As Halloween approaches, children’s views and perceptions were measured by experts and revealed that kids agree that they eat too much candy and would actually prefer to receive a gift like a video game, instead. A new questionnaire, conducted by the American Dental Association and PopCap Games, targeted trick-or-treating aged children (5 to 13 years) in the U.S

For may people we are still in hard times,  and for some putting of their scheduled dental visits may seem like a way to cut their 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.

Yet the true is,  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.

Chewing betel quid – the fourth most popular psychoactive substance in the world after tobacco, alcohol and caffeine – exposes its 600 million users to substances that act as direct carcinogens in the mouth, scientists are reporting in a new study. It appears in ACS’ journal Chemical Research in Toxicology…

Question:  How do I go about really teaching my elementary kid about oral hygiene?  I want to keep it simple and stick to the basics, however I am having trouble thinking of what to say.

Answer: There are many good Youtube video on children dental health care. You can either watch them for ideas or you and your child and sit down and watch them together. Then when you are done ask your child if he or she has any questions about what they just watched,  this will give you the starting point you are looking for.

A University of Michigan study found that Nisin, a common food preservative, may slow or stop squamous cell head and neck cancers.

When on the go reach for snacks such as fruits like bananas oranges and apples.  Sugar-fee ice pops is a good way to give your kids a refreshing snack during summer heat.  Even ice cream as a sugar-free option.

Think about adding fresh locally grown veggies to your kids snacks such as carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower to name a few. That along with a low cal dressing will make for a much healthier treat that good for them and their dental health.

Question:  Are there any dental insurance programs for college kids? I am in college full time but my parent’s do not have dental insurance. I can not get it at my employment since I am not full time. Is there any sort of programs where college age students can get a relatively cheap dental insurance or low cost dental care without insurance?

Answer:  Unless your school provides a program for dental care which you may want to look into, my suggestion would be a dental HMO insurance plan.  Dental HMO plans are the lower cost insurance plan option and are for anyone not just college students.  These plans will normally provide free preventive dental care and low cost services for both base and major dental care needs.

Dental HMO plans provide their benefits on a fee schedule so you can review your cost for all the different dental services covered.  This is also very helpful in order to budget for the dental care that is needed.

Gene therapy can be performed safely in the human salivary gland, according to scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health. This finding comes from the first-ever safety, or Phase I, clinical study of gene therapy in a human salivary gland…

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