talked about the signs and causing factors of tooth loss, and how with a long-term commitment you can prevent tooth loss from happening. Yet even with all the warning signs given prior to tooth loss, sometimes people do not go to the dentist regularly or refuse to go even if a tooth hurts because they are afraid of pain associated with fixing problems or think they do not have the money to pay for treatments.

Unfortunately, putting off dental treatment can only make the problem worse and you may ultimately face tooth loss if you ignore symptoms or skip your regular dental checkups. Dental prevention starts at home and continues at your dental office. The best way to prevent tooth loss is to practice good dental health habits, which include brushing and flossing regularly. You should also see your dentist at least once every six months and make an appointment as soon as possible if you experience tooth pain or other problems with your teeth.

There are many people that only need to have preventive dental care.  Which includes their twice a year check ups and cleaning and X-rays once a year.  They have good at home habits and have good teeth and gums. Yet dental cost keep increasing making even preventive care more and more costly.

However, with that say the good news is, with most dental insurance plans preventive dental care services are little to no cost.  You can also get low cost dental HMO plans that run $8.00 – $20.00 a month and still get in most cases free preventive dental care.

To review the dental insurance and plan options we have available to you in your state, just enter your zip code in the quote box provided. If you should have any questions about our dental insurance and dental plan options please call our office at 310-534-3444

 Your adult teeth should last you a life time. However preventing tooth loss means making a long term commitment to your dental healthcare. Such as making healthy dental and diet choices, maintaining good dental habits and seeing your dentist for regular dental check ups. Although there are several reasons that adults may lose their teeth.

The most common reasons involve a combination of poor oral hygiene and dietary habits. Gum Disease a main factor in tooth loss, yet it is important to understand that poor dental hygiene is a causing factor to gum disease as well as dental decay (cavities). In addition to poor oral hygiene habits, many people eat/drink a lot of candy, soda or other sugary snacks. Which can lead to tooth loss because sugar contributes to tooth decay, especially if you do not brush your teeth after eating. Other causing factors to tooth loss include smoking or chewing tobacco, grinding and clenching your teeth.