Wonderful One

If you are concerned about the high cost of dental care and the almost complete lack of cost coverage – even when you have insurance – you are definitely not alone. One thing we should not overestimate is the importance of our dental health.

You may scarcely notice your teeth when everything is fine. However, when something hurts, you have a cavity or perhaps need a root canal, you do notice. Most likely, at that point, you are willing to pay the price to get this dental work done. That price, as you undoubtedly know, can be very high, depleting your savings or causing you to ‘make payments’ to your dentist or credit card company.

What if there were some simple things that you could do to actually prevent expensive treatments in the first place? Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. The pH balance of your mouth is extremely important. Bacteria multiply more rapidly in an acidic environment and foods and beverages that are acidic can leach the calcium and phosphate right out of your teeth causing them to weaken and be more susceptible to – you guessed it – cavities!

Beverages like soda and coffee can drive the pH balance to the acidic side. You can sip on milk or water while eating or drinking such things. That will help, but you really should consider a pH balanced rinse or chewing xylitol gum after eating such meals.

2. Plaque build up – This is an amazing simple, yet complicated problem. It should be obvious to you that brushing and flossing are not a fool-proof method of avoiding dental problems. If there were, there would not be a need for so many dentists. The key here is that plaque is actually relatively easy to disrupt. No need to brush hard, just often! Consistency can help you win the fight against plaque.

3. The same acidic foods and drinks can increase plaquing as well. Even some ‘healthy’ foods can do this. Blueberries are one of the worst foods that contribute to plaquing.

Is the answer to avoid all ‘bad’ foods. That, in my opinion would be impossible.

As I write this, I am situated inside a coffee shop in Kansas City. There is literally zero healthy food here. When I get hungry, I end up eating a cookie or piece of cake or an unhealthy sandwich loaded with meats and cheese – it doesn’t even taste good. But, when you are hungry, you will eat anything!

Therefore, to counteract the effect of acidic foods and beverages, I try to keep some xylitol gum on hand. Xylitol has a powerful pH balancing effect. But not all xylitol gums are created equal. Some barely have enough put in by the manufacturer simply so that they can claim it on the label. It is virtually useless and because of the other ingredients in it, it could very well be harmful!

Xylitol, pH balanced mouthwash, milk and water can all help you avoid the long term damage that can come from exposing your teeth and gums to harmful, acidic foods. Do not be the person who sips on soda or coffee all day. You are constantly putting acid in and doing nothing to change your mouth pH, you are doing this all day long! What do you think will happen long term – after years of this behavior?

The same conditions that improve your chances for dental caries also can contribute to the development of gum disease. Both conditions can be expensive to treat.

Read more on the topic of prevention.

Author: You can learn more about prevention at http://www.Gingivitiskiller.com . David Snape is the author of the book: What You Should Know About Gum Disease.

This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to render advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you might have a health condition of any kind, visit your dentist or doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

Dental disease, specifically those affecting the gums, is one of the most common diseases that affect virtually millions of people. There are many factors that could cause this. As opposed to what some may say about gum disease and tooth loss being only an outcome of plaque and too much intake of sugar, there are actually some other factors that may not have been well disclosed to many as well.

For instance, pregnancy can actually cause the onset of gum disease faster. This is because hormonal changes during pregnancy can create an environment where it is much easier for plaque to flourish and where the gums are more susceptible. So if you are pregnant, you may want to go ahead and see your doctor for preventive procedures as well.

On a side note, oral contraceptives are also shown to increase an individual’s susceptibility to gum disease. People who are taking medications on a regular basis are also prone to dental diseases. Medications can often dry the mouth which also allows bacteria to flourish.
If you are in the habit of grinding your teeth, it is also high time you reverse it, as grinding creates more space in between the teeth and increases the likelihood of pocket traps in the gums.

You may also be interested to know that there is now a test to determine whether you are genetically susceptible to gum disease. This is important because for those who are genetically predisposed to this condition, the amount of oral hygienic measures they take will prove useless in the long run unless other preventive measures are taken.

This article is for information purposes only.  It does not seek to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment.  If you have or think you might have a health problem of any kind, visit your doctor or dentist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.  The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products mentioned in this article.
 

When dental health is the topic, I can see images of teeth running inside my mind. Nothing more than visions of teeth - healthy and not, then I started to realize, it is not just about teeth but the underlying tissues and bones. I have been missing a lot because I have focused myself on just caring for my teeth.

When we say dental health, it should be the entire oral cavity. It is not just caring for your pearly whites, you might be missing a lot, like me and my very little knowledge about it. I have learned through research that you may have really white teeth with the crowns unblemished but you can’t really tell if it is healthy. I have encountered once, a patient waiting in the dental reception sharing to me his story what terrible condition he has. I can see his teeth almost brilliant white and he told me he is totally caries-free. A portable oral irrigator can be useful when travelling.

So what could be the problem? It startled me when he actually pushed his incisors with his tongue and I saw the incisors literally moved into slanting position. And then it suddenly came to me, he has putrid breath too. I can see how sorry he is having overlooked his dental obligations because aside from time constraints, he thought his dental health is perfect. This is a really pitiful situation but I couldn’t tell him anything that could calm him, at this point when I am so unsure even of my own condition. An oral irrigator can help to fight / prevent gum disease

I tried to consult every search engine and it is surprising to find out that what could have gotten the case worse is improper oral hygiene practice. But of course there could be certain conditions that have aggravated the situation. It is funny how we have lived our lives with our oral cavity and how little do we know about it.  Learn how to stop gum disease before it is too late. 

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

Author:  Scotty M. Wells

 There is a rampant occurrence of gum disease worldwide.  It may be suggestive of a lifestyle problem.  We tend to be too preoccupied, with what seems to be equally important, but you have to know how destructive gum disease could be to our total wellbeing.  Products like Oramd, might help.

You may hear experts say that just because you brush and floss regularly you become less susceptible to gum disease.  And upon research I found out that it is not merely brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly that saves you from the dreadful inflammation of gums and its detachment to the bones that hold the teeth.

Good and proper oral hygiene practices could spare your gums, too.  In a magazine I have read, it says, good oral hygiene when practiced properly gives back highly satisfactory results.  A friend confirmed that, too. 

She had really bad case, imagine blood lubricating her oral cavity instead of just saliva and it is foul smelling, too.  It’s really unsightly but I am proud to say that she is doing what she can to reverse the problem. There is a fine set of mouthwashes made by therabreath that might be helpful.

Socially, it has wounded her but she is starting to pull herself back together.  Gingivitis could really go out of hand with neglect.  It can cause recession of gums and reducing the bones that hold the teeth in place.  Can you imagine how painful that is?  It is thrice more painful than a decaying tooth.

 Some people wonder why, despite their religious biannual visits to the hygienist, their gums are still red and flabby.  Gingivitis is a serious, fast-progressing and life threatening condition. The hydrofloss is something that some hygienists recommend!

Research says that using some products could do more harm than good.  For instance, the floss - it is just a piece of thread, you might think but when used improperly - it could destroy the continuity of your gums thus causing gum recession leading to tooth mobility and worse, tooth extraction.

*Disclaimer:  This article is for information purposes only, It is not intended to diagnose, treat or offer advice. If you have or think you might have a health or dental health problem of any kind, visit your dentist or doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment.  The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products mentioned. 

There more I hear from people interested in the hydro floss, the more impressed I am. I have my own experience with this device as well and I’m very happy with what it can do in regards to my dental health.

Many dentists are also recommending the hydro floss. This is because of the history of this device. Studies have documented it’s effectiveness. The second study was designed to disprove the first, however, it showed the hydro floss to be even more effective than the first study.

A personal dental irrigator may be very helpful to you. You would be surprised just how much comes out of your mouth even after you have brushed and flossed.

Cost is not a factor because if you are able to buy one of these devices for less than the cost of a single office visit, isn’t it worth it? That seems to be especially true if it can save you from expensive dental treatments. A scaling and root planing treatment might cost you up to $1600

Some people have to replace their teeth. I met a gentleman who spent $26,000 to have his teeth fixed / replaced. That makes the cost of a $100 home dental instrument sound miniscule doesn’t it?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we shifted our focus a bit from treatment to prevention. Imagine the health care dollars that we could save. Imagine the personal pain and suffering that would no longer be necessary.

We have always known this to be true. Remember the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? This quote is as true today as when it was originally coined. We have moved to far away from prevention, let’s get back to it.

Unfortunately, prevention and what it means is something that each of us needs to really understand personally. You can not leave prevention in the hands of someone else and expect the kind of results that you are deserving of as a human being.

Author: Dave S.

Disclaimer:  This article is for information purposes only.  If you have or think you might have any type of health problem at all, visit a physician for advice diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.