Andres Dental's Blog

Dental Insurance & Financing

Not having dental insurance or not understanding your dental policy are issues that can cause problems for individuals looking to have dental work done on their teeth. One of the main reason people put off getting dental work done on their teeth is cost. Nobody should put off getting dental work done. Putting off the dentist is one of the quickest ways to increase your dental bill. Thus, make sure you visit your dentist for your six month check-ups. Financing options are avaliable for individuals without dental insurance that can help you to get the dental care that you need immediately. Being proactive about your dental health is the best way to keep your dental costs down. Issues that arise for people with dental insurance are that not all dental procedures are covered by their dental insurance plan. Many people are underneath the impression that their dental insurance will pay 100 percent of their dental bills. Every insurance company is different but typically the insurance company only pays a percentage of what they consider “usual and customary” for an average policyholder. Thus, some dental procedures or having multiply procedures in a year can end up costing you money even when you have dental insurance. Here is some additional information about dental insurance and dental financing to educate and inform you about your dental options.

Getting dental work for the uninsured:

Everyone has the need to go to the dentist and not going because you do not have dental insurance should not stop you from getting the dental care that you need. Prolonging getting dental work will only function to allow more damage to be done to your teeth and gums and increase your dental costs. Every dental office will have financing programs that can help you to get the dental work that is needed. Upon approval through the financing program you will be able to begin any required dental procedure. Here at Andres Dental we can help to develop a dental plan that will allow you to begin your dental procedures and set up a payment plan without creating a financial problem for you or your family.

Dental Insurance:

Dental insurance is a limited benefit provided by your employer. The amount of coverage on dental insurance is dependent on the policy that the employer and employee choose and pay into. The higher the premium on the dental plan, the greater the dental benefits. Insurance companies determine how much to pay out on dental procedures by employing dentists to review dental diagnoses. The dentist determines how much of the procedure is “usual and customary” based on their other policyholders and determine how much of the procedure will be covered by the insurance company. Some problems between patients and doctors have occurred because of insurances companies’ method of determining how much to pay for procedures. If your dentist and the dentist from the insurance company disagreed on the dental procedure that needed to be done, the insurance company would only be required to pay the amount of the procedure that they determined was necessary based on their review of the dental diagnosis. This can lead to a remaining balance after dental work has been completed thus causing issues between patient and doctors. By knowing what policies are covered in your policy and feeling confident in your dentist ability to determine your dental needs you will be able to avoid being surprised by unexpected dental costs.

Remember that many of the expensive dental procedures can be prevented by proper oral hygiene, brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist every 6 months. Being proactive about your dental health is the best way to keep your dental costs down. Remember that cost is not a good reason to stop you from going to the dentist. There are plenty of options out there to help you to get the dental work that is needed. Andres Dental hopes that this information was educational and informative. For any questions, about this blog, dental health or procedures feel free to contact us at 805-278-1212 or visit our website at www.andresdental.com.

Floss Properly Every Time

July 14, 2010 at 8:59 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: Andres Dental, Dental Care, Dental Health, Dental Hygiene, Dentist, Floss, Flossing, Flossing Properly, History of Flossing, How to Floss, Oral Health, Oxnard Dentist

Flossing is important to maintaining oral health; yet, it is also the most neglected out of basic dental care. Based on statistical data from dentalgentlecare.com only 28 percent of people say that they floss daily while 94 percent of people brush nightly. Clearly, people are focusing more on brushing than flossing. Yet, flossing is a simple way to dramatically improve your oral health and keep dental costs down. Flossing is able to reach in-between teeth and removes pesky plaque that was not removed by brushing. If you only brush your teeth, you are leaving 35 percent of your teeth exposed to harmful cavity causing bacteria. Thus, flossing is important to maintaining your oral health. Flossing cannot replace brushing, but together flossing and brushing can dramatically improve your oral health. Here is some additional information that will help you to floss properly and get all the pesky plaque that does damage to your teeth and your wallet.

Benefits of Flossing:

Flossing is extremely important to our oral health because it can get underneath the gum line and remove plaque that brushing could not. The majority of cavities start in-between teeth. Thus, flossing is an excellent way to protect your teeth from cavity causing bacteria by removing the plaque from in-between teeth. Flossing is a great way to improve your oral health and keep dental costs down.

Types of Floss:

Originally, dental floss was made out of silk and was first recommended by Levi Parmly in 1815. However, with technological advances dental floss is now made from thin nylon filaments or plastic. There are a number of different types of dental floss including flavored/unflavored dental floss, dental floss with different widths, and new ergonomic flossers with handles that all function to remove plaque from your teeth. Yet, there is not a dramatic difference between any of the flosses other than the width of the floss. The differences in width of floss allows you to get between tight spaces in your teeth. Some individuals may need thinner floss than others because their teeth are closer together. Depending on your teeth and personal preference you should choose the type of floss that is most suitable to your liking and is able to get into all the crevasses of your mouth.

Flossing Properly:

The American Dental Association advises everyone to floss thoroughly at least once per day. The recommended way to floss is by breaking off 18 inches of floss and winding it around both pointer fingers. Hold the floss tightly between your fingers and guiding the floss between your teeth in a gentle rubbing motion. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape and slide it between the gum and the tooth. Repeat this method on the rest of your mouth until all your teeth have been flossed.

Remember that flossing is part of maintaining your oral health. If you fail to floss you are leaving 35 percent of your teeth unprotected and exposed to harmful cavity causing bacteria. Flossing will help to prevent gum disease, bad breath, dental cavities, and even help to reduce heart disease. Make sure that you floss at least once per day to keep the dentist away!! Andres Dental hopes that this information about flossing properly has been informative and helpful. For any questions about this blog, procedures, or any other dental question feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or go to our website at www.andresdental.com.

Do I Need Braces?

July 8, 2010 at 8:19 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: Andres Dental, Braces, Clear Braces, Crooked Teeth, Dental Braces, Invisalign, Misaligned teeth, Oxnard Dentist, Traditional Braces

Whether or not you need braces is largely dependent on the alignment of your teeth. Braces are a method of straightening crooked or misaligned teeth into a position that is more ergonomic for the individuals bite. Thus, if you have misaligned teeth then you might need braces. Braces are commonly used to correct dental problems like overbites, cross bites, and under bites and other structural flaw with misaligned teeth. Braces correct teeth alignment by applying constant pressure to the teeth to slowly move the teeth into proper alignment. The process is done slowly and requires many adjustments to the braces. After each adjustment, the body needs time to re-anchor the teeth that have been moved through the process of bone remodeling. Altering one’s teeth is a process that can take 6 month to 3 years depending on the individuals needs. Yet, the average length of time to have braces is 28.6 months and average cost is $5,000. (wikipedia.com) There are many options available to an individual that needs braces. Choosing the one that fits your budget, timeline, and style is important in considering which type of braces you should choose.

Traditional Braces:

Traditional braces are typically what come to mind when thinking about braces. Traditional braces use a steel wire, cement glue and a bracket that attaches to the teeth. These braces are outdated and have become a cheaper alternative to the other types of braces.

Clear Braces:

Clear braces are an alternative to traditional braces. These braces function in the same way as traditional braces but offer a cosmetic benefit in the fact that they blend better with the natural color of our teeth. Typically, clear braces are made from ceramic or plastic material. A problem with clear braces is that a lot of friction is created making them more brittle than traditional braces. This makes it more difficult to remove the braces when done with treatment.

Lingual Braces:

Lingual braces are placed on the backside of the teeth and function similarly to traditional braces but they cannot be seen when smiling. However, this type of brace is typically harder to tighten and adjust. Also, these braces can get in the way of tongue movement and cause many mouth sores.

Invisalign:

Invisalign is a clear removable aligner that is similar to a retainer. Invisalign can be used to gradually move teeth into their final position. This is a great option for someone who needs minor adjustments to their teeth placement. Generally, Invisalign is not used for complex orthodontic cases.

It is always best to consult your dentist when thinking about braces. The dentist will be able to conduct an assessment of your dental needs and can inform you of your potential options. Yet, we hope that this information about braces will help you to make a good decision about your dental needs. For any questions about this blog or any other dental need feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or visit our website www.andresdental.com

5 Foods that Help to Protect Your Teeth

July 6, 2010 at 8:03 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: 5 Foods that protect your teeth, cavity prevention, Dental Care, Dental clinic, Dental Health, Dental Tips, Dential Hygiene, Oxnard Dentist, Tooth care, Tooth health, Ventura Dentist

Our teeth are dramatically influenced by what we put into our mouths. The foods we consume can either function to decay/destroy our teeth or they can help to protect them from harmful bacteria and plaque. By choosing the right foods you can naturally fight bacteria, strengthen enamel, remove plaque, and freshen breathe. Choosing the right foods can be the difference in improving your oral health and keeping dental costs down. By being conscience of the foods you eat and how it affects your body, you can dramatically improve your overall health. Here are 5 foods that go a long way to protect your teeth so that you can have a bright white smile for years to come.

1.Celery, Onions, Mint Leaves

Celery:

Celery helps to protect your teeth in two ways. Celery is a hard abrasive vegetable that requires lots of chewing. The extra chewing causes the mouth to salivate, which naturally helps to neutralize the bacterium that creates cavities in our mouths. Also, the density of celery helps to naturally clean between the teeth and message our gums, which prevents the build up of plaque and helps to strengthen our gums.

Onions

Onions have natural antibacterial sulfur compound that helps to fight the sulfuric acid released from cavity causing bacteria. Eating peeled raw onions is the best way to release the natural antibacterial into your mouth. However, make sure to have some mint leaves handy.

Mint Leaves:

Mint leaves after eating a meal will help to keep your breath smelling fresh. Mint leaves contain monoterpenes, monoterpenes is a substance that travels to your lungs where it releases a sweet fresh smell. Your lungs functions to push the smell out of your mouth creating fresh minty breathe.

2. Cheese

Cheese helps to protect your teeth in a couple ways. Cheese helps to balance the ph in your mouth. Cheese will naturally lower the ph of acidic areas thus making your mouth less acidic. The high amount of calcium and phosphates helps to preserve and rebuild the enamel of your teeth. Also, cheese causes you to salivate, protecting your teeth from cavity causing bacteria.

3.Kiwis:

Kiwis are a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to protect your gums from periodontal disease.

4.Sesame Seeds

Seeds dense material helps to prevent the build up of plaque and breaks up caked in plaque. Sesame seeds are a good source of calcium, which helps to rebuild tooth enamel. Primitive humans ate lots of seeds, which helped to protect their teeth from cavities before the invention of toothbrushes.

5.Water

Drinking lots of water is one of the easiest ways to protect your teeth from harmful bacteria. A dry mouth is one of the best environments for cavity causing anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria thrive in un-oxygenated areas. Our salvia helps to keep our mouth oxygenated and prevent bacteria from forming. A dry mouth allows anaerobic bacteria to use left over food particles to create sulfuric acid that function to breakdown your enamel and create cavities. By drinking water you keep your mouth moist and protected from potentially harmful bacteria.

Protecting your teeth is not just about brushing, flossing and going for your six-month check-ups. In order to properly protect your teeth, you need to choose the right foods and limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks you eat and drink. Andres Dental hopes that this information was informative and will help you to be more conscience about protecting your teeth by eating the right foods. For any questions about this blog or any of your other dental needs feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or go to our website at www.andresdental.com.

How to Keep Your Smile Bright and White

June 29, 2010 at 8:58 pm | Posted in Dental basics | 2 Comments
Tags: Camarillo Dentist, dental advice, Dental clinic, Dentist, Healthy Teeth, In- Office tooth whitening, Oral Health, Over the counter whiteners, Oxnard Dentist, Smile, Smiling, Teeth discoloration, Teeth whiteneing, Teeth whitening options, Tooth discoloration, Tooth whitening, Ventura Dentist, Zoom Whitening

With the fast paced environment that we all currently live in, we are constantly looking for the best and fastest way to improve our first impressions. Humans’ rely on first impressions to determine whether they will continue with business relationships, personal relationships and friendships. It is important to make sure that you take the time to care for yourself. One of the best ways to make a quality first impression is by showing off your purely whites and smiling. Smiling is contagious and functions as humans’ way to express joy and happiness to another through the simple action of smiling. Typically, your smile is one of the first things that people will notice about you. It is important to have a bright white smile that helps to make a quality first impression. However, many of us drink and eat foods that stain our teeth and leave us with an unattractive smile. Nobody wants their other qualities to be overshadowed by discolor teeth. Thus, there has been a large movement towards whitening one’s teeth to combat dis-colorization. Teeth whitening can be done by many different products and many different ways, thus, we are hoping to educate you about the different types and variety of teeth whitening products and services available to you so that you can make an educated choice about your smile.

What Causes Tooth Discoloration:

Tooth discoloration is a problem for many people. Our teeth start off sparking white thanks to the enamel covering our teeth. Our teeth enamel is designed to protect our teeth from everyday use, ie chewing, eating, trauma, and acid build-up by leftover foods. As we get older our tooth enamel begin to wear down and becomes more transparent. As our enamel becomes more and more transparent due to micro-cracks our dentin, our teeth’s main material, begins to show. The micro-cracks in our enamel are filled by plaque and debris causing discoloration to our teeth. There are a number of different factors that lead to our enamel becoming more transparent including age, food, drinks, tobacco and more. One of the ways to protect your teeth enamel is by avoiding sugary drinks and foods that cause acid build-up. The most common causes of tooth discoloration is sodas, coffee, and tobacco.

Tooth Whitening vs Tooth Bleaching:

Tooth whitening is a term that is loosely thrown around in the dental field. Tooth whitening refers to restoring a tooth surface by removing plaque and debris from ones tooth. Many products can claim to whiten teeth because removing plaque and debris from ones tooth can be done simply by brushing your teeth. Hence, many toothpastes claim to have teeth whitening capabilities because they are able to fall into this loosely fitting definitions of tooth whitening.

Tooth bleaching is a more intense form of whitening. According to the FDA, the term bleaching is only to be used when the teeth can become whiter than their natural color. Bleaching products typically contain hydrogen peroxide or cambamide peroxide which serves as the oxidizing agent to stain deposits resulting in whiter teeth. Some of the main ways to bleach ones teeth are bleaching strips, bleaching pen, bleaching gels, laser bleaching and natural bleaching.

Teeth Whitening Options:

In-office Teeth whitening:

Many Dental offices offer whitening options that can quickly and dramatically whiten your teeth. Andres Dental office offers Zoom Whitening, a high concentration of peroxide gel applied by the dentist or dental assistant after your gums have been properly protected. Typically, this procedure takes about an hour and will leave you with a dramatically whiter smile.

Professionally Dispensed Take-home kits:

Many dental offices will offer a take-home whitening kit that can produce great results over time. Take-home kits are easy to use and typically contain a lower concentration of peroxide than the in-office procedure, yet, are still affective at whitening one’s teeth. Take-home whitening kits typically have custom made bleaching trays that resemble a mouth guard which allows you to easily place the gel in the tray and begin bleaching your teeth.

Over the Counter Whitening Kits:

Over the counter whitening kits are the cheapest and most convenient of the teeth whitening options. Over the counter whitening kits have a low concentration of peroxide and contain one-size fits all trays, whitening strips, or paint-on applicators. These options typically are less effective and will mostly whiten the front teeth.

I hope this information about teeth whitening was educational and will help you and your family to make educated decisions about your dental needs. For any questions about teeth whitening or any other dental procedure feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or go to our website at www.andresdental.com.

Bad Breath Affects Your Social Life

June 23, 2010 at 6:15 pm | Posted in Dental basics | 3 Comments
Tags: Affordable Dentist, Andres Dental, Bad Breathe, Bad breathe can affect your social life, Dentist, gum disease, Halitosis, Oxnard Dentist, smoking, social life, tobacco, tooth decay

Everyone has had the experience of being too close to someone with bad breath and we all know it is not a pleasant experience! Bad breath is something everyone wants to avoid but is a problem for many people. The problem with bad breath is that humans are constantly in close proximity to one another. We rely on this closeness to establish friendships, business relationships, and personal relationships. Yet, when you have bad breath your other qualities can be over-shadowed and you can fail to make a quality impression you wanted because of bad breath. The clinical term for bad breath is halitosis. Halitosis is caused by a number of different agents but is typically associated with poor oral hygiene. Chronic halitosis can be a sign that larger dental problems may exist. Thus, if you have chronic halitosis you should consult your dentist immediately. Here are some of the main causes of halitosis. Hopefully this information will help to inform you about your dental needs.

Food particles left behind:

Every single time we eat, food particles are left behind in our mouth. These particles get wedged into our teeth and coat our tongue. The particles of food function to feed anaerobic bacteria in our mouth that causes a smell that is similar to rotten eggs.

Tooth Decay:

Basically, any time there is an infection in your mouth one of the results will be bad breathe after a prolonged infection. Tooth decay is an infection that is one of the causes of bad breath. The bacterium in your mouth attacks your teeth and begins to rot them from the inside. The longer that your tooth is left to rot or dematerialize the more likely that bad breath will occur.

Dryness of the Mouth:

The human mouth has hundreds of different types of bacteria in it, many of which function to protect the mouth and help digest food. Our salvia holds many of the good types of bacteria that help us to digest our foods. A dry mouth allows for more plaque to develop and will lead to bad breath.

Gum Disease:

Gum disease is another infection that causes bad breath. Gum disease breaks down attachment fibers and supporting bones that hold your teeth in your mouth and the by-product of this is bad breath. The acid produced by the bacterium in your teeth are eating away at bone and flesh and releasing a smell through these actions, which cause bad breath.

Smoking:

Smoking is not only unhealthy for you but is one of the causes of bad breath. The nicotine, tar and other substances remain in the mouth after smoking or chewing tobacco and cause bad breath.

Severe Dieting:

Eating disorders or over dieting can cause bad breath to occur because of the increase in acid in your stomach. Not eating enough creates a very acidic environment in your body and results in bad breath.

Bad breath can easily be prevented through proper dental habits. Don’t let bad breath be the reason you did not get that date or make that sale. Remember to brush your teeth, floss regularly, and go for your six-month dental check-ups to prevent a number of causes of bad breath. If you have any questions about bad breath or any other dental need, feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or visit our website at www.andresdental.com.

Oral Health Important to Your Self-Esteem

June 17, 2010 at 8:30 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: Affordable Dentist, Dentist, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Oxnard Dentist, Self-Esteem, Smile, Smiling important to being happy, Smiling is imporant to your Self-Esteem

Through out time a smile has always been a way to brighten someone’s day. A bright smile is contagious and is a physical expression of an emotion that functions as a method of communication between humans. Smiling is our method of expressing happiness to others through the physical action of showing off our purely whites. Yet, how does showing off your purely whites help to improve your self-esteem? The facial feedback theory developed by Davis and Pallandino, explains that you may actually be able to improve your mood and overall self-esteem by simply smiling. They conducted a study where they asked people to express emotions through facial expressions; they found that the people that were asked to smile experienced positive emotions that helped to dictate their mood. Smiling is important to your mood, confidence, and self-esteem. A happy confident person is one that smiles. We do not want our teeth or gums to be discolored, crooked, infected, or the cause of poor breath. Especially in today’s society when first impressions are so important. Thus, it has never been more important to pay attention to your oral health. Here are 5 simple ways to improve your oral hygiene so that you can keep smiling through out your day.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride tooth paste

Try to brush your teeth after every meal
Use soft-brushed toothbrushes

Floss regularly

Floss after every meal

Don’t smoke or chew tobacco

Tobacco is the number one cause for tooth loss in adults
Tobacco causes gum disease and can cause mouth cancers

Check your mouth regularly

Look for potential tooth or gum problems ie. Red, puffy, sore or sensitive gums.
Bleeding during brushing or flossing
Chronic bad breath

Visit your dentist every 6 months

Keep up to date with visits to the dentist

Keeping your mouth healthily is very important to our health and takes effort. Make sure to follow these simple easy ways to maintain and improve your oral health so that your smile is a reflection of you. For any questions about oral health, procedures, or payment issues feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or go to our website at www.andresdental.com. Don’t forget that all you need is a smile across your face to improve your day.

5 Foods that Attack Your Teeth

June 15, 2010 at 8:48 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: 5 foods dentist advise to stay away from, dental advice, Dental basics, Dental Health, Foods that are bad for your teeth, Foods that attack your teeth, Foods to Avoid, Health, Oral Health, preventive care for teeth

Everyone has heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” People have used this simple phrase to curb people from eating foods that are bad for their health. Yet, when people are thinking about health they think about their heart, brain, blood flow, cholesterol, but not their teeth. Our teeth and our overall health are dramatically affected by what we eat. Protecting our teeth from potentially harmful foods that cause plaque, damage our enamel, and cause bad breath is necessary to remaining healthy and maintaining a winning smile. The problem with certain foods is that it begins to break down right in your mouth. These foods are called fermentable carbohydrates. The bacteria living on your teeth use the sugars from these fermentable carbohydrates to produce strong acids that attack your enamel. Unfortunately for us, foods like candy, potato chips, and sodas are high in these fermentable carbohydrates, which cause damage to our teeth. Here are 5 foods to avoid, to protect your teeth from fermentable carbohydrates.

Sodas:

Sodas are one of the worst things that we can put into our body. Sodas contain tons of sugar. Sugar is used by the harmful bacteria that reside in our mouth to produce acids that damage our teeth. Also, the carbonation in sodas function to break down our enamel, thus, creating an environment where our teeth are more susceptible to demineralization.

Raisins:

Although most people would think that raisins are healthy, they are not healthy for our teeth. The drying process that raisins go through cause the sugars to concentrate and the gummy outlier layers helps the sugars to stick to our teeth. Any type of food that is sugary and gummy/sticky will typically be bad for our teeth.

Candy:

Candy in general is bad for our teeth. The sheer amount of sugar that is placed in a lot of candies today is very problematic. Hard candies and gummy, sticky candies are the worst types for our teeth. These candies stick to our teeth and leave tons of sugar behind for bacteria to turn into acid.

Lemon:

Lemons are natural acidic which means lemons are not good for our teeth. Anything with a high acidic rating will generally function to break down the enamel of our teeth and not be healthy for them. Watch out for other foods like orange juice, tomatoes, and limes. Typically, it is a good idea to brush your teeth after any food that is acidic.

Cake:

Cake is really bad for our teeth. The sugar and carbohydrates in the bread is bad for our teeth. Cake is quickly turned into acid once it enter into your mouth.

Remember that protecting your teeth is part of being healthy. Foods with lots of sugars or acids are bad for your teeth and if eaten will likely cause damage to your teeth. Try to limit your intake of these 5 foods and you will be on course to improve your overall dental health. Andres Dental hopes that this information was valuable and helped you to make wise decisions for your dental health. For any of your dental needs please contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or visit our website at www.andresdental.com.

ERA Mini Dental Implant System

June 10, 2010 at 8:13 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: Andres Dental, Basic Denture Information, Dental Implants, Dentist, Denture Basics, Denture Info, Denture Information, Denture repair, Denture Replacement, Dentures, ERA Mini Dental Implant System, Mini Dental Implants

Dentures are a big change from your natural teeth. Yet, having dentures can really help to improve the lives of individuals. Dentures can not replace your old teeth but they can allow you to enjoy many of the foods you used too. A lot of fear is associated with getting dentures. Many people worry that it will alter the way they sound, cause irritation to their gums, and potentially fall out at an embarrassing time. All changes have difficulties but with the right dentures you will be able to reduce the potential for these problems to exist. An excellent solution for many people is the ERA Mini Dental Implant System. The ERA Mini Dental Implant System is rooted into your bone just like your natural teeth which helps to eliminate the interference with speaking and eating. Here are a couple more benefits of ERA Mini Dental Implant System.

It’s a Snap:

It is a snap to quickly, easily and more securely hold your dentures in place. Plus, the procedure is minimally invasive and can be performed in one 90-minute visit.

Eliminates the Need for dental adhesives, pastes and powers:

The ERA Mini Dental implants hold your dentures more securely than adhesives. Your dentures come out only when you are ready to remove them.

Reduces the fear of embarrassing moments while socializing:

Helps to reduce embarrassing signs of loose or poor-fitting dentures, including speech problems, lack of muscle coordination, and clicking noises.

Save money and time with an affordable alternative to traditional implants:

Denture stabilization with ERA Mini Dental Implants generally costs less than traditional implants and eliminates the cost and time associated with purchasing dentures adhesives.

Who should consider ERA Mini Dental Implants?

Individuals who are unhappy with their present denture, who could benefit from a more confident secure feeling when talking, eating, and laughing, and smiling.

If you are in need of dentures or are currently unhappy with your current dentures the ERA Mini Dental Implant System might be the right solution for you. Yet, make sure that you consult your dentist in order to find a denture option that is affordable and functions to fit your dental needs. I hope that this information about the ERA Mini Dental Implant System is helpful and will allow you to make an educated decision about your dental needs. For any additional information, please feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or go to our website at www.andresdental.com.

Brush Your Teeth Properly Every Time!

June 8, 2010 at 8:47 pm | Posted in Dental basics | Leave a comment
Tags: Affordable Dentist, Brush, Brushing properly, Dentist, Healthy Teeth, Oral Hygiene, Oral tips, Tips about oral health, Tooth brush

Brushing your teeth is your first line of defense against bad breath, oral disease, and tooth decay. Yet, many adults do not brush their teeth properly because they do not spend the proper amount of time brushing their teeth, use too much pressure or toothpaste and do not brush at the right angles to get in-between all of their teeth. Brushing your teeth functions as your way to dislodge foods, reduce the amount of acid and sulfur in the mouth and protect you from microorganisms in your mouth that cause bad breathe, oral diseases, and tooth decay. Your mouth is an extremely active place and needs your help to protect it from bad microorganisms that attack your teeth and gums. There are potentially over 500 different types of microorganism that live in your mouth at one time, many of which, help to digest your food, protect you from oral disease and act as a protective barrier for the body. Yet, some of these microorganisms cause gum disease, tooth plaque, and bad breath. Thus, there is a need to brush your teeth. Unfortunately, the mouth is a great place for intrusive microorganisms, thus, having the proper form, angle, and pressure is critical to reaching all of the pesky microorganism that attack your teeth and gums. By brushing your teeth properly you will be able to increase your overall oral health and keep those dental bills down. Here are a couple simple tips to keep in mind while brushing your teeth.

The proper amount of time to spend brushing your teeth is between 2-3 minutes:

We all have busy lives and typically are rushing to get out of the house in the mornings and do not spend the necessary 2-3 minutes brushing our teeth. Many of use just throw some toothpaste on the toothbrush and quickly brush our teeth to give use the illusion of brushing our teeth by the minty-fresh feeling following the toothpaste. Yet, this is very hazardous to your oral health. Just because there is the taste of toothpaste in your mouth does not mean that you brushed your teeth properly. To truly get all of those pesky microorganisms we all need to spend 2-3 minutes brushing our teeth. Here are a couple of tip to increase the amount of time spent brushing your teeth. Try to listen to a song, humming a song, use a stopwatch, or set a timer. All of these will help to make sure that you are brushing your teeth for the proper amount of time.

Brush your teeth at 45-degree angles:

The right angle can help with just about everything. 45-degree angles allow for the brush bristles to penetrate into hard to reach places and create the maximum amount of brushing power to dislodge resistant plaque.

Use light gentle strokes while brushing:

Many of use try to substitute brushing for 2-3 minutes with quick-pressured strokes. Yet, brushing too hard is extremely bad for your oral health and one of the quickest ways to develop gingivitis. Brushing your teeth too hard is very bad for your gums because the bristles poke into your gums and then tearing them way with each brush. Instead, you should use light gentle strokes that are properly angled. The right 45-degree angle will create all the pressure you need to dislodge even the most caked in plaque and will not damage your gums in the process.

Brushing your teeth often and properly will be one of the surest ways to keep your dental costs down. The proper angle, pressure and time will really help to improve your overall oral hygiene. I hope that you enjoyed these simple tips about properly brushing your teeth. For any of your dental needs please feel free to contact Andres Dental at 805-278-1212 or check out our website at www.andresdental.com.