How to Correctly Floss Your Teeth

There are a lot of people that think flossing their teeth involves grabbing a piece of floss, and shoving it down in between their teeth then pulling it up. This is a rather ineffective way to floss. Read this article to know the correct way to floss your teeth.

Open your floss and pull off a section about 16 inches long (you need to be able to hold it in both hands).

Wrap each end of the floss around your thumb and index fingers of both hands for a good grip.

Open your mouth and stick the floss in between two of your back teeth, only pressing hard enough to get it to the base of them, just under the gums.

Now, pull the floss with your fingers in the direction of the tooth you want to floss so that it creates somewhat of a semi circle around the side of your tooth.

While slowly moving the floss up and down the side of the tooth,(go below the gums, but not very far) also pull on it with each hand to create a double motion to clean the whole side of the tooth.

Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each side of every tooth.

Visit your dentist every 6 months, and surprise him/her with your excellent flossing skills.

Most people like to floss in front of a mirror, it seems to help.

When flossing, it helps to start at one end of the mouth and go to the other, that way you don’t lose track of what teeth are done.

Remember, your goal is to floss your teeth, not your gums.

Don’t press the floss in between your teeth too hard, you can cause your gums to bleed and cause some pain (Unless you’re somewhat masochistic, in which case, be my guest).

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What to Do When You Need Multiple Teeth Cleaning Appointments

Did your dental hygienist or dentist tell you that you need more than one appointment to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned? Are you upset about this because your insurance only covers two cleanings a year? This article will explain the reason for the additional cleaning and the insurance codes than can be used to get your insurance to cover it!

Bring your insurance card with you to the dental office. Also, bring your insurance booklet about coverage to the dental office and/or the phone number of the insurance company. If the office does not know about your dental coverage or refuses to call the insurance company, then call the insurance company yourself. There should be a toll-free number on the back of your card.

Ask the dentist or hygienist for their diagnosis of the condition of your gums and insist on a copy of their complete periodontal pocket charting. (Some offices don't really check the gums, so if you insist on a copy of the periodontal charting, they will be forced to do so.) You can keep this chart for your reference so that you know where your problem areas are. You will also be able to see in the future if problem areas are getting better or worse. There is a space between the gum and tooth called a "pocket." Pockets 3 millimeters or less are within normal limits. Pockets deeper than that indicate gum disease. However, even pockets 3 millimeters or less can have early gum disease (gingivitis).

Have the dental hygienist show you the best way for you to brush and floss your teeth. There are many different ways to brush. Your brushing needs change over time. The way you were shown to brush as a child is probably not the way you should brush now. Brushing only cleans the front, back, and top of your teeth. You ABSOLUTELY need to clean the bacteria from in-between the teeth with floss. I know, we all hate this, but it is very important. Be sure you are not just flipping the food out from between your teeth with the floss. You must floss CORRECTLY to remove the damaging bacteria!

Have the hygienist or dentist explain the gum disease process to you. Plaque is the soft film that forms on everyone's teeth daily. It contains a lot of bacteria that can destroy the tooth (causing cavities). When you do not remove it all, it eventually mixes with the minerals in your saliva and hardens up into what people call tartar (or calculus). Plaque under the gumline has more damaging bacteria. In addition to destroying the tooth, it causes the gums to become inflamed and bleed and also destroys the bone that holds your teeth in!

Eventually you form gaps (pockets) between your teeth and gums that even your brush and floss cannot clean. In that case, the hygienist needs to do deep periodontal cleaning to reach those areas. Over time, when enough bone is destroyed, the teeth become loose, and then it is time for dentures! This process can occur more rapidly in some people, and much more slowly in others.

Some people do not even get the bleeding, but still lose the bone support around their teeth. Genetics is involved somewhat, but no matter how susceptible you are to gum (periodontal) disease, you will not lose your teeth if you remove the damaging plaque daily with your brush and floss. I am explaining this process as simply as possible. Please ask your dentist or hygienist to explain your unique situation to you. Also, ask the hygienist or dentist to explain the relationship between gum problems and the rest of your body.

Gum disease is an infection, and your head is not a little machine that sits on top or your body all by itself! The bacteria in your mouth get into your blood stream and flows throughout all your body! In the last several years, researchers have been finding relationships between gum problems and diabetes, coronary artery disase, respiratory, liver, kidney, and pancreatic disease, as well as miscarriages and preterm, low birth-weight babies.

Request the diagnosis code that the dentist intends to use to submit charges to the insurance company. There are other codes for cleaning teeth besides the ones used for the two preventive cleanings every year. Most people don't even know about these additional codes for gum problems. If the dentist recommends additional cleanings, then different codes should be used.

Request the dental office to "prior authorize" the dental procedures to the insurance company BEFORE any work begins--and also prior authorize any follow-up cleanings to the insurance company. Regular preventive dental cleanings are submitted to your insurance company as code 1110. If you need just one additional cleaning because you have gingivitis, then the first cleaning should be submitted as code 4355 (initial cleaning/bridge removal) due to gingivitis), and the second cleaning a couple weeks later after the gums are somewhat healed should be submitted as code 1110 (preventive cleaning).

You may have a co-pay. If the dentist or hygienist tell you that you need more than one additional cleaning (deep cleaning/periodontal scaling and root planing), then those cleanings to treat the gum disease should be submitted as code 4341. When that code is used, the dentist charges a fee for each quadrant/quarter of the mouth. That is the way the insurance companies want it, and it is the way all dentists charge it. It is charged that way because it takes a lot of time to do the deep cleaning, and sometimes not all quarters of the mouth need to be cleaned that way.

The name of that treatment sounds scary, but it is totally nonsurgical, and usually the hygienist or dentist give you anesthetic to make the area numb when they are working on it. The anesthetic makes you more comfortable so that someone isn't poking around in your inflamed, sore gums for an hour, and the anesthetic also helps reduce the amount of bleeding so that it is easier for the hygienist to do a good job for you. The fee for deep cleaning (also called periodontal scaling and root planing) can be quite high--often up to $250 per quarter of the mouth ($1000 for the whole mouth), so insist that your dental office send in a prior authorization before you begin the procedure, so that you will know how much your insurance company will pay, and how much is your responsibility. Some insurance companies pay 80% of this; some pay 50%; some don't pay. The insurance is a contract between your employer and the insurance company, so if your insurance doesn't pay anything, then it is because your employer contracted for it that way. Many dental insurances do pay these additional cleanings.

Your employer can always pick up better insurance for you, but it will cost you more.Do not let the dental office begin extra dental cleanings until you FULLY understand the complete cost and what portion your insurance company will NOT cover. Also, after periodontal treatment, the dentist may want to see you every three or four months for cleanings until YOU have your gum disease under good control. These cleaning should be submitted as code 4910 to the insurance company (periodontal maintenance cleanings). Many insurances cover up to 4 "periodontal maintenance cleanings" a year after periodontal scaling/root planing. Most people do not about this coverage. This is because after 3 or 4 months, different types of damaging bacteria start accumulating in your pockets, and if the pockets can be professionally cleaned out every 3 or 4 months, the dentist can HELP you keep the gum problems under control so that you do not reach the point where you need surgery.

However, you must understand that only YOU can bring the problem under control by brushing and floss the plaque off your teeth DAILY. (The extra cleanings help, but what YOU do daily at home determines if your periodontal disease gets better or worse.) Think of your brush and floss as an antibiotic--it is removing the bacteria that causes the gum disease and is possibly causing problems in your body as a whole. The dentist may also recommend other gadgets to clean your teeth. Each situation is unique, and he may possibly recommend medications. If your gum problem is advanced, he may recommend that you see a periodontist (a dental specialist in gum disease).

OR--if you just plain are not happy with the cleanings you receive from your dentist or cannot seem to get your gum problems under control no matter what your dentist or hygienist recommend, you might want to seek a second opinion from a periodontist. (I will warn you that there are many general dentists/hygienists who just do not treat gum disease. It is sad, but it takes a lot of experience and good skills to treat gum disease well, and some dentists/hygienists just are not interested in doing these procedures. It does not matter if the dentist is in a beautiful office or is the President of his local dental society. He just may not be into treating gum disease. He may not even tell you about it, because he does not have the skills to detect it. On the other hand, a dentist in a tiny office in a basement may have a hygienist who does highly skilled cleanings!

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Good Dental Hygiene Can Prevent Cavities And Gum Disease

Good Dental Hygiene Can Prevent Cavities and Gum Disease

Good dental hygiene is important for the overall health of your teeth and gums. Making periodic trips to your dentist for a cleaning and brushing and flossing your teeth daily can prevent cavities from forming and tartar buildup which can lead to gingivitis. There are many recommendations for good dental hygiene which can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums and avoid costly and invasive dental procedures.


One of the first steps in maintaining good dental hygiene is making regular visits to your dentist. It is recommended that you see your dentist twice a year for cleanings and examinations. Your dentist will remove any tartar from your teeth that has been built up in between visits and take x-rays of your teeth to make sure the roots are strong. They can also check for cavities and fill them while they are still small. They will examine your gums to make sure they are healthy and free from disease. Often after a regular cleaning, the dentist will treat the teeth with fluoride to help maintain the strength of the teeth. Regular dental visits are essential to good dental hygiene.

Following a regular daily brushing and flossing routine is also important to maintain good dental hygiene. It is recommended that you brush your teeth upon awakening, after meals and before you go to bed for the night. It is essential to brush your teeth thoroughly for at least ten to fifteen minutes in order to remove any plaque buildup and control tartar. Flossing is also important for good dental hygiene. Flossing can help prevent gum disease and cavities. Flossing removes plaque and food that remains stuck in between teeth that can decay and cause cavities. Food decay and plaque can also cause irritation to the gums, allowing them to bleed easily. Going without flossing can lead to tooth loss and gum disease. Flossing is recommended to be done at least once a day, preferably at bedtime in order to prevent receding gums, gingivitis and cavities between the teeth.

There are some other important steps to good dental hygiene that may not be as obvious or well-known. Cleaning the tongue is an important part of any good cleaning regimen. Brushing the tongue or scraping it removes a layer of bacteria that can be responsible for bad breath. Cleaning the tongue also removes decaying food particles, fungi and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. Tongue cleaning is an important step in dental hygiene as it can remove some of the bacteria that are responsible for tooth decay.

Practicing good dental hygiene can prevent disease and cavities and make your visits to the dentist painless and enjoyable. Getting into the daily habit of brushing and flossing, along with twice a year visits to the dentist is good preventative medicine for optimum oral health.

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Top Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, is a common malady for many people. It can negatively affect interpersonal interactions as well as self-esteem. Fortunately, it can be treated effectively, and usually easily, at home. The cause of the odor simply needs to be identified first.

Some forms of bad breath are caused by the foods we eat. There is an initial scent that lingers, such as garlic or onions, that isn't truly "bad" breath. Rather, this is just the odor of the food most recently ingested. Other foods actually contain compounds that alter the way the air leaving our lungs smells. This form of bad breath is unpleasant, but there is nothing to be done to solve it, short of not eating those foods any more. The odor can be mitigated by using breath mints.

Most other bad breath is caused by bacteria of the mouth. This bacteria can in several spots, some easier to reach than other, throughout the mouth. When the bacteria excrete waste from what they have ingested, they leave behind certain compounds that result in foul odors. The majority of these compounds are sulfur based, which is why people often relate the taste in their mouth to the smell of rotten eggs or the "bottom of a bird feeder". Other scents that are considered unpleasant are also sulfur based.

Sufferers usually wonder how to get rid of bad breath. If the odor is bacteria born, the only way to effectively end it is to kill the bacteria. Good oral hygiene, beyond simply teeth brushing, involves a thorough cleaning of all areas of the mouth. This requires daily flossing and tongue cleaning. If bad breath is a persistent, troublesome issue, a special dentist-prescribed mouth rinse may be necessary.

One of the most important factors in bad breath prevention is not giving bacteria a hospitable environment to grow in. Saliva is a key factor in killing bacteria within the mouth; if the mouth becomes dry, or short on saliva, bacteria aren't effectively removed. Individuals who frequently complain of a dry or "cotton" mouth also often report bad breath or a foul taste. Dry mouth can be caused by dehydration, extended speaking or smoking.

Bacteria also grow well in an unhealthy oral environment. Gum disease, or gingivitis, as well as periodontal disease both cause a breakdown of the gums and tissues surrounding teeth. This gives bacteria a well protected place to breed, far from reach of a toothbrush or dental floss.

Not only that, it can cause bad breath in and of itself. The bacteria that break down the gums and tissues to cause the disease release the same waste materials as other oral bacteria. The initial cause of bad breath, an overabundance of oral bacteria, can often lead to secondary bad breath, caused by gum or periodontal disease. Thorough oral hygiene is the most effective ways to get rid of and prevent bad breath.

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Discount Dental Plans and their Utility

Discount Dental Plans have increasingly been useful and act as a handy alternative to dental insurance. They have revolutionized the process how millions of people solve their dental needs all over the US.


Unlike dental insurance, discount dental plans have no yearly limits and no tedious paperwork hassles. One can start saving right away especially with a discount dental plan and some plans even offer savings on cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia and other dental specialties. To top it all, most dental plans have no annual limits too!

Every person in the world is interested in making himself or herself healthy and fit. Teeth are an important of your body which indirectly helps to keep your body healthy because it is the primary organ necessary for you to digest food. Taking care of teeth and gums is vital to our dental health yet many care a damn for it, and regret it afterwards when they encounter sudden pain, excessive swelling in gums and so on.. Various discount dental plans provide a solution to millions of people in the U.S. to get rid of their dental maladies at astonishing rates. Gone are the days when you needed dental health insurance; now anyone can save on their own family dental problems.

Discount dental plans are perfect alternatives to dental insurance plans that start from $79.95 - $100 annual prices and most of them provide discounts in the range of 10% to 60% on most dental procedures. There are thousands of participating dentists who are part of the combined network of different discount dental plans, and also easy to find a dentist and plan in nearly all cities in the US states.

This is one of the samples of an unnamed dental plan which is discounted!
• You don’t have to wait! Instant Savings! No Paperwork! The Plan is affordable and simple!

• The Plan includes everyone in the house even if they are not blood relations.

• This is not a dental insurance plan; it is a discounted dental program, therefore, anybody and everybody has guaranteed acceptance. Save more than 40-60% on dental treatments for the year…no limits whatsoever. All ongoing dental problems are accepted, except for orthodontic treatment already in progress.

• The Dental Plan requires you can use one of the participating providers listed out by us. Otherwise it is essential to issue a request to the company to contact one of your providers to become a part of our list of providers. You can see the list on our website for more details.

If you already have family dental insurance then too, you are eligible to receive discounts offered by our discount dental plans along with your current insurance dental plans for even more dental care savings! You can even consult with one of the dentists you know that participate in our discount dental plans before beginning your dental care treatments.

Save money on your dental care by choosing the best discount dental plans in the US! You can learn more about the plans and their comparison with dental insurance plans

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How to Treat Your Teeth

There are not many places where you can have professional dental services from medical experts. Thailand dental service will simply impress you. Bangkok has featured as one of the most prominent tourist destinations among the Asian countries. It is known for its pristine beaches, virgin forests and friendly people. Asia is the seat of many cultures and you will find Bangkok, the true melting pot of many cultures.

You will note that there are doctors of different origin working in the clinics and hospitals of Bangkok. When it comes to dental services in Bangkok, you will find that the quality of the clinics and the hospitals can only match international standard.

Even people from Western countries visit Bangkok dentists. They are qualified professionals with considerable experience in this field. Even famous celebrities depend on them totally for their service. If you want to have teeth implant and laser whitening, you have to rely on dentists who have experience in cosmetic dentistry. Foreign nationalities have spoken highly of the services in Bangkok hospitals. Some hospitals and private clinics offer airport pick ups. You will find that there is a team of professional doctors and licensed dentists who will take care of your teeth and gums. You can rely on the doctors as you will know that you are in able hands.

Most of the hospitals have state-of-art facilities and advanced equipments. The Thailand dentists will take care of everything. The staffs take help of perfect dental service and procedure and they will also guide you about taking care of your teeth. You will have the best treatment possible in a Bangkok hospital. The other good thing about the doctors and the medical practitioners is that they are proficient in a number of languages which means that you can converse with them and talk about your problems freely. When you compare the services with any Western countries, you will find that you have good services within an affordable price bracket. For any sort of dental services like teeth implants, you can rely completely on the doctors and dentists in Bangkok.

When you look at the long list of hospitals and clinics in Bangkok, you will find that most of them boast of a qualified set of dentists and staffs. These people know how to treat their patients properly. When you can avail high-class treatment in half the price, you will always go for Bangkok dentists instead of reputed clinics and hospitals in Western countries. However not all hospitals will be good. So as a patient, you should check all the possible sources and want to do some background check on the clinics and hospitals. If you want to know about a good clinic which offers good services, you can simply take a look at it.

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