Spirit Dental Resources

Spirit Dental Insurance is one of the most popular dental plans in the country. One of the top reasons for that is that the plan offers three free dental cleanings per year as opposed to two with other dental insurance plans. Your teeth are one of the first things that anyone notices about you. Having an extra cleaning every year keeps them cleaner and whiter, making them more attractive to others. Tom Mayer of Direct benefits says that is just one of the many reasons that Spirit is the best dental insurance plan in the country. Spirit was designed to be a ground-breaking dental insurance plan. There are no waiting periods. You can start using your plan right away. Major services are covered, which include crowns, root canals, dental implants, dentures and bridges. Another great feature is that you have the option of $1,200, $2,000, and $3,000 deductibles. The majority of dental plans have $1,000 yearly deductibles and that doesn't go very far at the dentist's office when something major happens. If you are looking for a great dental plan, Spirit Dental just may be the right plan for you and your family.

Everyone knows that brushing every day is a key to strong, healthy teeth - but that's not all there is to do.   Figures from the Adult Dental Health Survey reveal that common dental products such as mouthwash and dental floss aren't being used as part of an all-round routine, with just 31% of people using mouthwash and just 22% using floss. The same data also showed 42% of adults only use a toothbrush and toothpaste, with only 27% saying they use an electric brush. That could be why two in every three adults have visible plaque, and also why one in three children will start school with obvious dental decay. That's also one reason why the American Dental Association (ADA) promotes February as National Dental Health Month, and often has a focus on children's oral and dental health, so as to star the right habits early.   Some common tips to teach children about dental care include: Start healthy habits early. The standards are: Brush thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily, or for better results, brush after every meal. Floss teeth daily, or use an interdental cleaner to remove plaque from the gumline area and the sides of the teeth. Limit the number of between-meal snacks. Visit the dentist regularly. Keep on the look out for Signs of Gum Disease Gum disease is usually caused by plaque that produces toxins which irritate gum tissue. During puberty, gums can become more sensitive to these toxins because of hormonal changes. If your kids notice any of the following signs of gum disease, take them to the dentist: chronic bad breath a bad taste pus that appears at the gumline red, swollen, or bleeding gums detachment of gums from the teeth teeth that have loosened or changed position Watch What They Eat Kids are known for eating sweet snacks, fast foods and meals on-the-run, and these are habits that create tooth decay and dental problems. If desserts are going be eaten, they should be eaten at meal times when other foods help neutralize their damaging effects. When snacking, encourage eating foods that are good for teeth like nuts, popcorn, cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, and sugarless gum or candy.

Updated on February 11, 2021. If you’ve been diagnosed with dry mouth, you know how uncomfortable this condition can be, so you probably want to get relief right away. But, in addition to making your whole mouth feel better, it’s wise to take steps to combat this problem because it may increase your risk of tooth and gum issues. That’s right: dry mouth might make you more susceptible to tooth decay, gum disease, and infections. And it might even lead to yucky bad breath too! Stumped about what route to take when it comes to treating dry mouth? Continue reading to learn a bit about some of the products and medications that your doctor or dentist might recommend.  First Off: Is Your Dry Mouth a Side Effect of a Medication That You’re Taking? Some people end up with dry mouth as a side effect of a medication that they’re taking.  If you’ve been diagnosed with a health problem, and your doctor has prescribed a medicine that’s causing your mouth to feel dry, let him or her know about this side effect. Your physician might give you a totally different medication to try instead, or you might just need to have the dosage adjusted to get relief. Simple enough! Tackle Dry Mouth with Over-the-Counter Products  You can find several over-the-counter products that might help you get relief when you’re experiencing dry mouth. It’s certainly worth asking your dentist or doctor about these types of products, especially if you want to try treatments that don’t require a prescription.    For instance, mouthwashes like Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse might help provide some much-needed moisture. And there are also saliva substitutes (a.k.a. artificial saliva), such as Biotène Oralbalance Moisturizing Gel, that might temporarily reduce dryness.  Alternatively, Talk to Your Doctor About Prescriptions  When OTC products fail to give you the relief you need, the good news is that there are also prescription treatments, such as oral rinses, that might be better for you. So don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about your dry mouth symptoms, as medications that stimulate the production of saliva might be the optimal choice.   One example is NeutraSal, which may help make talking, eating, and swallowing easier by acting like real saliva. Plus, there are also prescription medications that are designed to help increase the production and flow of saliva in your mouth. Examples include Evoxac and Salagen.  Note: Prescription medications to relieve dry mouth might be the right way to go if you’ve been diagnosed with a condition, such as Sjögren's syndrome, that has caused dry mouth.  There Are a Lot of Options When It Comes to Treating Dry Mouth! You don’t have to live with uncomfortable dry mouth and the unwanted oral health effects that it can cause.  Once you start diving into the treatment options available for this ailment, you’ll realize that there are special gels, mouthwashes, sprays, rinses, and toothpastes that are formulated to help reduce dry mouth symptoms. And, when over-the-counter products aren’t doing enough, rest assured that there are also prescription medications that your doctor might recommend trying.  Your Dentist Can Help You Keep Your Whole Mouth Healthy Remember: when you have dry mouth, working with your dentist is a smart way to maintain the strength of your teeth and gums. Plus, he or she can also guide you toward the best dry mouth treatments available, from artificial salivas to moisturizers.  If you’re worried about being able to afford every important dental appointment, consider signing up for high-quality insurance that can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs.  Sources: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-dry-mouth#2 https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dry-mouth-treatments#1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356052 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/expert-answers/dry-mouth/faq-20058424 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10902-dry-mouth-treatments https://www.fda.gov/ https://www.neutrasal.com/about-neutrasal  

Updated on March 10th, 2021 Do you find it hard to stick to a strict oral hygiene routine at home? Do you often skip brushing your teeth twice a day? Are you reluctant to floss because you don’t enjoy doing it or you’re too busy?  To find the motivation to take better care of your mouth, you might want to consider the fact that there’s a potential link between poor oral health and poor heart health! While this might seem a bit strange, it’s true: if you don’t take the proper steps to keep your teeth and gums clean, you might end up doing harm to your ticker. We break it all down for you below, so keep reading to learn about this fascinating connection between two very different parts of your body.  Do Heart Problems Start in Your Gums? To answer this question, let’s take a look at some of the findings of research that has been conducted in this area: One study found that you might be able to lower your risk of heart problems by brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. Study participants who stated they didn’t brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes showed a higher risk of heart failure, heart attack, or stroke compared to those who brushed the way experts recommend. Researchers have found that gum disease might cause high blood pressure. And oral health problems might also play a role in coronary artery disease.  There might be a connection between poor oral health and heart valve ailments. And people who have gum disease and fewer teeth might be at a greater risk of having a stroke.  Experts believe that, if your oral health is suffering, bacteria in the mouth might get into the bloodstream, increase C-reactive protein and inflammation, adversely impact the blood vessels and heart valves, and boost the risk of cardiovascular problems.   What does this all mean? Well, even though some of the research isn’t definitive, and other factors (such as whether someone smokes or leads an active lifestyle) also play a role in heart health, it appears that the inflammation and bacteria that occur in the mouth because of poor oral hygiene might impact other parts of the body in various ways.  More Research Is Needed to Get More Answers Although some research has shown that there might be a link between poor oral health and poor cardiovascular health, more studies will need to be conducted before experts can be totally sure that these problems are indeed related.  In the meantime, it definitely doesn’t hurt to maintain an oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing every day. And seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings is also wise. Not only will your mouth look and feel good, but you might also be taking a step towards keeping other areas of your body, such as your heart, healthy too!  Focus on What You Can Do Right Now If you have questions about how to up your game when it comes to oral hygiene, talking to a dentist could give you the answers you need. Sure, taking the time to shop for the right toothpaste, toothbrush, flosser, and mouthwash is a great place to start, but don’t neglect those important trips to the dentist to let a professional take a look at your teeth and gums. Your dentist can let you know how you’re doing, and can also provide treatments that will tackle problems like gum disease in their earliest stages before they can lead to other issues.  Final tip: consider signing up for affordable dental insurance to reap a host of benefits, like three cleanings per year and coverage for major services. The right plan can help you rest assured that, if you ever need to undergo expensive treatments for your teeth or gums, you won’t need to break the bank to restore the health of your mouth.   Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/heart-disease-prevention/faq-20057986 https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/07/bad-tooth-brushing-habits-tied-to-higher-heart-risk https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/heart-disease/how-oral-health-and-heart-disease-are-connected https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11264-oral-health--risk-for-cv-disease https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/healthy-teeth-healthy-heart https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20190927/gum-disease-might-raise-your-blood-pressure  

It is widely known that the sound of the dental drill is the prime cause of anxiety about dental treatment, and some patients avoid trips to the dentist because of it. This new device could help address people's fears and encourage them to seek the oral healthcare treatment they need. The prototype device works in a similar way to noise-cancelling headphones but is designed to deal with the very high pitch of the dental drill. Patients would simply unplug their headphones, plug the device into their MP3 player or mobile phone, and then plug the headphones into the device, allowing them to listen to their own music while completely blocking out the unpleasant sound of the drill and suction equipment. The patient can still hear the dentist and other members of the dental team speaking to them but other unwanted sounds are filtered out by the device. Containing a microphone and a chip that analyses the incoming sound wave, the device produces an inverted wave to cancel out unwanted noise. It also uses technology called 'adaptive filtering' where electronic filters lock onto sound waves and removes them, even if the amplitude and frequency change as the drill is being used.

Patients spent less out-of-pocket and dental spending declined slightly in 2009, the first year-to-year decline since government analysts began tracking the National Health Expenditure Accounts in 1960. Dental spending per capita also declined which is certainly another sign of the recession. The economic recession that officially ended in June 2009 ""profoundly influenced"" health care spending during the year, according to a report prepared by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of the Actuary National Health Accounts and described in the journal Health Affairs. Government analysts said a slower rate of growth in consumer out-of-pocket spending for health care compared to 2008 ""was due mainly to declines in out-of-pocket spending for dental services, services provided by nursing care facilities, and physician and clinical services, sectors that account for a relatively large share of out-of-pocket spending.