The rule of thumb as been that one needs to see a dentist at least twice a year for a dental checkups.  But is that really necessary for everyone or is it possible that a person should see a dentist more then just twice a year?      Professionals from the medical field agree that this dental rule would mean that everybody is exposed to the same risk of developing diseases, which is not true. In fact dental statistics relating to the health status of middle class US population have revealed that the majority of them are not even struggling with decay or gum disease.

Yet other people that have different health issues may need to see a dentist more then just twice a year. Such as a person who is a diabetic has a higher risk of tooth loss so seeing a dentist more often would be important in maintaining dental health.

Seeing a dentist twice a year when it is not necessary will not hurt,  but not going to the dentist when needed can cause both dental and overall health issues. In short speak to your dentist and see how frequently you should go and what best for you.

In today’s looks are everything attitude we can tend to forget what may be more important. Having nice white teeth is important to many people. However white teeth does not necessarily mean healthy teeth.  You can have white teeth but also have gum disease or tooth decay problems that go unfixed. So before spending $100.00 plus on teeth whitening, talk to a dentist first and make sure you are addressing your dental health needs first.  White teeth means nothing if they fall out due to untreated gum disease.

Mercury leaks from amalgam filling can be a health risk.  Many studies done have pointed out that mercury vapors from the amalgam fillings can end up easily into the bloodstream. that over time it could cause damage to your health.  Talk to your dentist about other alternative to any old amalgam fillings you may currently have.

Once you choose to see a cosmetic dentist finding the right on for your dental needs is the first step.  You want to make sure that the cosmetic dentist is an extremely skilled and professional as well has have good communication and interpersonal skills. Here are some useful tips that will help you find a cosmetic dentist right for you.

* When looking for a cosmetic dentist do your home work. A little research goes a long way in choosing a cosmetic dentist.  Make sure the dentist is properly licensed and accredited.

First impressions:  Before having any dental work started by a cosmetic dentist you will have a dental exam or consultation (Note many cosmetic dentist will offer free consultations though out the year) This first impression will tell you a lot about the dentist and the dental office.

* Make sure you ask any questions you feel is necessary in understanding the dental services being suggested.  A professional will go over everything until you have a full understanding.

* Choose a cosmetic dentist that has good communication skills.   In short if the dentist you are seeing can not explain everything so that is clear to you or seems bothered by your questions, look for a different dentist.

* Cost is always a factor.  Cosmetic dentistry can be costly especially when most dental insurance do not offer benefits for cosmetic dental services.  When seeing a cosmetic dentist beware that there may be a cost factor to think about.  Before starting any dental services make sure you know what your cost is going to be.  As well as finding out how the dental office handles payment, such as do they offer any payment plan options?  Cost is only a real issue when it is unclear from the start and you are left feeling that you are paying more then you may have thought.

Having good oral hygiene results in having a mouth that looks and smell healthy. Signs that your mouth is healthy.

1) Your teeth are clean and free of debris
2) You do not have constant bad breath problem
3) Your Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.

Once your child baby teeth start to come in, make sure to take care of the right away. Sadly too many parents think baby teeth are not important because they will eventually be replaced by permanent/adult teeth.

But these first teeth help to preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help baby chew and talk correctly. If their baby teeth are not cared for they can start to decay, leading to gum disease/gingivitis which then can affect the spacing of their permanent teeth.

One of the best way to break your child from thumb and or finger sucking is by positive reinforcement, and not negative words or behavior.  Keep in mind that a child is only doing what feels natural to him or her. Praise your child when he or she is not sucking their thumb/fingers.

Often times people think about baby dental care when the teeth start to come in. However it is important to start cleaning your child’s mouth even before his or her teeth come in.  Wipe your baby’s gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet soft washcloth, wrapped around your finger. Also available in most food/drug stores is a soft rubbery devices that fits over your index finger to be used for rubbing off excess food.

It is suggested that a parent should watch/supervise their child while they brush their teeth  until around the age of six.  Here are some other helpful tips on dental care.

1) Make sure your child uses only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and take care that your child does not eat or swallow the toothpaste.

2) Use a soft bristle tooth brush

3) Brush the inside surfaces of all teeth first. Angle bristles toward the gum line. Gently brush back and forth. Make sure to clean all outside surfaces of the teeth in the same manor.

4) Place tooth brush so bristles are on the chewing surfaces of the teeth then brush gently back and forth.

When taking your child to see a dentist make sure to say positive and emphasize how going to the dentist is a good thing. Explain how visiting the dentist help to maintain good oral health care. By fostering a good attitude about seeing the dentist you increase the chances that your child will see their dentist regularly throughout their life time.

Most dentist advises that a child should start going to the dentist by their first birthday.  In addition to giving your dentist child dentist a chance to monitor their dental growth and development, this is your chance to learn about tooth development and how to help your child maintain proper dental and oral hygiene.

Good oral/dental habits is one of the most important health lessons you can teach your kids. Teaching your children how to correctly brush twice a day daily, showing them the proper way to floss, and by limiting in between meal snacks you help them learn good dental habits that will continue though out their life time.

The DQA met at the American Dental Association Headquarters in Early Dec of 2011 in order to continue to make progress advancing oral health care quality measurements.    Under contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Quality Forum will soon begin conducting an environmental scan of oral health measures. The Dental Quality Alliance   Research and Development Advisory Committee has been engaged in conducting an environmental scan of existing children’s dental quality measures which will be shared with the National Quality Forum for this work.

Taking care of your gums by brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits could help hold heart disease at bay. Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have shown for the first time that as gum health improves, progression of atherosclerosis slows to a clinically significant degree. Findings appear online in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Dental abscess is a serious condition for both adults and children. If your small child complains of a tooth ache and you see a bulging, red-colored, swollen area surrounding the tooth or gum, your youngster may have an dental abscess.

Abscesses can even lead to severe discomfort and a high fever, dependent on how serious the problem is. Dental abscesses are generally treated with antibiotics, and your dental professional might opt to drain the pocket of infection by pricking it using a needle to relieve the pressure. If you worry there may be an abscess, your child should see the dentist without delay, particularly if a fever is present. The infection can possibly spread to other parts of the body, causing a serious or life-threatening situation.

Many people teeth are not as white as they would like them to be.  Over the counter products sometimes do not work or they do not get the result one is hoping for.   Only a dentist can get your teeth the whitest.   With summer coming many dentist over saving or discounts off whitening treatment so talk you your local dental provider and see what they can offer.

Generally periodontal disease is treated by keep oral bacteria in check with daily brushing and flossing as with as by having regular professional deep cleaning with scaling and root planing, which removes tarter above and below the gum line. In some hard to treat cases of periodontal disease antibiotics may be given.

Dental tooth decay is a typical cause of childhood tooth pain.  If your child is receiving regular dental check ups ( at least twice a year or as often as advise by your dentist) you reduce the risk of tooth pain resulting from tooth decay.

The red, swollen and painful gums and bone destruction of periodontal disease could be effectively treated by beckoning the right kind of immune system cells to the inflamed tissues, according to a new animal study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.

Sinusitis can be an infection in the sinus related dental cavities. While these cavities are located in the face, illness often increases the amount of fluid and pressure experienced by the child, and can end in pain in their teeth, gums, or jaw. If your child is at risk from frequent sinusitis, speak with your physician about what can be done to take care of this disorder. Nose sprays, saline rinses, allergy treatments, and decongestants will all help alleviate this type of tooth ache in youngsters.