Here are a few things you can do to help your children cope during the teething process: 

• Extra cuddles and TLC are the best place to start. When your child is feeling bad due to teething provide comfort. 
• Giving them a chilled teething ring to chew on may help to soothe the gums. 
• Ask your doctor or dentist to recommend a sugar-free infant  teething gel. Make sure to consult with your doctor before giving your children any kind of medication, particularly when they are young. 
• Never rub alcohol on your children’s gums or place an aspirin against the tooth or gum

Michael Graham, senior vice president of government and public affairs for the ADA (American Dental Association) Stated: “It would be tragic if we didn’t do something for those low-income seniors,”

Graham is critical of the design of the proposals in Congress for a universal Medicare dental benefit, noting that one includes a 20% copay for preventive services that could block low-income patients from getting access to the care they would otherwise be gaining.

“Something is better than nothing, but the something [with a copay] almost equals nothing for many seniors,” Graham says. The ADA backs covering 100% of preventive services for low-income Medicare recipients, he says.

When it comes you your baby teeth you want to take care of them right away. Once the teeth begin coming in, start taking care of them right away. Sadly many parents think baby teeth are not important because they are eventually replaced by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help baby chew and talk. If they are not cared for properly they can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.

Did you know that you should be cleaning your child’s mouth even before their teeth come in. For good oral health you want to wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. You can also buy thimble-like, soft rubbery devices (they fit over your index finger) to use for rubbing off excess food.

Doing this will not only keep your child mouth clean but it will also make your baby become accustom to you doing this and then brushing teeth later on becomes easier.

A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term “root canal” comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth’s root.

For some people they question whether or not the really need a root canal when they do not have any pain. However it is important to know that many teeth that need root canal therapy will not cause pain. But that does not mean the tooth is okay.  

Your dentist and or endodontist specialist have ways to see if the tooth’s pulp is damaged or infected. If it is, then you will need root canal treatment, even if the tooth does not hurt. Therefore if you see something near a damaged tooth that looks like a pimple, see your dentist. The “pimple,” called a fistula, is a tunnel of tissue draining pus from an infection. There is no pain because the fistula keeps pressure from building in the tissue. It can come and go. The infection must be treated, and the tooth probably needs root canal treatment. Without treatment, nearby tissues will become infected.

Often time when people are told they need a root canal they worry about pain and are fearful of having the treatment done. However, the pain they feel is caused by an infection in the tooth, and not by root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain. The root canal procedure itself is painless. A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the surrounding area. For those people whom may be afraid to have a root canal because they are anxious about having dental work done. Dentists can provide calming medicines, such as nitrous oxide.

Question: I have an abscessed tooth and the cost I was quoted for a root canal is $1500.00 plus crown cost is more. I can’t afford that. I would like to know if I go to the dentist just to have the tooth pulled. Well it really effect my other teeth all that much?

Reply: If you pull a tooth without replacing it with a bridge, partial or dental implant your teeth over time will start to shift. So generally this would not be advised. I would suggest looking into getting dental insurance in order to make your needed dental care more affordable

Question: Where can I go to get major dental work done at a low cost? I need several teeth pulled, then I will need to have implants or at least a bridge put in.

Reply: Very few dental insurance plans offer any benefits for dental implants and when they do benefits can be limited. Depending on the state you are in we do offer one Delta Dental plan that offers some benefits for implants it is a PPO so choosing your own dentist is a plus. To review the plan options we provide just enter your zip code in the quote box provide at the top of the page. Also you can call or office at 310-534-3444 M-F 8-4 Pacific Daylight Time and we be happy to help you choose the best dental insurance plan for your dental care needs.

Health equity advocates see President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide dental coverage for those on Medicare, nearly half of whom did not visit a dentist in 2018 — well before the pandemic paused dental appointments for many people. The rates were even higher for Black (68%), Hispanic (61%) and low-income (73%) seniors.

The coverage was left out of a new framework announced by Biden on Thursday, but proponents still hope they can get the coverage in a final agreement. Complicating their push is a debate over how many of the nation’s more than 60 million Medicare beneficiaries should receive it.

Question: I am 30 in California, I have crooked but healthy teeth. I never like to smile much because of how my teeth look. I want to get braces and I feel I can budget it in but I need some help. Looking for a low cost dental plan that offer adult braces benefits without all the long waiting periods. Can you help me?

Reply: You may want to review our Dental HMO insurance plans. The one we provide offer orthodontic services to adults. In-addition HMO insurance plans are our lower cost plans. Making them affordable for most individuals and or families.

Question: I am looking for dental insurance that covers cosmetic dental services. I dislike having such bad teeth yet I am not sure all of what I need to have done to make them look like good healthy teeth. I am guessing I will need some cosmetic dental services to really make my teeth look their best. I have a cheap dental plan though work but it really does not cover much and will not cover for cosmetic dental services at all. What can you advise for me?

Reply: I would first use the dental insurance plan you have though work to find out what you may need to fully take care of your teeth. If your current dental plan offers exams, basic cleaning and X-rays for free to little cost ( which most insurance plan do) it will be a good to know what you need so you can find a dental insurance plan that can best cover what is accually needed.

Dentists are seeing an increase in more severe conditions from patients delaying dental care. Which can make problems more difficult to treat and more expensive to address.