Dental health is the condition of the mouth and teeth, and the process by which you care for them. The health of the mouth and teeth begins even before birth. The first set of teeth, the “baby teeth” are already fully formed by the time a child is born, but are still under the gums. Certain medications taken by the mother during pregnancy can affect developing teeth, and cause problems with the child’s dental health later in life. When the teeth do come in, there are a few simple steps you can do to protect their health.  The new teeth can be cleaned daily with a moist washcloth, and when the children get older a soft toothbrush can be used. Children and adults two years of age and older should be brushing twice a day with toothpaste, and flossing once a day. When kids become old enough to use mouthwash, it should be used once or twice a day per bottle directions. Starting at 1 year of age, children should start to see a dentist regularly. Dental visits should be scheduled every 6 months for optimum dental health care, and more often if the person has braces or dental issues that require extra care.
     Dental health plans are just as important as regular health insurance. Dental health can affect many other parts of the body, and having a health plan just for the care of the mouth and teeth is a good way to insure that you are going to take care of them.  Many companies offer dental insurance to their employees for a minimal cost addition to your existing coverage. Most dental plans cover the basic care, such as regular cleanings and sealants if necessary, and also cover a portion of other expenses such as fillings, extractions and other dental procedures. If someone is unable to afford dental insurance, due to the high cost of the plan or unemployment, most states offer a government run dental health plan that provides for the basic level of dental care for adults, and offers usually full services for those under the age of 18.
     There are a variety of dental services available for general maintenance, or more serious dental complaints. During your regular dental check-ups, the hygienist will generally take x-rays first, followed up by a thorough tooth brushing, flossing, and fluoride treatment. During this process, the hygienist will be looking for any problems with the mouth, teeth and/or gums and report on them to the dentist. After the hygienist is finished, the dentist will come in to do a full examination of your teeth, and schedule any follow up work such as fillings, extractions, root canals, or deep cleanings that might need to be done. Emergency dental services are designed to be accessed after regular business hours, and are generally quite a bit more costly. Going to an emergency dentist is suggested if you are in severe pain due to a broken tooth, or you have called your regular dentist  after hours and been instructed to be seen immediately.