Does baking soda help to whiten your teeth?  I can not use over the counter whiten strips because I have braces but can baking soda help?

Answer:  Baking soda can help to white your teeth however you should not use baking soda to whiten your teeth when you have braces. Baking soda is believed to erode orthodontic glue and fasteners. Before trying to whiten your teeth talk to your orthodontic dentist first to make sure you do not damage your braces.

Advancing age can effect seniors and their dental health. For some dry mouth can be an issue.  Dry mouth is caused by reduced saliva flow. Dry mouth can be the result of cancer treatments, certain diseases, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus and an infection of the salivary glands, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as side effects of certain medications.  Aging is also another cause of dry mouth.

Conscious Sedation is a state in which dental patients are awake and can breathe and swallow on their own but are less aware of what is taking place.

Advancing age can effect seniors and their teeth. For some darkened teeth can be an issue.  Darkened teeth is caused to some extent by changes in the tooth dentin as well as by a lifetime of consuming stain causing foods and beverages. By seeing a dentist about darkened teeth, the dentist may be able to brighten them up.

Dental caries is also known as tooth decay or cavities.   Tooth decay/caries is generally cause by poor dental habits. In young babies they often get caries due to baby bottles which is also referred to as baby bottle tooth decay.  This happens when a baby is left with a baby bottle that has liquid other then water.

Regardless of age daily brushing and flossing is essential in order to keep them in good dental health. Plaque can quickly build up on the teeth of seniors, this is especially true if oral hygiene is neglected and lead to tooth decay as well as gum disease.   Some seniors can run a higher risk of poor dental hygiene due to health, medication and age factor limitations. In order for anyone to maintain good oral health it is important to maintain proper dental health care habits.

* Make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride. Some seniors may have difficult time brushing and flossing their teeth if they suffer from arthritis or another condition that limits movement. In cases like that, try using an electric toothbrush, with rotating-oscillating bristles, which are effective at removing plaque and preventing gum disease.

* Floss at least once a day. If floss is too difficult to work with, try a floss pick or tiny brushes made to clean between teeth.

* Use an antibacterial mouth rinse so that you can reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.

* Visit your dentist on regularly for check up and cleanings. Some seniors may find this hard if they are not driving or can not drive. Therefore try to find a very local dental office as to make it easier to get to and from.  There are some senior assistance programs that drive seniors to their doctors appointments, so check to see if they also drive to dental appointments.  If you can see if there is a dentist within the same building as your doctors so that you can book appointment on the same day. You may also what to look for a dentist that still makes limited house calls for seniors.    Although it can be difficult for seniors to maintain good dental hygiene habits, it stills needs to be done.  Studies show that your oral health is linked to many overall health care issues.  Therefore having poor oral health can effective you overall wellness.

I have one missing tooth within my smile area.  I do not like to smile because of the gap. My other teeth are fine with no cavities.  I was wondering if I could just have a single tooth implant.

Answer: yes you can have just one dental implant if that is what you need.  Single-tooth implant can be used in people who are missing one tooth. Talk to your dentist and go over your options.

If you are a senior going in for dental check up,  a new patient to the dental office or if you have not been to your dentist in over a year or more expect to conduct a thorough history and dental exam.  Questions that may be asked can include:

1) The approximate date of your last dental visit and the reason for the visit.
2) If you notice any recent changes within your mouth
3) If you have notice any loose or sensitive teeth since your last dental visit.
4) If you had any difficulty in tasting, chewing of swallowing
5) If you since your last dental visit notice any pain, discomfort, sores, or bleeding in you mouth
6) If you have notice any lump, bump or swelling in your mouth.
7) The dentist will also go over any health issues that can effect your dental and oral health as well as want to know any medication you are currently on.

Have a dental appointment for a root canal. However I am not sure that it would be best to have a root canal or just pull the tooth. What is best in the long run?

Answer:  Normally when a dentist can save a tooth with a root canal they do not suggest pulling it. You want to keep your teeth whenever possible.

However if you choose to pull the tooth then you will need to think about what you are going to do afterwords.  Such as are you going to leave a gap, get a bridge or dental implant.  If you leave the space empty it can cause your other teeth to shift over time. If you go with a dental bridge then you are having to crown the two teeth on either side of the gab to make a bridge and bridges do not always last a life time. Dental implants are more costly but they do last a life time with proper dental care habits.  Talk over your options with your dentist and see which one you feel is right for you

A person age is not a dominant or sole factor in determining oral health. Yet for some seniors they may have certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hand and fingers that may make brushing and flossing their teeth more difficult to impossible to preform. In addition needed medication for ones health, may and also affect oral health and may cause needed changes in their dental treatment.

Cranberry juice has been hailed as a healthy beverage choice, but it also appears to stop the bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease, according to preliminary research from the University of Rochester. In one study, two doses of a beverage with 25 percent cranberry juice stopped bacteria from clinging by as much as 85 percent.

When strictly talking about cosmetic dental care services it can be very difficult to find a dental insurance plans that offer benefits for this type of dental care. Cosmetic riders are sometime found in group dental insurance plans and can be added at an additional cost. However if you do not received dental benefits though your employer then you may want to review dental discount plans as an option to reduce the cost of cosmetic dental services.  Under a dental discount plan you can receive 15 to 20 percent off the cost of cosmetic dental services as long as there are dentist in the plans network that provide such services.

According to the ADA (American Dental Association) sugar in soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks can lead to tooth decay. Acid is produced each time sugar comes in contact with the bacteria in your mouth. This acid eats away at your teeth for about 20 minutes after you take a sip and this acid can result in cavities. Unfortunately, diet soft drinks and carbonated water are not any better.

The ADA says that most soft drinks also contain phosphoric and citric acid, which can cause tooth erosion. To improve your dental health, you should try to limit your soft drink consumption and instead snack on nutritious foods. Other dental health tips include making sure you brush twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly for a check-up.

When you are on a tight budget, it is important to maintain dental insurance so that you can manage your dental care cost. Many people feel that dental insurance is just too costly, and therefore go without hoping that they will not need any dental care services.  Although there are costly dental insurance plans, there are also many low cost dental insurance plans available.

A more budget friendly dental plan would be an HMO dental insurance plan.  For an individual HMO plan they can run around $7.00 – $25.00 a month, and for a family plan the range is around  $15.00 – $40.00 a month.  Additional reason why HMO’s dental insurance plans are budget friendly:  Generally under HMO dental insurance plans their benefits are based on a fee schedule.  Providing you the cost for the different dental services covered  under the plan before buying it.  Letting you compare different HMO plans, in order to get the best price for the dental services needed.

Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay.  If your main source of drinking water is bottled water, you may be missing out on the decay preventing benefits of fluoride. This  according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Most bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride and some do not contain any at all. If you just prefer drinking bottled water, consider using tap water in other ways, such as when preparing meals and for mixing juices and powdered drinks.

If you already have a dentist you trust, you do not need to chance your dentist in order to have dental insurance. However what is important is knowing your own dental needs and what plans your dentist may be a provider in. Here are some tips that may help you when buying dental insurance.

* Talk to the person that handles the insurance and claims processing for your dental office. (This is normally the front staffing) Find out what plans your dentist is a provider of.

* Confirm the types of dental insurance plans they may be a provider of. Such as PPO, Indemnity’s, HMO and Dental discount plans.  Knowing will help you in your search for insurance.

* If the dental office you are going to only accepts PPO’s or Indemnity insurance plans make sure to buy these types of plan ahead of time.  Normally PPO’s and Indemnity insurance plans will come with waiting periods. Therefore buying these types of plans in advance is important in order to burn down any waiting involved in the plan.

In prior post we talked about tooth loss. By losing your teeth, you not only look unhealthy, but tooth loss may be a warning sign of a serious health problem. Identifying dental and overall health issues early gives you a greater chance to recover quickly and prevent future complications. Even if you are engaged in bad oral hygiene habits in the past, you can make a fresh start today and prevent further damage to your teeth.

In a prior post we talked about the signs and causing factors of tooth loss, and how with a long-term commitment you can prevent tooth loss from happening.  Yet even with all the warning signs given prior to tooth loss, sometimes people do not go to the dentist regularly or refuse to go even if a tooth hurts because they are afraid of pain associated with fixing problems or think they do not have the money to pay for treatments.

Unfortunately, putting off dental treatment can only make the problem worse and you may ultimately face tooth loss if you ignore symptoms or skip your regular dental checkups.  Dental prevention starts at home and continues at your dental office.  The best way to prevent tooth loss is to practice good dental health habits, which include brushing and flossing regularly. You should also see your dentist at least once every six months and make an appointment as soon as possible if you experience tooth pain or other problems with your teeth.

Your adult teeth should last you a life time. However preventing tooth loss means making a long term commitment to your dental healthcare.  Such as making healthy dental and diet choices, maintaining good dental habits and seeing your dentist for regular dental check ups.

Although there are several reasons that adults may lose their teeth. The most common reasons involve a combination of poor oral hygiene and dietary habits. Gum Disease a main factor in tooth loss, yet it is important to understand that poor dental hygiene is a causing factor to gum disease as well as dental decay (cavities).

In addition to poor oral hygiene habits, many people eat/drink a lot of candy, soda or other sugary snacks. Which can lead to tooth loss because sugar contributes to tooth decay, especially if you do not brush your teeth after eating. Other causing factors to tooth loss include smoking or chewing tobacco, grinding and clenching your teeth.