Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Aug 19, 2010 @ 12:09 PM
Thanks to www.dentistry.com we have a few tips to share with you on how to keep your child’s teeth in mint condition—from before birth through their early school age years.
- Consume calcium rich foods while pregnant to ensure your child’s future teeth grow healthy and strong.
- Once your child is born, don’t wait until they start teething to begin oral health care. Clean your infant’s gums with a clean gauze pad after feeding to protect them from harmful plaque and bacteria
- Take your child for his or her first dental visit by their first birthday. That way, your dentist can check early on for tooth decay, fluoride needs, and potentially dangerous habits like thumb sucking.
- Do not use toothpaste for children under 2 years of age. Clean your child’s teeth using only water when they first appear.
- Teach your children the proper brushing techniques. They should be able to brush on their own by age 6 or 7.
- Begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as they develop two teeth that are adjacent to one another. This will help prevent tooth decay in hard to reach areas.
- Make trips to the dentist an enjoyable experience.
- Check to make sure that the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated. If not, talk with your dentist about supplemental options.
- Make sure your child is eating right for proper oral health. Foods rich in Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C help strengthen tooth enamel and fight harmful mouth bacteria. If your child has a sweet tooth, it’s best that they consume sweets only during meals. At mealtime, saliva production is increased which helps neutralize and wash away cavity-causing acids in sugary and starchy foods.
- Take an active role in your child’s oral health! Ask the dentist questions and be sure to keep him or her informed of your child’s health status (after all, oral health and bodily health are highly interconnected).
Need to find a solution that makes your child’s dental care affordable?
Discount dental plans such as Universal Dental Plan allow you to utilize Boston dentists (and other Massachusetts dentists and specialists) at an affordable price. Give us a call today at 1 (800) 894 8984!
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 12:52 PM
Whether you’re on a first date, a job interview, or meeting clients for the first time one thing’s for certain—you want to make a good first impression. Many factors go into the impression that you make but it certainly starts with a bright, healthy smile.
Studies show that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. During the first few minutes of your first interaction with someone new, they’ll often make assumptions about your economic and educational level, your trustworthiness and your level of sophistication—just from the quality of your smile.
Your breath also plays a huge role in shaping first impressions (and it goes without saying that bad breath is a huge strike against you). That being said, here are 3 helpful tips to keep bad breath at bay:
- Use a mouth rinse daily to clean out bad breath causing bacteria
- Don’t forget your tongue when brushing (make it part of your twice daily teeth brushing routine or perhaps use a tongue scraper)
- Get regular dental cleanings (if you’re looking for a new dentist, our plan has a growing network of Boston dentists plus other Massachusetts dentists and specialists to choose from)
On top of bad breath, crooked, missing or broken teeth create can negatively effect your first impressions, causing a stigma in both your personal and professional life. Individuals can restore their smile and self-esteem with various cosmetic dental procedures (i.e. dental implants) and orthodontia. But, these procedures can get very expensive, especially for those without insurance (or an affordable dental plan).
Universal Dental Plan is a Massachusetts dental insurance alternative that saves its members 20-50% off all procedures according to a fixed rate fee schedule (dental implants and braces included). Visit our website to learn more about us or just give us a call.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 11:53 AM
Our smiles are made to last a lifetime and proper dental hygiene has a huge impact on the health of your mouth and body, whether you’re 5 or 85. However, as we get older, we become more susceptible to oral health problems such as periodontal disease, inflammation of the gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome (often caused by medications) and oral thrush just to name a few.
It’s plain to see that taking care of your oral health in your golden years comes with several unique considerations. Here are 5 essential tips for seniors to keep healthy teeth and gums (and ultimately healthy bodies).
#5 Keep consistent with your at home oral health care regiment: This means keep brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash as instructed by your dentist to maintain proper dental hygiene.
If brushing and flossing are difficult for you, consider using an apparatus such as a tongue depressor to lengthen your brush or flossing tool. Also, if you suffer from arthritis or a similar condition, you may want to try inserting the back end of your toothbrush into a standard tennis ball for better maneuverability.
#4 Know the warning signs to prevent harmful conditions: Elders are generally more susceptible to many major oral health problems including gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ, dry mouth syndrome and oral cancer and should be on the lookout for key signs and symptoms. Symptoms to watch out for include, swelling of the gums, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, jaw soreness, persistent mouth sores and bumps or an unquenchable thirst. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your dentist right away for diagnosis and treatment (if you live in Massachusetts and need help finding affordable dentistry, we can certainly help).
#3 Maintain dental appliances such as dentures and dental bridges properly: Contrary to popular belief, a set of dentures won’t last you 20 plus years. The ADA recommends replacing them every 5-7 years to avoid painful consequences such as mouth sores, oral lesions and difficulty chewing/swallowing/digesting food.
For denture wearers, we’ve put together 4 helpful tips to keep them in excellent shape and maintain oral health.
#2 Talk to your dentist about any medication you’re taking as dry mouth syndrome is a common side effect of many Rx drugs. For dry mouth sufferers, dentists can prescribe an array of solution such as an artificial saliva rinse to keep your mouth moist and wash harmful bacteria away.
#1 Visit your dentist as often as he or she recommends for regular checkups: Even if you wear dentures, it’s still vital to visit your dentist twice-yearly per-ADA recommendation. On top of keeping your mouth in tip top shape, your dentist can alert you of developments in your mouth that point to problems elsewhere in your body or pick up on early signs of improper jaw alignment or poor nutrition which may become problematic down the road.
Want more advice on senior dental care? Universal Dental Plan is out on tour this year with a full presentation on the importance of oral health and hygiene in the golden years. Sign up here to bring our Golden Smiles Tour to your local council on aging or senior center.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 11:11 AM
Skip your twice daily tooth brushing and what do you get for it? Cavities? Gum disease? How about a heightened risk of heart attack?
A recent study of 11,000+ adults backs much prior research linking gum disease with poor cardiovascular health. According to BBC News, researchers found that individuals in the study with the worst oral hygiene had a 70% greater risk of developing heart disease than those that brushed their teeth twice per-day.
The BBC News article also points out the known fact that inflammation (including inflammation in the mouth and gums) plays an important role in the clogging of arteries, which can lead to heart attack. Study participants with poor oral hygiene overwhelmingly tested positive in blood samples for proteins suggestive of inflammation.
Now that you’ve seen how brushing your teeth is good for your heart, here are several helpful teeth brushing guidelines courtesy of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
- Brush thoroughly at least twice a day for 2-3 minutes at a time. Two to three minutes is about the length of a typical song, so feel free to hum your favorite tune while you scrub your pearly whites.
- Make a conscious effort to brush every single tooth in your mouth as well as your tongue.
- Use fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse to make your teeth stronger and more resistant to decay.