Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Can Halloween Candy Be Safe for Kids' Teeth?
It is Halloween time and your children WANT CANDY! We understand that children are going to have candy at Halloween, but there are some sweets that are not quite as risky to indulge in.
Spooky Treats!
The worst type of candy for your teeth is anything sticky, gummy, or gooey. These candies stick to the grooves of your teeth. These candies are not easily removed by brushing. Pre-existing fillings can be damaged by these candies and can even dislodge them.
Less Scary Treats
So what do you give your child who is dying for Halloween Candy?! Ice Cream, Cookies, Chocolate, or Sugar Free Gum is a better alternative. Sugar may still ulitmately case tooth decay, but at least these are easier to clean from your teeth and are usually consumed quickly instead of "grazing."
Don't forget, it's important to eat your sweets at mealtime rather than a snack & drink a lot of water (regular water, not flavored water).
Happy Halloween
Spooky Treats!
Sticky, gooey, delicious!
The worst type of candy for your teeth is anything sticky, gummy, or gooey. These candies stick to the grooves of your teeth. These candies are not easily removed by brushing. Pre-existing fillings can be damaged by these candies and can even dislodge them.
Less Scary Treats
So what do you give your child who is dying for Halloween Candy?! Ice Cream, Cookies, Chocolate, or Sugar Free Gum is a better alternative. Sugar may still ulitmately case tooth decay, but at least these are easier to clean from your teeth and are usually consumed quickly instead of "grazing."
Don't forget, it's important to eat your sweets at mealtime rather than a snack & drink a lot of water (regular water, not flavored water).
Happy Halloween
Thursday, October 20, 2011
My spouse has bad breath, is this contagious?
Dealing with bad breath from a stranger, friend or casual acquaintance is difficult enough, but when you have to live eat and sleep with that person every day it can really become a challenge. Confronting your husband or spouse can lead to hurt feelings and arguments. Bad breath is a sensitive topic for most people but when the criticism is coming from the one you love it can really hit a raw nerve.
Whether you realize or not your husband may be aware he has foul breath odor and has
tried to remedy the problem on his own without much success. If this is the case he probably is truly embarrassed and if you open the topic in a confrontational manner he may become defensive or apathetic.
Women often have a keen sixth sense when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues and can use those skills to make their husband or partner feel like you’re their ally and not their adversary.
Most of us have had to deal with sour breath at one time or the other. You can share some of your experiences and how you resolved bad breath issues with offering your help.
Sometimes getting at a person’s sense of humor can really break the ice. Follow this link for a really humorous video about breath odor.
Once you have broken down some of the barriers you can begin to hunt for the root of the problem.
Breath that smells can be caused by many issues. Make a checklist include or eliminate anyone of the following possibilities. For example:
•Medications
•Medical Conditions ( sinus infection, gallstones, lactose intolerance, aging)
•The foods we eat (onions, dairy products, garlic, beans, coffee, alcohol breath, fish and red meat)
•Dry mouth
•Dental decay (gum disease, gingivitis, periodontal disease, build up tarter and plaque)
If you come to the dentist on a regular basis, get your spouse to come too!
Whether you realize or not your husband may be aware he has foul breath odor and has
tried to remedy the problem on his own without much success. If this is the case he probably is truly embarrassed and if you open the topic in a confrontational manner he may become defensive or apathetic.
Women often have a keen sixth sense when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues and can use those skills to make their husband or partner feel like you’re their ally and not their adversary.
Most of us have had to deal with sour breath at one time or the other. You can share some of your experiences and how you resolved bad breath issues with offering your help.
Sometimes getting at a person’s sense of humor can really break the ice. Follow this link for a really humorous video about breath odor.
Once you have broken down some of the barriers you can begin to hunt for the root of the problem.
Breath that smells can be caused by many issues. Make a checklist include or eliminate anyone of the following possibilities. For example:
•Medications
•Medical Conditions ( sinus infection, gallstones, lactose intolerance, aging)
•The foods we eat (onions, dairy products, garlic, beans, coffee, alcohol breath, fish and red meat)
•Dry mouth
•Dental decay (gum disease, gingivitis, periodontal disease, build up tarter and plaque)
If you come to the dentist on a regular basis, get your spouse to come too!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I don't understand my dental insurance
I don't understand my dental insurance, can you help?
Dental insurance can be very confusing to the consumer because the word insurance is misleading. Dental insurance is better described as a Dental Benefit, designed to assist in dental costs. Dental benefits usually cover most or all of Preventive care, such as regular cleanings and exams. Then it is usually outlined what benefit is allowed for fillings, crowns, periodontal care, root canals, and more.
A question we get asked a lot is, "How much and what kind dental care can I have done with my type of insurance?"
Often, we can check within our own computer system and verify this information, but most of the time calling your insurance company or going to your insurance company's website is your best bet.
Dental insurance companies will NOT give any specific information, only "general" information, to a Dental office, even a predetermination is not guaranteed. That is why we always describe it as a Dental Benefit.
If you don't have an online account with your insurance company, GET ONE! Most offer this as an option. You can check your benefits, estimate costs, and verify if your claims have been paid.
Most dental insurance companies allow for a maximum paid per year, this is often confused with how medical insurance describes maximum out of pocket. Most companies have not increased this dollar amount since 1975!
Something that cost $1 in 1975 would cost $4.01 today (per the inflation calculator). So you ask, "Why haven't my dental maximums increased 400%, I am sure my premiums have?" HMMM, good question!
You are the only one that can change this! Talk to your Human Resources department and ask this question, so they will ask the same question to the insurance company!
Dental insurance can be very confusing to the consumer because the word insurance is misleading. Dental insurance is better described as a Dental Benefit, designed to assist in dental costs. Dental benefits usually cover most or all of Preventive care, such as regular cleanings and exams. Then it is usually outlined what benefit is allowed for fillings, crowns, periodontal care, root canals, and more.
A question we get asked a lot is, "How much and what kind dental care can I have done with my type of insurance?"
Often, we can check within our own computer system and verify this information, but most of the time calling your insurance company or going to your insurance company's website is your best bet.
Dental insurance companies will NOT give any specific information, only "general" information, to a Dental office, even a predetermination is not guaranteed. That is why we always describe it as a Dental Benefit.
If you don't have an online account with your insurance company, GET ONE! Most offer this as an option. You can check your benefits, estimate costs, and verify if your claims have been paid.
Most dental insurance companies allow for a maximum paid per year, this is often confused with how medical insurance describes maximum out of pocket. Most companies have not increased this dollar amount since 1975!
Something that cost $1 in 1975 would cost $4.01 today (per the inflation calculator). So you ask, "Why haven't my dental maximums increased 400%, I am sure my premiums have?" HMMM, good question!
You are the only one that can change this! Talk to your Human Resources department and ask this question, so they will ask the same question to the insurance company!
New and Improved Updated Blog
University Park Family Dentistry and Dr. Jeffrey Turner would like to invite you to "FOLLOW OUR BLOG." We are committing to update our blog and keep you posted on Dental Topics and Care. Please feel free to ask us any questions or make suggestions on ideas for Blog topics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)