Moms should having their children drink lots of water.  Drinks such as Gatorade, Juices, Kool-Aid and Sweet teas contain large amounts of sugar and even though they may be tasty and refreshing, they can cause cavities.

You can easily encourage your kids to drink water by drinking water with them. You can add flavor to your water by slicing up fresh fruit, cucumbers and mint leaves. Doing this will provide the fruity water that the kids like with much less sugar.

Another option is Crystal Light On-the Go as an alternative to juice that your kids can mix into their water bottles during a trip.

Question: I have two children and lots of bills. I do not have money extra money for dental care. Where can I go for low cost or free dental care?

Answer:  Almost every community has free dental clinics, though note that normally with dental clinic they adjust the cost based on what you can afford to pay.  You may also want to look into dental schools as they also normally provide dental care at a much lower cost then general dentist.

However, I would also advise buying a low cost dental HMO plans.  Dental HMO plans cost around $10 – $20 a month and will normally provide preventive dental care for free as well a provide benefits for fillings at a very low cost to you.

According to nurse researchers from the Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron, obesity and dental cavities increase and become epidemic as children living below the poverty level age.  “It’s the leading cause of chronic infections in children,” said Marguerite DiMarco, associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

In a study titled “Prevalence of Periodontis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010,” lead author Paul Eke, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates the prevalence, severity and extent of periodontitis in the adult U.S population using data from the 2009 and 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle.

According to a new survey, one in three British holidaymakers are setting off for their summer holidays without dental insurance.  Research by the British Dental Health Foundation has discovered that a third (33 per cent) of sun-seeking sightseers admit they have no holiday dental insurance, to cover them in the event of a dental emergency.

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that specializes in treating patients with improper positioning of teeth when the mouth is closed (malocclusion), which results in an improper bite. Orthodontics also includes treating and controlling various aspects of facial growth (dentofacial orthopedics) and the shape and development of the jaw. An orthodontics specialist is called an orthodontist.

Young kids can often bite the inside of their lip cheek or tongue, when that happens apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.

For low income people seeing a dentist in California and across the nation is becoming more and more difficult.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently approved the reduction of a number of Medi-Cal benefits including dental care for adults.

On top of that people have been losing their jobs due to the poor economy.  Those that are employed have employers that have been decreasing their coverages because cost is getting so high. Benefits like dental are being cut. In the South and Metro Service Areas of Los Angeles, nearly 80 percent are without dental coverage.

Tips on want to do if your child has a toothache. First you will want to clean the area of the affected tooth. Make sure to rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If however the pain still exists, you will want to contact your child’s dentist.  Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact your child’s dentist immediately.

Cosmetic dentistry is more then just having dental implants.  For people that have teeth loss, damaged teeth, broken or chipped teeth a cosmetic dentist may be the right choice for you.  Cosmetic dentistry can include service such as invisalign, Dental Implants, Veneers, Bonding, Teeth Whitening Facial Aesthetics and Crowns.  If you have dental issues that you need to address beyond a general dentist you may wish to seek an consult with a cosmetic dentist.

Finding the right dentist for you and your your family involves a few factors. However by taking your time you will be able to find a dentist that is competent and convenient as well as compatible with you and your family all at a cost you can manage.

When starting your search for a dentist you want to make sure the dentist is competent. A competent dentist is one that maintains a high level of professionalism and knows the latest treatments and developments in the dental field. One way to help ensure a competent dentist is to look for one that is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry. Dentists who are members of the AGD must meet requirements for continuing education and are pledged to uphold the highest standards of ethics and patient care.

You will also want to consider compatibility when picking a dentist.  As an example if you have dental fears you will want to make sure you choose a dentist that may specialize in treating patients with dental fears. Other factor of compatibility can happen when you have young children under the age of five you want to make sure the dentist is a right fit for your child.

Lastly there is convenience and cost.  With regards to convenience you will want to choose a dentist who local (where driving factor is not and issue for you) and provide office hours that can fit into your own schedule.

Cost can be control in a few ways:

1) You may want to confirm if the dental office provides any type of payment plan for dental care services
2) Choose a dentist that is accepts dental insurance.
3) If you do not have dental insurance think about buying some to control dental care cost.
4) There are many dentist that can meet the above requirements so shop out cost for dental care

Generally at around six months, the first primary teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth will usually appear by age three, the pace and order of their eruption varies.

Your Child permanent teeth will begin appearing around age six, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.

If after reading this you see that you have two or more of these signs to periodontal disease, you may want to see a dentist to confirm your dental and health. Red and Swollen Gums,  Bad Breath, Bleeding gums when brushing and or flossing your teeth, A constant bad taste in your mouth, Receding gums and Tooth Loss.  These signs should not go unchecked by your dentist.  Links to periodontal disease and other health issues have been found and by maintaining health gums you also help to maintain your over all health care.

Primary teeth (baby teeth) play an important role in your child life.  Primary teeth are needed for chewing and eating, they affect the development of speech, they hold the space needed for the permanent teeth and help guild them in the correct position.

It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. It is a good idea to have and maintain dental insurance on yourself and family in order to maintain lower dental care cost.

Children should have their first dental visit with the eruption of the first baby tooth but no later than their first birthday. This is so that an assessment and record can be made of your child’s dental development and risk of getting cavities. This will give the dentist an opportunity to discuss good oral hygiene practices at home, diet, injury prevention and possible need for fluoride supplements. Also if the dentist finds any cavities or other problems, these issues can be taken care of early before they become a bigger problem.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay.  Dental sealants are effective in preventing dental caries in the occlusal (chewing) and other pitted and fissured surfaces of the teeth.  Dental sealants were assessed in permanent molars (occlusal and buccal surfaces in lower molars and occlusal and lingual surfaces in upper molars), premolars (occlusal surface), and upper lateral incisors (lingual surface).

Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing dental caries that occur on the surfaces of teeth that have pits and fissures.  Dental sealants are usually applied in a dentist’s office.  Dental sealants last for 4-5 years and can easily be reapplied by your dentist when they do wear off.  Dental sealants represent one of the greatest, but least known advances, of modern dentistry.

Having poor teeth and gum health can effect your overall health care.   Keeping and maintaining your gums and teeth health is important in maintaining good over all health care.   When you do not take proper care of  your teeth and gums plaque and tartar can easily build up. When this happens numerous problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss a can happen. From their other health problems can arise like heart disease and strokes. For kids or adults with diabetes it is most important to maintain healthy teeth and gums because in this case you have more chance of developing periodontal disease.

After your child has a tooth pulled you will want to them him or or her home.  Normally they will have to bite down on a special pad that will help stop the flow of blood. Your dentist may give you a few to take home.  Change them when they are sodden or about every thirty minutes or so for the first two hours.

Once your child’s mouth regains some sensation you can take out the pads. Make sure your child does not use a straw or chew on tough food for a few days.  Soft food such as yogurt, applesauce, and bananas are foods that are good after getting baby teeth pulled out.

Over your life time you may have had a bad experience with having a tooth pulled.  However do not let your child see your anxiety.  Just be honest and calm with your child. Do not trick a child about where he or she is going and keep things light and positive.  Even if you have some dental fears you do not want to make your fears their fears. Have the dentist go over everything before starting and reminded your child that you are right their with them.

Taking your child to see the same dentist you see, may not be the best option. For young children you may want to think about taking them to see a pediatric dentist.  Pediatric dentists have an additional two years of schooling in which they focus on the growth and development of teeth. They also learn how to help children be comfortable and deal with their fear and anxiety. While a good general dentist will probably do a fine job, a pediatric dentist specializes in children’s teeth, has the right size equipment, and knows how to put your child at ease.