As a parent it is up to you to teach and help your child learn the importance of daily oral health care. One way you can do this is by demonstrating healthy habits yourself. Make brushing and flossing a family activity. Brushing and flossing every day will help your child have healthy teeth, which will help him or her enjoy better dental check ups.

According to a Brazilian study with included 160 Children ages 3 – 15, children with asthma had higher levels of S. mutans. Those with a longer history of asthma tended to have higher levels of these bacteria. The study did not find that levels of S. mutans were linked with asthma drugs or other treatments. Researchers also did not find a link between higher levels of S. mutans and more tooth decay.

Seeing your dentist at least twice a year is standard advise at any age.  However, seniors may be advised by their dentist to come in more then just twice a year for their dental health check ups.  Although age is not the only factor as to why a person may have to see the dentist more often, age does increase the odds of needing more dental care. Many seniors have other  other health issues that can effect their dental health care needs.

In prior post we talked about gum disease and how it can effect you overall wellness. If you start to noticed the signs of gum disease which includes bleeding gums, sensitivity, redness, and a receding gum line, it is imperative that you make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. Early treatment of gum disease helps ensure a faster recovery, thereby reducing your risk of developing diseases and health conditions.

Advancing age can effect seniors and their teeth. For some dry mouth can be an issue.  Dry mouth is caused by reduced saliva flow. Dry mouth can be the result of cancer treatments, certain diseases, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus and an infection of the salivary glands, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as side effects of certain medications.  Aging is also another cause of dry mouth

Although diabetes can cause many different health issues one effect that it has on your dental care is dry mouth. One sign of diabetes is often chronic dry mouth, which occurs when blood sugars are high and uncontrolled diabetes. When this occurs, ketones lose fluid or inadequate saliva is produced in order to keep your mouth moist. The end result is severe dehydration and dry mouth as well as difficulty chewing and swallowing food. If you are a diabetic make sure to talk to your dentist about proper dental care in order to maintain your dental health.

Advancing age can effect seniors and their teeth. For some darkened teeth can be an issue.  Darkened teeth is caused to some extent by changes in the tooth dentin as well as by a lifetime of consuming stain causing foods and beverages. By seeing a dentist about darkened teeth, the dentist may be able to brighten them up.

Treating periodontal disease now is one of the first lines of defense against these and other medical conditions. Your dentist can discuss with you the periodontal treatment process, providing you with all the information you need to make a decision regarding your oral health and your systemic well-being.

Regardless of age daily brushing and flossing is essential in order to keep them in good dental health. Plaque can quickly build up on the teeth of seniors, this is especially true if oral hygiene is neglected and lead to tooth decay as well as gum disease.   Some seniors can run a higher risk of poor dental hygiene due to health, medication and age factor limitations. In order for anyone to maintain good oral health it is important to maintain proper dental health care habits.

* Make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride. Some seniors may have difficult time brushing and flossing their teeth if they suffer from arthritis or another condition that limits movement. In cases like that, try using an electric toothbrush, with rotating-oscillating bristles, which are effective at removing plaque and preventing gum disease.

* Floss at least once a day. If floss is too difficult to work with, try a floss pick or tiny brushes made to clean between teeth.

* Use an antibacterial mouth rinse so that you can reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.

* Visit your dentist on regularly for check up and cleanings. Some seniors may find this hard if they are not driving or can not drive. Therefore try to find a very local dental office as to make it easier to get to and from.  There are some senior assistance programs that drive seniors to their doctors appointments, so check to see if they also drive to dental appointments.  If you can see if there is a dentist within the same building as your doctors so that you can book appointment on the same day. You may also want to find a dentist that still makes limited house calls for seniors.

Although it can be difficult for seniors to maintain good dental hygiene habits, it stills needs to be done.  Studies show that your oral health is linked to many overall health care issues.  Therefore having poor oral health can effective you overall wellness.

Oral Health and Depression in the Homeless.  According to Scottish researchers homeless people with tooth decay or missing teeth are more prone to depression than those with health teeth. The study was done on about 850 homeless.  the research found that people with poorer dental health were more likely to be depressed. In addition, homeless people with decayed and missing teeth also tended to have lower quality of life and more dental anxiety. Both of these could lead to depression, said the authors

If you are a senior going in for dental check up, if you are new patient to the dental office or if you have not been to your dentist in over a year or more expect to conduct a thorough history and dental exam.  Questions that may be asked can include:

1) The approximate date of your last dental visit and the reason for the visit.
2) If you notice any recent changes within your mouth
3) If you have notice any loose or sensitive teeth since your last dental visit.
4) If you had any difficulty in tasting, chewing of swallowing
5) If you since your last dental visit notice any pain, discomfort, sores, or bleeding in you mouth
6) If you have notice any lump, bump or swelling in your mouth.
7) The dentist will also go over any health issues that can effect your dental and oral health as well as want to know any medication you are currently on.

Why it is very important to treat periodontal disease (gum disease)

When your gums are infected, the bacteria that flourish there can easily travel throughout your body to other tissues and organs. Because this process takes time, you may not even realize that you are at risk until more pressing symptoms arise. Medical problems that have been linked to untreated gum disease include the following:

*Complications in pregnant women, including pre-mature birth and low birth weight infants
*Dementia in older patients
*Pancreatic cancer
*High blood pressure
*Heart attack
*Stroke
*Rheumatoid arthritis and other bone/joint problems
*Complications in the treatment of diabetes

A person age is not a dominant or sole factor in determining oral health. Yet for some seniors they may have certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hand and fingers that may make brushing and flossing their teeth more difficult to impossible to preform. In addition needed medication for ones health, may and also affect oral health and may cause needed changes in their dental treatment.

We have all had moments where we put off something important. All kinds of things can get pushed aside and even forgotten because we are simply not ready to tackle them yet. But when it comes to your oral and dental health, procrastinating is the last thing you should do.

Time can be precious, but so is your oral health. Being proactive about your dental care will benefit your smile. It will also benefit your pocketbook and result in a more positive experience with your dentist.

When you put off essential dental care, that could mean a more invasive and more expensive procedure in the future. But when you seek help early, right at the beginning of a problem, you can receive more conservative dental treatment.

Some of the most common things that are put off are treatment for gum disease and cavities. But treatment for both is much easier and more cost effective when it happens early.

When strictly talking about cosmetic dental care services it can be very difficult to find a dental insurance plans that offer benefits for this type of dental care. Cosmetic riders are sometime found in group dental insurance plans and can be added at an additional cost.

However if you do not received dental benefits though your employer then you may want to review dental discount plans as an option to reduce the cost of cosmetic dental services.  Under a dental discount plan you can receive 15 to 20 percent off the cost of cosmetic dental services as long as there are dentist in the plans network that provide such services.

Some of the sings and symptoms of dry mouth can include

* Trouble speaking
* Eating or Tasting food
* Swallowing
* Dry mouth may cause chapped lips
* Persistent cough
* White Tongue
* Fungal infection like  yeast
* Bruning tongue
* Gum disease
* Dentla decay

According to an online poll of 289 general dentist  and consumers confirms that men are less likely to visit the dentist then women.  That nearly 45 percent of respondents felt that men do not see a need to go to the dentist. About 30 percent polled reported that men may be afraid or embarrassed to go to the dentist. Around 18 percent revealed that men just do not have the time for a dental visit, and about 5 percent felt that men don’t even have a regular dentist.

1)    Carbohydrates:    Chips, bread, pasta, or crackers can be as harmful to the teeth as candy.

2)    Sticky, chewy foods:   Raisins, granola bars, jelly beans, caramel, honey and syrup stick to teeth and make it difficult to wash the sugar away

3)    Sugary snacks:   Cookies, cakes or other desserts contain a high amount of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.

4)    Gum and candy:  When chewing gum and eating candy, the sugar coats teeth, which can lead to cavities.

5)    Carbonated soft drinks: Regular and diet sodas contain phosphorous and carbonation, which wears away the enamel on teeth.

6)    Fruit or vegetable juices: These beverages tend to be high in sugar, which can damage tooth enamel and lead to decay.
With moderation and proper dental care you reduce the harmful effects this types of foods can have on your teeth

Question: I been looking for dental insurance for myself but I am quickly finding out that the plans I seen on line are just costly for me at this time.  What I would like to know is if getting a low cost dental discount plan really a good alternative to dental insurance?

Answer: Yes by getting a dental discount plan it will help to reduce your dental care cost at the dentist that are providers of the plan.  Just make sure you have dentist in the plan that you would like to go to and I suggest giving them a call and confirming that they still take the dental plan and new members before buying one.

Food and drinks such as soft drink, fruit juices, fresh  fruit and yogurt as well as pickles and lemons can lead to irreversible dental erosion if not consumed in moderation.    According to the Academy of General Dentistry’s dental erosion is the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth. Dental enamel is the thin, outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth’s structure and shape while protecting it from decay.