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Being aware and conscience of your health is one of the most important things you can do. You have to live in your body everyday so why not keep it a nice place to live. In life, most would agree that health is one of the main priorities along with food/clothing/a roof over your head. When it comes to health one thing that can often be overlooked is your dental health. Most are unaware that poor oral hygiene can lead to a series of other problems yet it is a relatively simple aspect to take care of.

It is no new news that exercise and a healthy diet are two of the most important things one can do to improve their health. There are countless exercise options out there as anyone can attest to ever watching TV. It seems like every commercial break has some kind of exercise/weightloss advertisement. It is a multi billion dollar business and rightfully so as people are concerned about their health.

Keeping up good health has countless benefits in life, you feel better, think better, are able to seemingly have “more fun” in life. It is often only the sick who realize how good healthy people have it. Take care of your body’s health and your body will not only thank you but it will help take care of you. However, don’t forget to consider your oral health.

Poor dental habits lead to poor oral health. Cavities and gum disease effects not only your physical appearance and sense of well being but if left ignored can lead to problems such as poor sleep, proper digestion of food including other more serious problems such as heart disease and stroke. Other problems poor oral care can contribute to are clogging of arteries, heart valve damage, lung problems. Pregnant woman with gum disease can give birth to pre-term and light weight babies which then leads to other health risks in the child.

You can take steps to keep your dental health in check, including brushing and flossing your teeth daily and visiting your dentist at regular check ups. A healthy diet also helps to build strong bones and gums, not to mention less sugar in the diet keeps the cavities at bay as well. Take care of your oral health, it is a simple way to contribute to your overall wellbeing. But while your at it, why not save some money with a dental insurance alternative saving plans. They will help you save money on your dental bills no matter where you live. They have nationwide plans to help you on your way to a great smile.

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Source by Kevin Dunham

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Taking care of teeth does not only mean having a beautiful smile. Dental health extends beyond those pearly whites and that is why people, most especially seniors, should take good care of their teeth. Here are a few dental hygiene tips that can make them smile in the coming years.

Clean dental implants

About 75% of seniors who are at least 60 years old no long have a whole set of natural teeth. Most of them have artificial teeth like crowns, dental implants or dentures. It is imperative to care for these latest smile accessories to make sure they last long. Since dentures and implants are not made of the same materials as teeth, they need to be maintained more than just merely brushing them.

When their dentist talks to them about the proper care tips, they should listen and follow their advice. These include, removing retainers that comes with an attached false tooth before eating and soaking dentures in cleaning solution while sleeping at night. They should also bring a container with them so these will not be thrown by accident.

Ask the dentist about prescriptions

It is natural for seniors to have a dry mouth. As people get older, their saliva glands do not produce enough amounts of saliva to lubricate the mouth. This can harm their teeth and also affect their digestion. There are instances when some medications tend to cause a dry mouth so it is important to mention this to their doctor when they are suffering from this side effect.

Follow a regular routine

There are times when people forget to brush their teeth especially when they are too busy or tired. If this happens more often than not, dental health is neglected and this places them at risk for tooth decay and gum disease. So, they should include tooth care in their daily routine so they will not forget to brush and floss. If they make this a habit they will most likely remember.

Use assistive tools

A lot of seniors suffer from arthritis. This is a painful chronic condition that can make simple tasks like flossing a lot more challenging. Thanks to these new dental tools, practicing proper hygiene is gentler to the hands and wrists. Rather than pulling tooth floss from a container, they can use tooth picks that come with a toothbrush-like handle but have a wiry end to get in between teeth. Or else, they can floss holding the string in place to avoid struggling with their fingers.

When it comes to toothbrushes, they can go for those with thicker, rubber grips that make them easier to hold as compared to their thin plastic equivalent. It is also best to use toothbrushes that have soft bristles that are gentle and won’t harm the gums. Also, the teeth of seniors have become more sensitive to heat and cold as they grew older. As a solution, they can use all-natural toothpaste that is designed for sensitive teeth.

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Source by Karina Popa

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While oral sickness is easy to prevent, there are still lots of children that get tooth decay. Such kids often experience pain, find it hard to sleep, and at times, undergo major dental treatments – like tooth extraction with general anesthesia.

When a child gets cavities at a much younger age, it can be assumed that he/she will also develop cavities when his permanent teeth develop. For this reason, it is crucial for kids to have good oral hygiene habits when they are still very young.

Eat the Right Foods

Children should eat a variety of nutritious foods, especially in childhood when they are still going through the developing years. This is the time when their eating behavior is established. It is critical to encourage kids to have healthy eating habits that can lead to good oral health and welfare.

Provide children with different nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, natural yogurt and meat.

• Refrain from giving them snacks in between meals, since it is the most vulnerable age, when they could acquire cavities.
• Encourage them to drink lots of water (from at minimum of 1 liter/day to a maximum of 2 liters/day), particularly if you stay within an area with fluoride, to protect teeth from cavities.
• Try your best to reduce your child’s intake of sugary drinks like sodas, energy drinks, fruit juices and syrups, since these sweet drinks can cause tooth decay.
• Reduce their consumption of sweet drinks, particular in between meals.

Brush your teeth properly.

Brushing teeth using a proper technique is a must for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. Observing good oral hygiene at a much early age reduces the risk of acquiring gum disease at a later age. Teach them to brush their teeth at least twice daily – in the morning and in the evening, as well as after eating meals.

• It is recommended for infants to use a soft toothbrush, and for children 18 months to 6 years to use toothpaste (in a pea-sized amount) with less fluoride.
• Supervise your child (up to 7 years old) whenever he/she brushes his/her teeth.
• Instead of rinsing the toothpaste, encourage your child to spit it out.

Observe Safety while Playing

Whenever your child plays contact sports like cricket, football or hockey, when their mouth is more prone to injury, he should use a mouth guard during games and workout. A mouth guard is often worn when playing sports, while other activities also require a face guard or helmet.

Practice Healthy Habits at an Early Age

It would benefit children to develop healthy habits early in life. Habits such as brushing teeth regularly, eating a nutritious diet and visiting a dentist regularly allow them to maintain good oral health. The moment the first tooth of your child appears until 1 year old, he/she should have oral health checked. Based on a child’s oral health, the dentist/pediatrician will recommend when to visit the dental clinic.

• Whenever there is any dental problem, go immediately to the dentist to have it checked.
• Make dental visits a part of your child’s normal routine.
• Make a dental appointment early in the day, when your child is not yet tired.

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Source by Karina Popa

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Before my career shift to online marketing, I was laid off from my job with an Internet start-up company and found myself with no health insurance and no dental coverage. The irony to this is I had neglected a tooth that had been bothering me for quite awhile when I actually did have dental coverage. So while I had insurance, I simply didn’t use it because… well, I absolutely hate going to the dentist! I also wasn’t going in for my regular cleanings and checkups.

As (un)luck may have it, once I was without dental insurance for the first time in years, the intensity and frequency of the toothaches picked up. I would often find myself awake at night sometimes to the point of tears. I was even fighting with my wife since planned date nights and socializing typically turned into me being agitated and crabby because of the pain. Not to mention the frustration that I felt over having no health care and no dental coverage to do anything to help my situation.

Unable to take it anymore, I made an appointment with my dentist and made arrangements to use a high interest credit card to pay for whatever necessary dental examination, treatment and care was needed to stop the pain. A routine examination confirmed that I needed about $3000 worth of dental work.

As I was walking out of the dentist office, I noticed a bundle of AmeriPlan pamphlets that were placed in the office’s magazine rack. The receptionist didn’t know very much about AmeriPlan when I inquired about the brochures. She knew that it was a healthcare, prescription, and dental discount plan that was accepted at the office. She advised me to research the web for program specifics since she wasn’t permitted to really advocate or promote the discount program.

Some Say AmeriPlan’s Dental Savings Are a Scam – Are They?

A Google search showed me various online forums where those posting made statements that AmeriPlan is a scam. This alarmed me initially but I had read the brochure thoroughly and understood that the company wasn’t promoting themselves as a healthcare provider or substitute to health insurance. I fully understood that I wasn’t just paying a small co-pay amount with each visit to the dentist, as I did with health coverage; however, I’d still benefit from savings at the dentist for each individual procedure and treatment.

It seemed as if those applying the scam tag to AmeriPlan failed to accept that the program is a supplement or alternative to dental and health care coverage in the form of a discount program. Others posting about the AmeriPlan scam seemed to take offense to the fact that there are brokers selling the program online and in their neighborhood. I on the other hand became intrigued by the business model and wondered if I should ask my broker about joining the business since I was out of work and we were struggling. Obviously that eventually happened as I am here today marketing AmeriPlan.

There were also some comments suggesting that the dentists accepting AmeriPlan were the bottom feeders in the dentistry world and weren’t very good. Pay no attention to this nonsense since my dentist accepts AmeriPlan’s dental savings card and he’s been voted Best Dentist in Pittsburgh, PA countless times in various polls by local newspapers and magazines. My advice is to just scan the list of dentists in your area who accept the program before signing in. That way you know for sure that there are participating providers within a reasonable distance to your home and you can research their reputations online before seeing someone you’re unfamiliar with.

AmeriPlan Dental Plus isn’t full health care coverage but it’s a beneficial alternative to dental and health care coverage that may be your best chance for savings at the dentist, eye doctor and chiropractor, in addition to the pharmacy savings. I ended up saving very close to $1000 from the original price quote for nothing more than a $20 a month AmeriPlan package covering not just me but my wife as well.

I was able to distribute that $1000 savings elsewhere on things undoubtedly better than a root canal and I didn’t have to acquire more debt and max out my credit card. I was comfortable signing up because there were no hidden fees and I could cancel at anytime. I wasn’t signing into any kind of contract term. The pharmacy savings I obtained with my AmeriPlan pharmacy discount card for my antibiotics and pain meds and my wife’s acid reflux medication further impressed me. We later expanded our plan to the AmeriPlan Healthcare package – offering medical discounts in addition to the savings at the dentist and pharmacy savings of Dental Plus.

Visit http://www.altcareonline.com and click LOCATE PROVIDERS in the left navigation bar under My Benefits Plus to locate doctors, dentists and pharmacies in your area currently accepting Ameriplan.

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Source by Brian Jon Cosgrove