Green and Black teas contain polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Christine D Wu PhD, who has conducted several studies on tea and oral health care, states tea also has potential for reducing bad breath odor because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor. Many teas also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it’s steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel from decay.

The FDA concludes mercury in dental fillings not risky. The government declared that silver dental fillings contain too little mercury to harm the millions who’ve had cavities filled with them. This includes young children, and that only people allergic to mercury need to avoid them. This was something of an about face for the FDA, which last year settled a lawsuit with anti-mercury activists by posting on its Web site a precaution saying questions remained about whether the small amount of mercury vapor the fillings can release were enough to harm the developing brains of fetuses or the very young. FDA said its final scientific review ended that concern. Still, the agency did slightly strengthen how it regulates the fillings, urging dentists to provide their patients with a government-written statement detailing the mercury controversy and what science shows.

Stress as become a factor for many American as economic pressures takes it toll  It is not surprising that less people are going to the dentist for a whiter smile since whiting treatments are normally not covered under dental insurance the cost is too high to spend on extras.

However dentist are seeing an incline in the number of people that are grinding their teeth due to stress. More people are becoming anxious and stressed out over the economy and their own financial futures that they are taking it out on their teeth. While some experts believe that genetics may play a role in teeth grinding, stress has long been known to set off clenching and grinding in some people. since grinding teeth can wear down tooth enamel, crack or brake teeth it is important to treat and protect your teeth from grinding.

Night guards can be helpful for people that grind their teeth while they sleep However talk to your dentist about stress and how it can be effecting your teeth.

Vaccine for Tooth Decay, Looking Towards the Future in Dental Care

Right now people get their cavities filled by their dentist. However what if there was a way to prevent cavities from forming. If there was a vaccine for tooth decay that can be painlessly squirted into the nostrils in the first few years of a child’s life. That is what Harvard Medical School faculty members are working on at the Forsyth Institute in Boston.

An independent research and educational organization focused on oral and craniofacial science, have discovered the basis for a vaccine that could someday end tooth decay in children. A senior member of the Forsyth immunology department, say their vaccine could prevent decay-causing bacteria from gaining a foothold in the mouth.

Current studies support a recommendation of a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a whole-foods, plant-based diet with limited consumption of meat, particularly processed meat. According to the study in Journal of the American Dental Association oral healthcare professionals can play an important role in preventing oral cancer by educating their patients about oral cancer prevention strategies, including eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

Fixodent denture adhesive updating label instructions. Procter & Gamble updated the label instruction on all Fixodent denture adhesives. Fixodent denture adhesive packaging has been updated to provide consumers with more detail information on how to use Fixodent denture adhesive. They have also updated their websites. Make sure you see your dentist regularly to ensure properly fitting dentures.

Having Good Oral Care for Babies may Prevent Future Cavities. Parents have another good reason to pay attention the their baby oral health care. Even for baby not yet cutting their teeth it is important to maintain oral health care. According to a recent study done by the University of Illinois it confirms the presence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries in infant saliva.

A number of prospective studies done suggest that gum disease and tooth loss may increase the risk of various cancers. The study done adjusted for know risk factors such as smoking and dietary factors. The finding of the study shows that periodontal disease was associated with a small, but statistically significant, increase in overall cancer risk which persisted among non smokers

Diabetes Patients and Oral Health Closely Linked to Cancer Risk and Heart Disease.

In a report on Oral health awareness in adults who have diabetes, researchers state that several people that have diabetes are not aware that their oral health is closely connected to their risk of developing other complications. The study done states that inflammation from gums that are swollen can increase the severity of diabetes, increase deaths from oral cancer as well as pre-malignancies, and make cardiovascular disease worse.

It is not impossible to find a dental insurance plan that is inexpensive. There are many good low cost dental insurance plans and dental plans options. It only takes some patience and knowing what types of plans to look for. When wanting a low cost dental insurance plan search for dental HMO plans in your state.

Also another good low cost dental plan option would be a dental discount plan. Dental discount plans are not insurance but for a low monthly cost they can help to reduce your dental care needs up to 50 percent or more.

If you do not currently have dental insurance and you need a dental bridge, then cost can be a factor.  Buying dental insurance to reduce the cost is a good idea.  However make sure you are buying the right plan for this need.

Normally dental insurance plans such as PPO or Indemnity will have long term waiting periods for dental services such as bridges.  That is important to understand that if you buy these types of dental insurance plans in order to stay with your current dental provider,  you may not have any benefits for the dental service you currently need.  When buying PPO or Indemnity plan it best to think ahead and have it in force prior to any major dental issues.

Therefore in cases such as this you would want to review dental HMO insurance plans or dental discount plans as an option to help reduce your dental care cost on bridges. Yet keep in mind although most HMO insurance plan offer benefits for bridges cost of having dental bridge work under the insurance plan will very depending on many factors.  To get a better idea of cost before buying a dental HMO plan then it is helpful to know the ADA codes that are necessary in making the bridge. That means seeing a dentist for a consultation and treatment plan before buying a dental insurance plan. Doing this will help you compare many plans and cost for your needed dental services, letting you pick the best plan for your current dental needs.

According to research done it indicates that the cavity-causing bacteria known as streptococcus mutans can be transmitted from mothers to infants even before their teeth erupts. Therefore the better the mother’s oral and dental health is, the less chance the baby will have problems.

There are several dental insurance options to choose from when you shop for individual dental plans. HMO network dental insurance plans, PPO dental plans, Free choice of provider plans as well as Dental Discount plans. Each plan types can fit different dental needs depending on what type of coverage’s you may want and what you can afford to spend on a plan.

For lower cost dental plan options you may wish to review either dental HMO plans or Dental Discount plans. These type of plan have fewer limitations lower monthly cost but they do require that you stay within the plan network of dentist. If you are wanting dental insurance plans to stay with a dental office or give you the free choice to choose your own dentist then you will want to review dental PPO plans or Indemnity plans which are your free choice of provider plans. Those these plans are more open to providers they do have more limitations that should be reviewed carefully.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Choosing Your Dental Insurance Plan. Dental insurance is a good way of controlling your dental care cost. By choosing your dental insurance plan carefully you can receive your dental care services at a considerably lower cost than the charges you will have to pay without dental insurance. The key is choosing the right plan that fits your dental needs the best.

Shopping out the different dental plans available it an essential part of choosing a Dental Plan. Read and understand each plans term and conditions. The more you know about the dental plan the better equipped you are, and therefore, the greater the likelihood that you will make a reasonable decision.

Try to decide on how much coverage you or your family needs as well as how much you can afford to spend on a dental plan. Do not assume that the higher the cost of the dental plan is the better the coverage’s. Different types of dental plan have different limitations. Also if you are wanting to stay with a family dentist before searching for a dental insurance plan find out what plans that dental office is a provider of. Check to see if they are an in network provider of any dental plans this will save you time in reviewing plans that they may not accept.

When major dental care is needed make sure you are buying a plan that does not have waiting periods for the very services that you may need right away. Many plan like PPO and free choice of provider have waiting period on both basic and major dental care services. Where as other plans that do not have waiting periods may not cover for specialist so make sure you know what you are covered for when needing major dental care.

Make sure you understand there is a different between a family/general dentist and a specialist.

Though many dental discount plans do offer a flat saving up to 20 percent or more on their specialist, the schedules that are listed are normally for the family/general dentist within the plan network.

Not to worry even if you do knock out a tooth and it is too late to save the tooth you do not have to lose your smile.  Due to many advances in dentistry you can have a dentist replace the tooth.  One such option would be with a dental implant. A dental implant is a freestanding artificial tooth which is anchored directly onto your jawbone, and with a porcelain crown attached, to aid in biting, chewing, and for esthetic reasons.

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and Oral-B Laboratories released a survey that show many Americans are neglecting to take care of their teeth during the workday.

According to the survey it found that more than three-quarters of respondents are eating twice or more a day at the workplace, while only 14 percent of respondents are brushing every day at work.

Another interesting thing found in the survey is while only 14 percent or the respondents where brushing, 40 percent ranked “smile” as one of the first thing they notice about a person at work.

Some dental discount plans make you pay in full for one year where others may provide you with a monthly payment option. Pick the plan the best fits into your budget.

Dental discount plan required that you see a dentist in the plan network. (THERE IS NO OUTSIDE NETWORK SAVINGS) Therefore you want to review and compare dentist within each plan. Making sure you have dentist in your area under the plan before buying one. I suggest always calling the dental office. Not only to confirm they are still accepting the plan in question but also in order to asking any question you feel is important in picking a dentist to go to.

Compare the Fee Schedules That are Provide for Each Plan. Some plan have short fee schedules then others and since they are different companies that means they each have their own fee schedules showing your discounted cost for dental services. Since many dental discount plans will give you about a 20 percent saving of dental services not list you only need to compare services that are listed.