The simple fact is that brushing can not reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gum-line. If you are only brushing your teeth you are only getting the job half done.  Which means you are more likely to have tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease. Flossing is easy and only takes a few minutes out of your day.

How to floss:  When flossing do not skimp. You want to use around 18 inches of dental floss.  Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand leaving about 1 inch to floss your first tooth. Floss one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gum-line to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.  Make sure to floss daily.

When it comes to buying a mouthguard, parents who want to reduce their child’s risk of a sports-related concussion should visit a dentist instead of a sporting goods store.

High school football players wearing store-bought, over-the-counter (OTC) mouthguards were more than twice as likely to suffer mild traumatic brain injures (MTBI)/concussions than those wearing custom-made, properly fitted mouthguards, reports a new study in the May/June 2014 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Providing good dental care right from the start will get your child on the right path to maintaining healthy gums and teeth for a life time.  Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. Baby teeth lets your baby chew food, make a nice smile and talk well. You baby’s first set of teeth also holds the space where permanent teeth will eventually be. They help guild their permanent teeth to grow in straight.  Here are some basic dental health care tips to take proper care of your child teeth

1) Clean you baby’s new teeth every day: When the teeth first come in, clean them by rubbing    them gently with a clean wet washcloth. When your child gets a little older, use a  child’s toothbrush.

2) Children under two years of age should not use toothpaste. Instead, use water to brush    your  child’s teeth.

3) Do not let your baby go to sleep with a bottle that contains anything other then water.    doing so can leave milk, formula or juice sitting on your child teeth and cause    dental cavities. This is also know as “baby-bottle tooth decay.”

4) Provide low-sugar snacks, such as fruits, cheese and vegetables to your child and avoid    giving your child sticky, chewy candy.

5) Teach your children how to brush their teeth and the importance of keeping their teeth    clean and having good oral habits 6)Take your children to the dentist regularly. The ADA recommends that children see their dentist starting no latter then the age of one.

According to the study by Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, less than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and less than two per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months. Children most susceptible to cavities were least likely to receive early dental care,

With cost of living going up as well as cost of dental care it is very important to maintain proper dental care habits at home to help keep your dental care cost low and have healthy teeth and gums as you get older.     Here are some basic dental health care tips

1) Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

2) Make sure to floss your teeth daily

3) Do not smoke or chew tobacco.

4) Ask your doctor if your medicines have side effects that might damage your teeth. If you    have to take medicines that may have side effects on your dental health make sure to tell    your dentist.  You may have to see the dentist more often in order to maintain your  dental health care needs.

5) Regularly look inside your mouth for sores that do not heal, irritated gums or any other    oral changes.

6) See your dentist regularly for your dental check ups and cleanings

7) If you do start to have any dental problems with your teeth or if you have concerns about    your mouth, see your dentist right away.

8)And remember that by maintaining dental insurance will help keep your dental care cost    more affordable.

A University of Florida study shows that the same bacteria that cause gum disease also promotes heart disease – a discovery that could change the way heart disease is diagnosed and treated. Researchers reported their findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

Teens and pre-teens can sometimes not take as good as care as they should when it comes to their oral and dental health care.  That why developing good oral and dental habits why they are young is very important as they get older.  Here are some basic dental care tips that you can check and make sure they are following.

1) They should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
2) Flossing their teeth at least once a day.
3) They should not be smoking or chewing tobacco, which can stain their teeth, give them bad    breath as well as cause cancer.
4) Make sure your teen or pre-teens wears the right protective headgear while playing contact    sports.
5) Have them see their dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings

New study suggests that moderate red wine consumption may benefit our teeth.

The researchers behind the new study, which is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, explain that the oral cavity is “an enormously complex” and unique habitat within the human body.

Hundreds of microbial species co-exist within the human mouth simultaneously. Because the teeth are “non-shedding surfaces,” microorganisms are able to adhere to them for long periods of time, which can lead to the formation of biofilms and dental plaque.

For the first time, a new study has shown it is possible to use low-power lasers to spur stem cells in the body to make new tissue, in this case to regenerate dentin in teeth. The Harvard-led team says their work lays the foundation for a wealth of new clinical applications for healing wounds, regenerating bones and teeth, and more.

Women have hormonal fluctuations though out their life that can affect their gum health.  Periodontal disease is often a “silent” disease, many women do not realize they have it until it reaches an advanced state. However, at each stage of your life, there are steps a woman can take to protect her oral health.  Make sure to see your dental regularly for oral health check ups and practice good oral health care habits

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “Preventive Services by Medical and Dental Providers and Treatment Outcomes.” Nearly all state Medicaid programs reimburse non-dental primary care providers (nDPCPs) for providing preventive oral health services to young children; yet, little is known about how treatment outcomes compare to children visiting dentists. This study compared the association between the provider of preventive services (nDPCP, dentist or both) to Medicaid-enrolled children before their third birthday and subsequent dental caries-related treatment (CRT) and CRT payment. The complete study by researchers A.M. Kranz, R.G. Rozier, J.S. Preisser, S.C. Stearns, M. Weinberger and J.Y. Lee is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR)

A study published in BMJ Open reveals that there are links between dental plaque and cancer mortality. The authors of the study wanted to find out if it might be a risk factor for early death from cancer as a result of infection and inflammation, both of which are thought to have a role in up to one in five cancers.   The study hypothesis was confirmed by the finding that poor oral hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, was associated with increased cancer mortality.  However, they write, “Further studies are required to determine whether there is any causal element in the observed association.”

Scientists in Taiwan have found that intravenous injections of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous tooth pulp (SHED) have a protective effect against brain damage from heat stroke in mice. Their finding was safe and effective and so may be a candidate for successfully treating human patients by preventing the neurological damage caused by heat stroke.

Question:  I have a dental HMO plan that I have for over seven years.  I been really happy with my dental plan but it does not cover for Endodontic treatment done by a specialist.  Although my family dentist does root canals he said that I will need to see a Endodontic specialist this time.  How do I pick a good specialist?  I do not know much about choosing a dentist

Answer:  One good place to start with is by asking your generally dentist if they can refer you out to an endodontic specialist.  Most general dentist will know or refer out specialist when needed.

Most infant foods will easily wash off their teeth with just a drink of water after each meal. Yet it is still good to introduce a toothbrush as soon as possible, so baby can get used to having it in his or her mouth.

You probably will not need to use the brush to actually clean Baby’s teeth until he or she is eating only table foods, at around 18 months. However, you will want to gently clean your child’s teeth with a toothbrush or thimble-like cleaner and some bicarbonate of soda if your toddler has eaten sticky, sugary foods.

Many people do not receive dental benefits though their employer and therefore go uninsured.  They do not buy dental insurance mostly due to cost perceptions, thinking dental insurance would be too costly to afford on their own. Yet depending on the dental plan that is not always the case.

Due to cost factors people without dental insurance see the dentist less by deferring off needed dental care.   However one can not deffer off dental care and have the problem fix it self.   When dental services are deferred for too long  a possible simple cleaning can lead into a filling which can lead into a root canal and so on.  In the end  it means higher and higher dental care cost.

There are many low cost dental insurance plans that offer free to very low cost preventive care. By maintaining your preventive dental care you can stop the progression of larger more costly dental care needs.

Maintaining your child baby teeth is very important and providing good at home dental care habits.  In order to avoid dental cavities do not put your baby to bed with a bottle of mike or juice (really anything other then water) doing so is one main cause of infant dental decay.  Also do not leave your infant with a bottle for long periods of time especially if you notice he or she is no longer feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort.

For many Americans going to Mexico for dental care is a good way to receive affordable dental care.  Although there are many good dentist in Mexico there are things you should know before crossing the boarder for dental care.  If you have any problems with the dental care you receive in Mexico there is little to no recourse.

Most US dental insurance plan will not cover for dental care out of the US. Find a dental office that provides patient reviews.  Do some research into having dental work done in another country such as Mexico. Review the pros and cons before making the decision. Make sure that the dental office you are going you are also able to communicate your dental needs fully.

Having good dental health means making sure you have proper dental care habits.  Preventive dental care starts at home.  All it takes is a few minutes a day for proper preventive dental care yet many times it still goes undone.

For healthy teeth and gums make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day for three minutes.  Flossing is a required preventive dental care habit so make sure to floss daily.  Try using mouthwash that kills germs and help fight gum disease.  Remember by having good dental habits it will help you prevent decay thus helping you save money on larger dental care issues

Times are still hard for many people and for some putting of their scheduled dental visits may seem like a way to cut cost. Although there are dental insurance plans that help with the cost of dental care some people do not get dental insurance because they feel they are not struggling with large dental issues. Therefore both going to the dentist when needed and having proper benefits available are put off due to cutting cost.

However if you really want to avoid large expensive dental care bills, you should have some degree of dental insurance coverages. By delaying your needed dental care, your dental care issue will get even more complicated and then you will have to pay more in having your teeth fixed.  Yet even most low cost dental insurance plans offer preventive dental care services for free helping you keep your dental appointments and help to prevent larger dental issues.