If you fear going to the dentist then know you are not alone. Due to dental fears 5 to 8 percent of Americans will not go to the dentist where as another 20 percent of American will go but only when absolutely necessary.

Studies being done by scientists at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, suggest that there are two factors in helping manage dentist-related stress: optimism and humor. They found that when patients went in for visits with a feeling of optimism and the dentists’ offices had an atmosphere of humor to them, patients were much less likely to have fearful, stressful visits.

So when trying to address your dental fears go into the dentist with optimism.  Such as remind yourself how much better you will feel afterwords.

Right now I have Delta Dental insurance under my employee benefits that is offer to my family and I.  The plan has a $1000.00 max limit per person per year and it is not enough coverage for my family current dental needs.

I have already paid out over $700.00 worth of dental work for just my two sons.   My sons have more dental work that is needed now and in the future. One of my sons may also need to have braces.  Not sure yet but the dentist will advise as his adult teeth start to come in.

I am wondering if there is any other dental insurance plans that I can get for my family’s needs that I would be able to combine with what I currently have.   I need to reduce the dental cost that my current Delta dental plan is not picking up.

A new studies suggest there is a increase of tooth decay in young children.  Even with the beneficial effects of fluoride and increased dental care, the study suggests that the increased use of sugary drinks and food in young children may be the cause of the increase of tooth decay.

How do I go about providing dental insurance for my six year old child.  I am on a very fixed income, but my son needs to start seeing a dentist. After calling a few local dental office I am finding that without dental insurance I can not afford his dental care.   Where can I get dental insurance for just my child?

My son dentist told me that he has five cavities in his baby teeth. These cavities are small but he advises me to have the filled to avoid them fro getting larger.  I told him I would need to think about it.

The problem is that I do not have dental insurance and I am a single mom.  The cost of having his teeth filled is more then what I can afford to pay. Do I really need to have filling done on my sons baby teeth?  He is six now and given enough time his baby teeth are just going to fall out anyway.

My son is four years old, I want to take him to see a pediatric dentist. Although I currently have dental though my employer it does not cover for him to go to a Pediatric Dentist. General dental office I called locally will not provide service for children under five to six years of age.  I would like to find an insurance plan that will cover for him to see Pediatric dentist.  Yet since it is also about cost I can not afford the more costly PPO plans.  Please advise if HMO dental plans will be able to help.

Living and working in So CA.  Although I receive free dental benefits though my employer  I forgot to add my son in time and he is 14 months old.   I will not be able to add him  until next year when my open enrollment comes up in Jan.  I am looking for an secondary dental plan that is affordable that I can get for my son while I waiting to had him to my current dental plan though work.

Whether for your kids or yourself it is important to be able to communicate with the dentist.   When dealing with your dental health there is no dumb questions, yet for some people they feel embarrassed to ask even simple questions to the dentist about the suggested treatment plan.

If you do not understand the recommended treatment plan the dentist is advising, make sure to ask questions until you do. You will feel much better and be able to make better decisions for yourself and your family.  If you do not ask questions before dental services are start the dentist will think that you already understand the services and the cost for care.

Twice a year dental checks are the standard but not always the rule.  Many people see a dentist twice a year since most dental insurance plans provides for free preventive care which includes twice a year basic cleanings and check ups.

How often you or your child go will depend on your oral health needs.  The main goal with check ups is to catch small dental problems early on.  Often this mean twice a year exams normally once every six months.  Your dentist however depending on your dental needs may suggest you visit more or less depending on how well you take care of your teeth and gums.

My ten year old son needs to have five filling which without dental benefits is going to be very costly.  Are there any dental insurance plans just for kids?  I do not have much money and only want to buy a plan for him so it not as costly as buying a family dental insurance plan.

I am wondering  if it is really nessary to take kids to see a dentist every six months.  This seems like overkill to me and just a way for the dentist to make more money.  My kids go to the dentist once a year and so far are cavity free.  Even for myself it been more like three years since I last seen a dentist but I do not have any dental issues to speak of.  I do not have current dental insurance for my family right now but even if I did I do see going to the dentist twice a year as necessary.

Having fast food once in a while is not an issue per say, the problem comes to children that life revolves around Fast Food.  Daily eating habits are important to not only your teeth but your overall health care.

Food that gets stuck in between teeth and gums can cause tooth decay and gum issues which can lead to pain.  Dental pain can affect their school life disturbing their concentration and hindering their learning capacity.

Eating too much fast food can result in obesity, diabetes and problems related to the heart.  Studies have shown that obesity and diabetes can cause larger dental issues with teeth and gums.  Bad teeth and gums in turn can also cause heart problems.

For young children still growing fast food normally lacks nutritional value and does not have enough calcium. Lack of calcium can cause harmful effects on new teeth coming in which could be unhealthy and lack strength.

This is not to say child can not have any  fast food,  but to balance out your child diet and make sure proper dental hygiene is being followed.

Dental Braces are commonly use to straighten crooked or misaligned teeth. Braces are used in many cases of malocclusion such as open bite, deep bite, cross bite and other structural and cosmetic flaws.

There are different types of braces depending on your needs and what is best advise by an Orthodontic dentist.

When people thing of traditional braces visions of stainless steel wire covering the full mouth with metal brackets. These types of braces are normally not the preferred option.  Though these type of braces are now outdated they still present a more affordable dental option for those interested.

There are Ceramic Braces that are not as apparent as the more traditional braces but they are susceptible to damage by accidental blows or trauma.   Lingual braces are fitted from behind the teeth so therefore not as apparent from the outside,

The more poplar braces are the Invisalings.  Invisalign are clear braces resembling tooth color. They blend in with the teeth making them virtually invisible. Invisalign are removable enabling the wearer to snap them on and off when required.

he reason why flossing is important is that it helps to remove plaque lodged between the teeth.  As plaque hardens it turns into tartar which can only be removed by a oral hygienist or dentist.

Tartar harbors bacteria which produces acids which can damage your gums and cause swelling and bleeding. This is a condition known as gingivitis.  Gingivitis if left untreated can lead to periodontal disease which eventually causes bone deterioration and tooth loss.

Are the any PPO or Free choice of dental provider insurance programs you can have on just minor kids?  I have two children under the age of ten and they both need to have a dental insurance plan where they can keep the dental provider they are currently seeing.  However I do not need dental insurance and I would like to buy dental insurance just for my children.

Studies suggest that even in a well developed country such as United States of America only 12% floss their teeth daily.  That many people are not aware of the necessity of flossing. Many people sadly believe that regular brushing is enough to keep their teeth and gums healthy. However this is not the case.

In a recent study of 51 twins one set of twins was instructed to just brush where the other set of twins was to brush and floss. Their dental health was examined before and after the study. The study results showed the group that flossed had 38% fewer bleeding gum sites than before the intervention and overall gum bleeding improved by an average of 42%

If your child is only brushing their teeth then they are only cleaning their teeth about 65% leaving 35% dirty.  Make sure your children are brushing and flossing daily for proper dental health care habits.

Since preventive dental care starts at home you want to get a toothbrush your child will use. With so many toothbrush to choose from where do you start? Here are some helpful tips when picking a toothbrush.

To help weed out your choices choose a toothbrush that has the ADA seal on the box. Try to pick a soft bristle toothbrush (unless otherwise advise by your dentist) Make sure the toothbrush fits your child mouth size.

It does not matter if the toothbrush is powered or manual as long as it one that your child will like.  The more your child likes their toothbrush the more they will want to use it. So after narrowing down the many choices let your child pick their toothbrush.

The International and American Associations for Dental Research have published two studies about dental caries in children. These articles, titled “Hypoplasia-Associated Severe Early Childhood Caries – A Proposed Definition” (lead author Page Caufield, New York University College of Dentistry) and “Deciduous Molar Hypomineralization and Molar Incisor Hypomineralization” (lead author M.E.C. Elfrink, Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam) discuss the definitions of dental caries susceptibility to the hypomineralization and hypoplasia.

Knowing how to brush effectively is important in having proper dental care habits.  When first learning how to brush their teeth on their own, kids tend not to brush correctly. Therefore dental decay issues may still arise.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is the standard advise. Though some dental experts recommend brushing after every meal whenever possible.

The standard brushing time is at least three minutes.  For children that can seem like a very long time so here are some tips.  If you have a fun kitchen timer that they like you can set it for three minutes.  Another option is to play a song on the radio. There are kids friendly stations like Radio Disney average song time is 3 1/2 minutes.

Teach your child to thoroughly brush their teeth. Show them to brush along the gum line, and to angle the toothbrush slightly towards the gums.  It can be hard to tell but try your best to tell them not to brush too roughly.

Get them focus on cleaning every tooth surface and teach them to gentle brush their tongue to scrape off bacteria that can cause bad breath.

You want to replace their toothbrush every three to four months.   If need be have their dentist show them how to brush their teeth at their dental check up.