Your Dental Care Guide

Along the years, The American Dental Association has been striving to raise their awareness and advance solutions when it comes to improving all the access to dental care. Dentists are the leading advocates for improving the access to dental care. They are willing to take the entire lead, but can’t fix this mess all alone. The federal, local and state governments and society at large must stop all the shortchanging oral health and find the political will to get a better dental care to the millions of Americans who don’t receive it. Only the oral health care needs to be a priority

The dental components in Medicaid and SCHIP, which are supposed to provide health care to disadvantaged Americans, are chronically underfunded. Federal law mandates that Medicaid cover basic preventive and restorative services. But many state programs fail to deliver care to even half of their eligible children. Adult dental coverage through public health programs is even worse; many states simply don’t provide it. Taking care of yourself is a critical component of oral health, and too many Americans lack a basic understanding of preventive oral health, things like brushing, flossing, eating a healthy diet and drinking fluoridated water. About one-third of public water systems are not fluoridated, yet it is the single most effective public health measure to protect against tooth decay.

It would be tempting to think that one can visit a dentist only when one has a toothache and that more importantly, such visits need only concentrate on that one particular toothache. Unfortunately, dental visits should not only be regular, they should also be recognized as opportunities for individuals to learn more about the state of their dental health. To further elaborate, a visit to the dentist need not be a one-way conversation that drones on and on; individuals should be assertive and should ask questions. These questions may take the form of, “Which latest dental innovation would prove helpful to my teeth given my dental history?” or, “What kinds of food or drink should I stay away from to prevent having dental problems?” Only perhaps after making an effort to befriend one’s dentist and to gain a personal understanding of one’s dental conditions can an individual actually look forward to dentist appointments. After all, since not many will admit that they love sitting in a chair while a dentist examines their teeth, then perhaps the best way to turn seemingly boring dentist appointments would be to stop seeing the situation from such a linear perspective.

Picture from
Daily Mail. 5 May 2008 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=512813&in_page_id=1774.

Sometimes our oral health care practices are influenced by the various marketing strategies taken by company’s and often do not really address the actual dental care needs of our children. We must remember that our children need toothbrushes that are small enough to comfortably fit into their mouth and must have soft bristles. Toothpaste amount should also be regulated to only a pea size so that it will not create too much foam to interfere with their brushing.

Stand behind your child to guide them at first. Concentrate the first two minutes on brushing the upper and lower back teeth which are usually the starting point of cavities. Use only short circular strokes taking ample time to clean chewing surfaces. Proper rinsing through allowing water to circle within the mouth and spitting is also very important.

Dental floss is an ancient invention. Researchers have found dental floss and toothpick grooves in the teeth of prehistoric humans. Levi Spear Parmly (1790-1859), a New Orleans dentist is credited as being the re-inventor of modern dental floss.

In 1882, the Codman and Shurtleft Company of Randolph, Massachusetts started to mass-produce unwaxed silk floss for commercial home use. The Johnson and Johnson Company of New Brunswick, New Jersey were the first to patent dental floss in 1898. Dr. Charles C. Bass developed nylon floss as a replacement for silk floss during WW II. Dr. Bass was also responsible for making teeth flossing an important part of dental hygiene.

Having a good dental hygiene is not just having pearly white teeth. Like everyone else, people with developmental disabilities can have a healthy mouth if we know how to follow the basic rules to a healthy dental care.

First rule is to Brush every day. Much better is we’re going to do this after every meal. Second is Floss every day. An alternative way to brushing your teeth everyday as this will help remove that extra something in between teeth and lastly, Visit a dentist regularly. It is a good thing to visit and have a regular dentist checkup once every six months to monitor your oral health.

As with everything in this recession, prices are going higher than the roof of your house and what better way to save some cash than to get into doing simple yet effective dental care tips. Water is the universal solvent having the ability to dissolve most elements, minerals and other substances, after eating drink plenty of water to wash away those food bits. Have a sore in the mouth, gargle(gargle don’t drink for you might get dehydrated with too much salt) with some rock salt dissolved in lukewarm water, trust me, it works!
Out of the house with no toothbrush in sight, no problem, get your hands on some sugar-free gum to chew on. That way, you freshen your breath and clean your teeth at the same time as the gum clings to the bits and pieces of food enough to get into those nooks and crannies. Another nice antiseptic would be the common antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide, dilute some medical grade at a rate of 1/4 to a glass of water and use as gargle(gargle not drink), it kills the bacteria in your mouth leaving it free from odor.

Many would argue that they are doing the best they can to take care for their teeth, swearing that their personally proven regimen works. Each and every individual has a unique approach to oral care that is as unique as our DNA. Humans being creatures of habit do things that they have been doing for a long time automatically even with suggestions of changes being affected. Dentists are always sure to find ways of locating the inadequacies we have in our routine which is why the twice or at least once a year dental visit is a must for all.
It allows proper monitoring of your pearly whites as well as the treatment of hidden problems that may be lurking without you even knowing about it. Using some of the best and latest technologies using density measurement systems that peers through the teeth without invasive drilling it lessens the pain and dread we normally have with regards to the dental office. Imaging systems also allow patients to better see their overall dental state and any changes that would

Image Source: pictures.directnews.co.uk

Aside from enhancing our looks when we smile, our teeth are the primary part of our digestive system that helps to change into smaller pieces the food we eat, making it not difficult for the stomach to perform its task. It is essential that we know how to take care of our teeth. However, most people take oral and dental hygiene lightly, only rushing to the dentist if they have dental caries and need a filling. It is advisable top visit the dentist twice a year, to have our teeth examined and correct defects or conditions at the earliest possible time.

As much as many are inclined to think that brushing or flossing one’s teeth is enough, this is actually a dental care myth that needs to be busted. There are many other ways to clean one’s teeth. For instance, one can always approach one’s dentist for monthly cleaning, to make sure that tartar does not build up. Subsequently, it is important to note that cavities are not the only dental health villains that threaten one’s dental hygiene. Also, individuals may opt to ask their dentists what dental treatments would benefit their condition, depending on what areas of concern they have with their teeth. In this way, an individual can maximize his or her ability to take care of her teeth.

Picture from
America’s Top Dentists. 5 May 2008 http://www.consumersresearchcncl.org/Healthcare/Dentists/dent_chapters.html.