Dental health crucial for kids

FAIRMONT - Dental health is important for children - and adults - because it is an indicator of overall health, said Dr. Paul Carlson, DDS, with Carlson Dental Office, P.A.

"The habits of taking care of your mouth can translate to taking care of your overall health," Carlson said.

This is a good time to think about dental health because February is National Children's Dental Health Month, promoted by the American Dental Association.

Dental health starts with children brushing twice a day, Carlson said.

"Kids should be sure to brush after breakfast in the morning," Carlson said. "Certainly (brush) before they go to bed without eating any snacks before they go to bed."

It's a concern if kids eat breakfast at day care or school and don't brush afterwards, because the surface of the teeth need to be clean as long as possible to prevent decay.

Misinformation and bad habits can promote decay in teeth, setting kids up for a lifetime of health problems.

Sometimes people think little ones don't need to take care of their baby teeth because they will just fall out, but Carlson says that's not the case.

"Baby teeth are basically what hold the space and guide eruptions of permanent teeth," he said. "If kids are getting large decays or teeth out, eventually it can make it difficult for permanent teeth to erupt in the proper space."

Using a bottle to sooth kids to sleep is another bad idea.

"We see cavities in kids at 3 and 4 years old," Carlson said. "Parents have the tendency to let kids fall asleep with a baby bottle in their mouth," which results in tooth decay.

He knows of some kids as young as 3 or 4 years old who had decay so bad they had to go to a pediatric dentist and have oral surgery.

"The level of decay in kids has not gone down," Carlson said, even with the many tools dentistry has at its disposal.

The problem in part can be traced back to what kids eat, he said.

"Kids have more access to processed foods, pop, sports drinks," he said.

Those foods have more sugar and acid, which wear on the teeth.

"Acid softens enamel," Carlson said. "With soda, you make your mouth more acidic, and it softens the enamel. Even diet soda is high in acid content."

The way people drink can intensify damage.

"People will sip pop, and it will keep their mouths at acidy levels all day long," Carlson said.

Dentists have long known candy is bad for teeth, but now realize sour candy is extremely detrimental. Not only does the sour candy contain sugar, but acid as well.

"To get the sour aspect, it's an acid, like lemon is sour; lemon is an acid," Carlson said. "Plus, it's sticky, so kids are getting sugary, acidy candy that sticks to their teeth."

Prevention is the way to keep kids' teeth and bodies healthy, he said.

"Most dentists would like to see kids twice a year because they're going through so many changes in a short period of time," Carlson said.

The American Dental Association recommends X-rays once a year and fluoride twice a year up to age 16.

"We recommend 6-year-old and 12-year-old molars be sealed if warranted or needed," Carlson said. "Sealing fills in the grooves so food and plaque can't get caught in those grooves and cause cavities.

"For some kids, if they've had cavities, it's not a bad idea to add an over-the-counter mouth rinse - not to replace brushing, but in conjunction with it," Carlson said.

Parents can help by checking their little ones' brushing.

"They usually don't have the dexterity to get things done thoroughly," Carlson said.

Oral health is important because when a child's teeth are bad in bad shape, the child often feels bad.

"Kids can miss a lot of school because of tooth pain," Carlson said.

"Evidence (shows) infection in a tooth can affect the health of your body," he said.

Bad teeth and gums also can affect how and what a person eats.

"Kids, if they've got a sore tooth, may not eat the correct things they need to be healthy," Carlson said.

Digestion starts in the mouth with saliva, he explained, and problems with chewing can result in digestive problems.

Health care experts are "starting to use saliva as a detector for systemic problems," Carlson said, enabling earlier diagnosis of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Taking care of your teeth adds up to lifelong health.

"A child doing a good job of good oral hygiene as they get older, just that aspect could influence how they take care of the rest of their body," Carlson said.

"The reality is your mouth is a part of your body," Carlson said. "If you keep your mouth clean, it will benefit your body."


Source:

Sentinel Online

Diabetes took my teeth but not my life

Sia Figiel is one of six CNN viewers selected to be a part of the Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge program. Follow the "Sassy Six" on Twitter and Facebook as they train to race the Nautica Malibu Triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on September 14.

(CNN) -- I was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago.
At the time, I was caring for my mother, who was on dialysis and had had her leg amputated. As a family, we knew very little about diabetes -- only that once you got it, you deteriorated and died.
Like our father, who suffered a stroke and then died years later of a massive heart attack brought on by complications of diabetes.

Both my parents, in fact, died from complications of diabetes. They were strong pillars of our family and community, taken way too soon by a disease that is the leading cause of death among Pacific Islanders.
Before seeing the doctor, I had been experiencing extreme thirst, especially at night. The tips of my toes felt like bees lived there and were desperate to burst out of my skin. My vision became blurred after each meal.
 Fit Nation team works out with Hawks Fit Nation team starts journey to tri
It was 2 p.m. and I hadn't eaten anything when the doctor tested my blood sugar level. It was in the high 200s. Normal is between 110 and 125.

You have diabetes, Ms. Figiel, the doctor said. He prescribed metformin and directed me to a dietitian. She further reiterated what the doctor had told me: how food was related to high blood glucose levels and how consistently high blood glucose levels will eventually lead to amputations, blindness, kidney failure, stroke and other complications.

I followed the dietician's plan for the next few months. I took up walking and noticed that my vision had become clearer. But it didn't take me long to fall back to my old eating habits. A colleague's birthday celebration, a brother's graduation party, a friend's wedding, a cousin's funeral -- these were all occasions where food was at the center. And in our culture, you show appreciation and respect for those who prepared the food by eating it.

I soon found myself hovering around 400 pounds.
After six years of oral medication, I was switched to insulin injections. My blood sugar levels were too high, and I was not managing them well.

Insulin was scary at first. But then I realized it gave me the freedom to eat all my favorite foods! I would just inject 100 units, and my blood sugar would be normal in a matter of minutes. Soon, I was injecting as much as 300 units of insulin a day.

It was at this time that I began experiencing extreme pain in my teeth and gums. One of my front teeth became longer than the rest, and I found that I couldn't bite into certain foods, such as apples. This front tooth was eventually pulled. The dentist didn't have to do much; it pretty much fell out on its own.
Injecting large amounts of insulin meant I was prone to low blood sugar. I would wake up in a sweat as energy quickly left my body. My 8-year-old son saved my life continuously during this time; he knew exactly what to do and how to inject insulin. The fact that my life was being saved by a child shamed me.

Eighteen months ago, my sister and I moved our family from American Samoa to Utah. I saw the move as an opportunity for me not only to change my own life but, most important, to give my son his childhood.
Fit Nation: Celebrate small victories

The first thing we did as a family was to enroll at a recreation center. We were all exercising together. The kids had fun in the pool, and I found myself walking again.

I also decided to educate myself about diabetes. I had read about people reversing diabetes by eating a plant-based diet. It was an easy plan to follow because I love fruit and vegetables, and they are in abundance here.

Yet I found that I couldn't chew much without feeling extreme pain. I bought a Vitamix blender and started throwing all my vegetables and fruits into it. By Christmas, I had dropped 80 pounds.

Then, three days before Christmas, my dentist told me that I had advanced periodontal disease and all my teeth had to be removed. Not effectively controlling my diabetes had proven too much for my gums.
I was actually relieved. I welcomed anything to remove the pain I was experiencing. I decided to ask my friends to film the surgery. The filmmaker kept asking me, "Girl, are you sure about this? Aren't you afraid people are going to talk about you?"

You can watch the film on YouTube. It's called "Sia at the Dentist."

Since then, my son hasn't had to worry about waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. to revive me. In fact, since I began training for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon three weeks ago, we are all sleeping soundly through the night.
With the demands of training, I realize that my body needs more fuel. While I enjoy green smoothies, I also need protein and carbohydrates. Our choice of animal protein comes from turkey, salmon, chicken, canned tuna and eggs. I buy whole-grain pasta, quinoa and brown rice. We eat only wheat bread and do not eat white flour or sugar.

My boys love saimin, a form of ramen noodles popular on the islands. When I make it now, I add broccoli, peas and green onions and throw out the spice packet, which contains a ton of sodium. They complain and ask, "Then what's the use of eating saimin?"

That's when I show them my dentures, and there's sudden silence.

I still don't know all the answers to diabetes and obesity. All I know is that we have to look hard at our reasons for change. I'll be damned if I lose any other body part to this disease.

Did I mention that I ran my first mile this morning nonstop?

Read more:

Professional teeth whitening is easy, effective

Photo  Via the Gazette

While many of us might wish for movie star-bright white teeth, the reality is most of us have teeth that have yellowed with age.

Yours also could be graying or browning. Or, worse yet, you could be wearing away your teeth's enamel completely, exposing the golden, sensitive dentin underneath.

Even if your teeth are shade B1, the lightest natural shade for teeth, you might still feel the need for whitening - especially as we are inundated with beautiful actors and actresses strutting their larger-than-life, unearthly white teeth across our enormous high-definition TVs and movie screens.

"I've found that almost every person that walks into the door thinks their teeth are not white, whether they are or not," said Dr. Michael K. Kirk, a dentist at Grand Dental Studio in Oklahoma City. "It's all about your perception. Obviously, if you have that perception that your smile's not bright, then it's going to affect your self-confidence and your personality, the way you smile, your general approach to life."

Whether to go pro

For years, I dreamt of bright, gleaming white teeth, especially after about 10 years of orthodontic torture in my formative years. Yes, my teeth were straight, but I hated wearing white shirts because they emphasized my cafe au lait chops. Red lipstick? Forget it - my teeth looked the color of Big Bird.

I'd tried store-bought white strips with rotten luck. They're not cheap. It was hard to find a good time to wear them. The fissures in my teeth allowed the whitening gel to assault the nerves in the dentin. The "zingers" lasted for days, and most times half the box of strips went unused for these reasons.

So, when Dr. Kirk offered to let me try Lumibrite, an in-office professional whitening procedure, I was excited, yet hesitant. How would my sensitive teeth handle being exposed to chemicals for an hour under an ultraviolet light?

In-home comparison

For comparison, Kirk offered to treat my friend Ebony Dallas with take-home whitening trays. She, too, was concerned about teeth sensitivity and finding time to wear the trays for two weeks.

First a mold was taken of her teeth, from which fitted trays were made. The doctor gave Dallas a tube of whitening gel and told her to wear the trays with gel for three minutes each day. After the three minutes, she was to leave the gel on her teeth for 30 minutes, then rinse. She was to repeat this process every day for two weeks.

Some might not have the fortitude for this kind of routine, but Dallas did. She started noticing some dark spots on her teeth disappearing. Every day, she noticed her teeth getting whiter.

Dallas said she had no sensitivity with her take-home whitening trays. She found them fairly easy to wear as she was instructed. It's best to be careful when pursuing at-home treatment: Gum sensitivity or damage can result if gel from at-home trays leaks onto the gums.

Office treatment

When I went into Kirk's office, Charissa Jones, a dental assistant who is pursuing a dentistry degree, explained the whitening process to me.

First, she cleaned my teeth of plaque. Plaque is where many of the stains caused by coffee, wine, tobacco and other colorful edibles get stuck.

Next, she painted on a desensitizing gel. This miracle gel, whose active ingredient is a high concentration of fluoride, made my teeth numb enough that I had no sensitivity until a little discomfort at the very end of the process.

I sat still with an ultraviolet light shining on my teeth, which were coated with the Lumibrite solution, whose active ingredient is carbamide peroxide. With headphones on, listening to music, I was perfectly comfortable in the dentist's chair, contrary to the visions of pain and discomfort I'd held beforehand. In fact, I struggled not to doze off. After the procedure, I was amazed to see that my teeth were white. Really white!

Though my teeth weren't nearly as yellow to begin with as I'd thought, now they were unnaturally white - much like those celebrity teeth I'd envied.

I did experience sensitivity the rest of that day. Zingers, as they're called, zapped my teeth like little lightning bolts every few minutes. But it wasn't severe and only lasted that day. Most people get zingers for a day or two, Kirk said.

Other considerations

Most people can benefit from professional whitening treatments, Kirk said. The exceptions are those whose enamel is worn away, exposing the dentin. Dentin won't whiten and is where the sensitive nerve endings reside.

Whitening procedures aren't recommended for those younger than 16 or for those with worn enamel, untreated cavities, exposed roots or gum disease.

If you're not a good candidate for whitening but want bright movie star teeth, porcelain veneers might be your best bet. Though expensive, they can be fitted over your teeth and come in shades of white not naturally found in real teeth. Veneers can last up to 20 years.


Read more at http://gazette.com/professional-teeth-whitening-is-easy-effective/article/1514897#C1QUirF2dpXhGJ09.99

7 tips to brighten up your smile

It is often said that if you smile, the world smiles right back. Perhaps the most important thing you can wear is your smile. Here aret the dos and don’ts of keeping your smile at its sparkling best and dazzle everyone at the party.

Brush and floss daily – Everyone knows that we need to brush our teeth twice and floss daily, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who don’t follow this advice regularly. While brushing, don’t forget to scrape your tongue to remove any food residue stuck in its folds or taste buds. Read more about the right technique to brush your teeth.

People with braces, crown bridges, diastema (space between their teeth) or periodontally compromised teeth (excessive gap between gums & teeth) should utilise special interdental toothbrushes, which are specially designed for these conditions.

Snack right – While healthy foods help you avoid unwanted weight, they are also beneficial in maintaining oral hygiene. Munching on a stick of celery, carrot, or an apple cleans sticky food off your teeth. Chewing on parsley and mint leaves acts as a deodorizer. It increases the flow of saliva in your mouth, washing away bacteria that cause bad breath.

Don’t drink – Drinks are an inseparable part of any party, especially in the North. You should, however, avoid aerated drinks (diet included), black tea or coffee, and red wine, as these cause teeth stains. Drink water instead – it doesn’t stain; it rinses away any food stuck in your mouth and also keeps you well hydrated.

Fluoride Mouthwash – Mouthwash with high alcohol content can actually worsen bad breath. Instead, choose to rinse your mouth with a few drops of peppermint oil mixed in water. Chewing on sugarless candy/gum causes salivation, which washes bad bacteria away. Read more about the importance of mouthwash.

Here are some more tips that you can use to brighten up your smile.

Stay away from tobacco – Smoking and consuming other forms of tobacco can cause several problems like bad breath, stained teeth and gum disease. In smokers, the gums pulling away from the teeth and destruction of bone is especially more noticeable behind the upper front teeth and it can seriously ruin your smile.

Stay away from coffee and soft drinks – Pigments from coffee and soft drinks can stick to your teeth and give it an unsightly appearance thus ruining your smile. If at all you have to consume it, make sure you rinse your mouth with water a little while after. Here are some foods you should avoid for the sake of your oral health.

Try home remedies – Swishing your mouth with coconut oil first thing in the morning or eating bananas can give you whiter teeth and improve your smile. Even chewing on tulsi or holy basil leaves is a good idea. Read about more home remedies that can give you whiter teeth.

Besides these, here are some other alternatives to improving your smile. Also, learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can fix your smile.


Source:
The Health Site

Your Turn: Dental care underserved priority of public health

When thinking about the most significant gains in the health of our population, often taken for granted is the increased role of public health in preventing oral disease.

One of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century as recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was of fluoridation of water supplies that occurred in 1901. The foundation of water fluoridation in the U.S. was the research Dr. Frederick McKay. With help from G.V. Blackand other researchers, McKay, a dentist, established the link between fluoride and cavity-free teeth.

They identified the optimal concentration of fluoride to protect teeth against cavities without staining them. Current studies indicate community water fluoridation increases prevention of tooth decay by an additional 25 percent. One study estimates for every dollar spent on community water fluoridation, about $38 is saved in dental treatment costs.

While there have been concerns raised regarding adverse health effects related to fluoride, the claims remain unfounded. There have been a number of scientific reviews that continue to conclude community water fluoridation is both safe and effective.

While diseases of the mouth often are viewed independently from other parts of the body, inadequate dental care has been shown to negatively impact overall health. For example, diabetes can contribute to gum disease that can exacerbate diabetes. Studies also have suggested a link between gum disease and increased stroke risk. Weak teeth can make it harder to eat a nutritious diet, also worsening overall health.

As we jump ahead more than 100 years, dental health remains an underserved priority of public health. Dental coverage is noticeably absent in the Affordable Care Act despite the fact that more Americans lack dental coverage than health insurance. For the most part, Medicare doesn’t cover dental care; the program pays only in certain cases where dental and medical needs intersect.

And only 2 percent of retirees have dental coverage through a prior employer. Nationwide, 126.7 million Americans lack dental coverage, nearly triple the number of medically under-insured. For underserved populations on Medicaid in Illinois, very few providers are willing to accept Medicaid as a form of payment. Due to slow reimbursements that generally offer only 30 percent of usual and customary fees, who can blame them?

Seeing this trend, more local health departments provide safety net dental clinics to provide a basic level of care, but they do so at considerable economic risk. 

Right now, many of these dental clinics are struggling with decisions of suspension or discontinuation of services because they simply can’t make ends meet as a Medicaid-only clinic.

Local hospitals, seeing dozens of patients in their emergency rooms each week for acute dental concerns with nowhere else to turn for care, understand the need for these safety-net clinics. What began in 1901 as a public health interest in oral health continues to remain today under somewhat different circumstances.


Source: 
PANTAGRAPH.COM

Fidelco veterinarian shares tips for Pet Dental Health Month

BLOOMFIELD, CT - Working dogs and pets give their human partners plenty to smile about all year round. During National Pet Dental Health Month in February, our pets’ smiles take center stage. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation’s Dr. RuthAnn Solomon, DVM, says preventive dental care can increase your pet’s overall health and potentially decrease future veterinary bills. 

“Oral health maintenance is just as important as keeping your pets’ vaccinations up to date,” says Dr. Solomon. “Periodontal disease is the most common health problem that veterinarians see in their patients, and it can lead to serious systemic conditions, but it is preventable. Great advances have been made in veterinary dentistry and there’s a wide array of options available for pet owners.” 

Fidelco is Connecticut’s only guide dog school. It breeds, trains and places its own unique “breed within a breed” of German Shepherd Guide Dogs for people who are blind. The non-profit organization relies solely on the gifts and the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations and civic organizations.

Dr. Solomon offers the following tips for pet owners:

Have your pet's teeth examined by your veterinarian during your annual visit: Early detection and correction of dental disease is best! If needed, your vet can perform a thorough dental scaling and polishing to give you a head start on developing healthy dental hygiene for your pet. 

Try to brush your pet's teeth on a daily or weekly basis: The easiest way to get your pet used to regular at-home brushings is to start when they’re young. Brushing can be gradually introduced to older pets. The American Veterinary Medicine Association offers a video providing step-by-step instructions on how to brush your pet's teeth.

Never use human toothpaste on pets: The ingredients can be toxic to animals. Ask your veterinarian which dental health products are appropriate for pets. Also, dogs can’t rinse and spit like humans, so the best toothpaste for dogs is one with enzymatic action – look for the the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval.  Also, refer to the VOHC website for a list of approved products.

Pay attention to signs and symptoms of dental disease: Untreated dental infections can spread to the heart and other organs and quickly become life-threatening. Regular dental checkups are essential to help maintain your pet’s dental health. If you notice any of the symptoms below, take your pet into your veterinarian as soon as possible:

*Bad breath—If it’s beyond the usual “doggy breath,” it may be a sign that periodontal disease has already started.
*Frequent pawing or rubbing at the face and/or mouth.
*Reluctance to eat hard foods.
*Red swollen gums and brownish teeth.

Treats: There are some dental chews on the market that are specifically designed to help control plaque and tartar buildup. Look for dental chews accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) and ask your veterinarian if they’re right for your pet. 

If you give your pet dental treats, chews, or toys: Consult with your veterinarian first to ensure they are safe and effective. Avoid toys that are abrasive and can wear down the teeth. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, choose softer toys, rawhide or other chews that soften to avoid possible tooth damage. Always supervise your dog when he is chewing on a toy. - 



See more at: http://www.stamfordplus.com/stm/information/nws1/publish/pets/Fidelco-veterinarian-shares-tips-for-Pet-Dental-Health-Month21561.shtml#sthash.CUuCs1nw.dpuf

Kids and tooth decay: Tips for infants, toddlers and beyond

From pacifiers to carbonated drinks, dentists have advice on kids' oral health. (FAITH CATHCART/The Oregonian)

As part of a new educational campaign, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has launched what it calls the Monster-Free Mouths Movement, which includes tips to make the most of kids' tooth care, such as:

FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 2:

** Before teeth erupt, clean baby's mouth and gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush to get them used to the routine.

** If you give a baby a bottle at bedtime, don't fill it with anything but water. Bottles with sugary liquids or carbohydrates such as those found in milk, formula or fruit juice put the teeth under attack from bacterial acid all night.

** Never dip a pacifier in anything sweet.

** Take children to the dentist by their first birthday.

** Talk to the dentist about the right amount of fluoride for your child and how to get it.


FOR CHILDREN AGE 2 TO 5:

** Brush your child's teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and right before bedtime.

** Schedule dental visits every six months.
** If your child hasn't quit sucking a thumb by age 3, ask your dentist for suggestions. Sucking for prolonged periods can cause upper front teeth to tip out.

** Limit snacks to no more than three a day.

** Begin flossing your child's teeth when any two teeth touch.

** Limit juice to less than 6 ounces daily.


SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN:

** Supervise tooth brushing until children are 7 or 8.

** In addition to brushing and flossing, children can chew gum with xylitol, a non-sugar, naturally occurring substance that stimulates saliva flow, helping clean the mouth.

** Protect children's teeth with a mouth guard when they participate in sports or other physical activities.

** Avoid carbonated beverages, sports drinks and juice pouches – all bad for the teeth.

--Katy Muldoon



Source: Oregon Live

SC Medicaid May Cover Dental, Weight-Loss Services

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s Medicaid director asked legislators Wednesday to support providing dental care to adults, weight-loss help for obese adults, and health screenings.

Those three new benefits were part of director Tony Keck’s budget presentation before a House Ways and Means panel. The initiatives would cost $15.3 million from state taxes and $52 million total when including federal money.

Currently, Medicaid in South Carolina covers only emergency tooth extractions for adults. Even that coverage disappeared between February 2011 and January 2012, as the agency eliminated all adult dental services during the economic downturn to prevent going into a deficit.

“We recognized it was a cost shift to hospitals and in some cases dentists,” but it was a cut the federal government allowed, Keck said.

With the agency ending last fiscal year with a surplus, Keck’s plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would for the first time cover preventive services.

He told legislators the need for dental care extends beyond improving health, since missing teeth, cavities and abscesses can make it difficult for people to find work and — if they’re in pain and can’t concentrate — keep it. He estimates that up to 40 percent of the state’s Medicaid-eligible adults would use preventive dental services, costing the state roughly $10.3 million. Children covered through Medicaid already receive full dental services.

The agency is developing a plan to cover services for the estimated 86,000 Medicaid-covered adults with a body mass index of 30 or more. That roughly translates to a 5-foot-9 adult weighing more than 200 pounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The reality is, in a nation that’s getting fatter and fatter and fatter, South Carolina is among the fattest,” Keck said. “The country is slowly killing itself through obesity.”

His Medicaid agency is the nation’s last to recognize obesity as a primary reason to seek care. The change allows obese adults to seek help losing weight before they develop diabetes or the host of other health problems linked to obesity, Keck said. The $3.1 million he’s seeking in the 2014-15 state budget would pay for visits to a doctor and licensed dietitian, and possibly other programs such as Weight Watchers. Such possibilities are still under discussion.

He’s also seeking $1.9 million in state money for enhanced screenings for health issues such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and breast cancer.

The new initiatives are part of his agency’s total request of $1.15 billion from the state’s general fund, an increase of $56 million over the current fiscal year. When including all funding sources, the agency is seeking approval for a $6.9 billion budget.

That includes money to cover more already-eligible people enrolling in Medicaid due to the federal health overhaul. South Carolina is among states refusing to expand eligibility as the law intended. But more people are enrolling, Keck said, as people learn of their option or sign up to avoid the federal penalty for not having health care.

Keck said fewer already-eligible people are enrolling than the agency predicted for this fiscal year due to problems with the federal government’s Oct. 1 rollout of its online marketplace. His revised projection is that about 100,000 will be added to Medicaid rolls by June 30, rather than roughly 200,000.

He still expects additional enrollments to reach initial estimates, but over a longer period — by January 2016.

“We assumed a very large marketing effort around exchanges and lots of advertising and a robust call center and a website that would draw a lot of eligible people in. We all know what happened,” he said. “But what we expected to happen last October will happen next October. I think that rush will come through in the next enrollment period.”

Read more: CBS LOCAL

Yelp advises dentists on improving online reputation

The San Francisco-based business review site Yelp recently shared tips for dentists looking to improve their online reputations.

According to Yelp, an increasing number of patients turn to online review sites to share their experiences. To help dentists, Yelp has provided tools in their business account (www.biz.yelp.com). The free tools allow business owners to respond to Yelp reviews.
Yelp notes that responding to reviews can be difficult -- especially critical reviews. Yelp has offered these suggestions for responding:
------

1 - Claim your business page on Yelp: Strapped for time? Good news - it will take no more than a few minutes to claim your business listing on Yelp and use the suite of free tools available in your business account to optimize your listing and begin attracting new patients. To begin the claiming process, visit www.biz.yelp.com and click ‘Create your free account now’. You’ll want to be at your place of business as Yelp calls the number listed on your business listing and prompts you to enter a 4 digit code at the end.
Once inside your business account, you’ll have access to several free tools to optimize your listing to give potential patients a full picture of what they can expect at your practice. Be sure to add your bio, upload photos of your practice, include information about what you specialize in and, perhaps most importantly, respond to reviews. 

2 - Identify the reviews you should respond to: A new review has been posted to your dental practice’s Yelp listing...now what? For starters, determine if the review is positive, one that includes constructive criticism or maybe just an unhelpful rant. It’s important to point out that nearly 80% of reviews on Yelp are 3 stars or higher. However, when you do receive a review with constructive feedback, you may be able to look at this as an opportunity to respond.

 In your business account on Yelp, you have the option to send a private message or post a public comment. While aiming to comply with privacy rules like HIPAA, dentists can and do use Yelp’s free tools to engage with patients in several ways. First, they can always privately respond to a reviewer. A private message is similar to sending a personal email and is visible only to the reviewer. This is a good first step to get more information from a customer about a less-than-positive experience. It’s also great to pay attention to happy customers by sending them a quick private message, thanking them for taking the time to write a positive review about your practice. Second, they also have the option of responding publicly without disclosing anything about the reviewer. Instead, doctors can describe their general practices as opposed to commenting on a specific incident or course of treatment.

3 - Always respond diplomatically: When it comes to responding to your reviews, remain professional, thank the reviewer for their feedback and share any updates that have been made to your business as a result of the reviewer’s feedback. When you use Yelp’s messaging tools properly, like Sacramento’s Children's Choice Pediatric Dental Care, it may result in a review update. Don’t forget to pay some attention to your happy clients by sending a quick message to thank them for writing a positive review, much like how Dental Care of Antioch does. Keep in mind that consumers are looking at the BIG picture about how a business is being perceived, so we recommend that they try not to focus or obsess over one single review.


Source: http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2014/02/yelp-advises-dentists-on-improving-online-reputation.html

9 Easy Dental Care Tips

We tend to assume our teeth will always be there, but having healthy teeth and gums may take a little more effort than just gliding a toothbrush across them once a day. Strong, functional teeth should not be taken for granted, especially as we move on in years. Issues such as dry mouth due to medications, sensitivity to temperatures and textures and painful gums are all common dental complaints.

I recently heard a report on the radio about how baby boomers are concerned about not being able to afford dental care insurance. Interestingly, according to a new WellPoint survey that examines how we view dental coverage benefits, "Americans over age 45 understand that good oral care can positively affect their overall heath." But, the survey adds, "while 83 percent of Americans surveyed say they have medical coverage (from either an employer or the government), only half as many are covered by dental insurance." With retirement around the corner, the cost of dental care coverage is being weighed strongly.

Proper dental care is essential throughout the life cycle, no matter what your age. Here are some tips that should bring a smile to your face:

1. Your teeth and gums are made up of calcium, so you can imagine how important it is to make a deposit in the calcium bank. Eating foods such as yogurt, cheese and soybeans will keep your teeth strong. For breakfast, try having yogurt topped with a crunchy whole-grain cereal and fresh fruit to start your day off right.

[Read: High-Protein Breakfast Ideas.]

2. Vitamin D, most of which we get from the sun's rays, helps us absorb the calcium in our body. This is just another benefit of getting outdoors and exercising. If you don't know what your vitamin D level is, it's easy to check with a simple blood test.

3. Diets that are deficient in vitamin C can cause severe dental problems, including loose teeth and bleeding gums. Try a salad with citrus fruits, such as orange or grapefruit sections, to boost your body's ability to fight those destructive symptoms, as well as plaque. Be sure to buffer citrus fruits by including them as part of a meal, because their acid content could potentially erode tooth enamel.

4. Although it seems like a "duh" statement, avoiding sugary foods is pivotal to help ensure dental health. Foods high in sugar, like candy (particularly the sticky types), convert to acids inside your mouth and can cause the harmful decay you're trying to avoid.

5. Saliva is one of our body's strongest soldiers battling bacteria. Foods that promote saliva production, such as tart or sour foods including lemons, limes, cherries and cranberries, can help your body fight bacteria in your mouth. Drinking water is another great way to produce saliva, clear bacteria and cleanse your oral cavity. Foods that have a high water content also help to thwart the process of decay by diluting the sugars in the foods you consume. In other words, eat your fruits and veggies.

6. If you can't find your floss during the day, opt for Mother Nature's toothbrush. Hard, crunchy foods, such as carrots and apples, can clean your teeth naturally.

7. Make sure you are brushing and flossing twice-a-day – every day! Flossing should be a part of your morning routine, and both brushing and flossing after dinner could even help you lose weight by discouraging bedtime snacking.

8. See your dentist every six months. Your teeth may not look dirty from the outside, but bacteria and plaque lurks in places you cannot see in the mirror.

9. Rinse out your mouth with mouthwash, or at least water, after every meal. This practice will help kill germs and prevent others from knowing you had onions on your sandwich.

Remember that a smile speaks every language – it's the only thing that depicts "one size fits all." A healthy smile wouldn't be the same without shiny teeth to lend their support.


Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/01/30/9-easy-dental-care-tips