Question: I have a teen currently in braces but we moved from FL and need to find a new orthodontic dentist. Also I just found out since I moved to a different state my dental insurance is not valid in CA so I need dental insurance that will help me cover the orthodontic treatment my son.

Answer: You may find it hard to find dental insurance for your son orthodontic services since now he would fall under a work in progress exclusion many dental insurance plans have.

Such exclusion would read something like this: Expenses incurred in connection with any dental procedure started prior to the effective date of Coverage or after the termination date of Coverage. Even many dental discount plans have this type of exclusion yet since it is not insurance that can be a judgment call for the dental office to make. Therefore your best option may be a dental discount plan but make sure you call the plan providers first to confirm if they are will to still provide the discount saving for this continue orthodontic care needs before buying the plan.

Can I really brush my teeth with Whiskey?

I am just wondering if you really can brush your teeth with Jack Daniels? My friends say yes. I would think it would mess up your teeth? Since my friends bought it up I would like to really know if it is good for your teeth?

Answer: Jack Daniels is definitely not on the list of approved toothpastes. For most people in general brushing their teeth is the first thing they may do after waking up. This is surely not an advisable habit to get into.

Teething Your child’s first teeth usually begin to cut through the gums at about six months of age, although the timing can vary among children. All of your child 20 primary teeth should come in between the ages of six months and three years. Your child will lose his or her primary teeth between the ages of six and 11.

A baby’s dental care really starts with his or her mother’s healthy pregnancy, because baby teeth begin to form before birth.  That is just another reason why if you are pregnant, to make sure and eat a balanced, nutritious diet and get an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. It is important for pregnant women to have a complete dental exam and have any cavities or gum disease treated.

The short answer is Yes, both vision and dental care is very important for a baby. With regards to dental a baby should see a dentist at the sign of their first tooth. Maintaining dental health for your child will not only be good for the oral health but overall well being. With regards to vision. Babies can have issues with their vision you never know what could happen. You may need to take your child to a Optometrists for appointments

It is enrollment time for my company’s benefits, and I am not sure if I should add my son to the dental insurance. He does not have teeth yet, and I do not think it is likely he will need any dental work in 2015. I can swing a check up out of pocket and I think it would be cheaper than adding him to the dental insurance policy, but are there any big baby dental procedures or problems that could be costly?

Answer: The recommendations for baby dental care these days suggest that you have your child seen as soon as his/her teeth come in. The reason for this is to catch any dental issues before they become larger more costly dental care problems.

Children Eating and Drinking Habits Are Key to Healthy Teeth

According to studies done, they shown that children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities, and by the time they become teenagers, many of them still have no tooth decay. If you live in a community without a fluoridated water supply, you can make sure your kid get their fluoride buy talking to their dentist. Ask your child dentist about using fluoride tablets.

A balanced diet is also an important contributor to healthy teeth and gums. Children especially need calcium, which helps build strong teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating cheese after meals seems to inhibit the effects of decay-causing acids. Avoid snacks containing sugar or starch.

You want to start cleaning a child’s teeth when the first tooth is visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.
Wipe the baby’s teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp wash cloth. Be mindful of BBS (“baby bottle syndrome.”) with is a leading cause of tooth decay among young children.

When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth. Exposure to the sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and tooth decay.  Make sure to clean your child’s teeth after each feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.

Oral and dental health care start from birth. It is very important to provide good oral health care to your child right from the start. According to The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, they recommend bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. Generally at this initial visit, the dentist will:

• Check your child’s teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems
• Explain how to care for your child’s teeth, and answer any questions or concerns you might have. Your child should see a dentist once every six months in order to maintain good oral health and to help your child develop a positive attitude about the dentist.

Here are some additional tips

• Take your child with you when you go in for a check up so he/she can get used to the dental office and its staff.
• Avoid using negative words such as “needle” and “hurt.”
• Play dentist to familiarize your child with what takes place during a visit.
• Ask your dentist how he or she explains procedures to children.
• And answer your child’s questions honestly and sensitively.

Newborns, At what age should I enroll my child in dental insurance

Question: My husband and I just had our son a seven weeks ago. A coarse he is current on our major medical but our dental is separate. Since clearly he had no teeth yet, I see no point in adding him to our dental insurance plan right now. At what point would it typically make sense to do so?

Answer: When you add your son to your dental plan can depend on a few factors. Such as, some pediatric dentists want to see your child as young as one year old to check their gums/whatever teeth they may have. Where as now more and more pediatric dentist say a baby should see a dentist at the sign of their first tooth which can be as soon a six to eight months of age.

Also you may want to check with your dental insurance plan. Confirm if their is any waiting periods that would effect the dental services provided for you son since he would be newly added to the plan. If so you may want to add him sooner then latter to burn down his waiting periods. Finally, be mindful of those enrollment windows and don’t miss them. If you or your wife are at all forgetful in any way, the peace of mind might be worth the incremental cost.

Question: I am living in Los Angeles and have very bad teeth. I have been to a dentist that gave me a free consult but the cost of having all the dental work needed is more then I can afford right now. However I can not afford to continue to delay the needed dental care. I am looking for a dental PPO plan that will let me stay with the dentist I seen and can help me with my dental needs

Answer: PPO dental insurance plans are very good for letting you choose or keep your own current dentist, and in most states we provide several PPO plan options. However make sure you read each plan terms and conditions carefully as dental PPO insurance plans normally have plan waiting periods, maximum limitations and yearly deductibles/office co-pays. Since these types of limitations will restrict your dental benefits make sure you understand what you are getting coverage’s for and when benefits starts.

Dentist are worried that teenagers are putting their teeth and oral health at risk by trying dangerous do-it-yourself teeth-whitening techniques found on the Internet. Too many teenagers uses online tips of do it yourself teeth whitening since money and access to proper dental whitening care may not be in their reach.

However Children who are mixing up quantities of different chemical and applying them for long periods of time are at risk of eroding their tooth enamel and damaging their gums. In turn increasing their risk of oral infection. The best course of action is to talk to your dentist about safely whiting your teeth or what over the counter product they my suggest to be use.

Question: I been looking for dental insurance for myself but I am quickly finding out that the plans I seen on line are just costly for me at this time. What I would really like to know is if getting a low cost dental discount plan really a good alternative to dental insurance? I see you offer a few dental discount plans on your site so can you advise which may be the best one to get?

Answer: Dental discount plans are a good low cost option. For a low monthly cost of the plan it helps to save you money off all your dental care needs. However you will need to go to dentist that are in the plan net work. So make sure you have a dental provider you can go to when choosing a dental discount plan.