Does your mouth feel dry? There are dental health ramifications from a persistently dry mouth.  The medical term for dry mouth is xerostomia (pronounced zero stomia). Many people have xerostomia and it can be caused by medications, Sjögren disease or as a result of radiation treatments for cancer.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that having a dry mouth can cause more cavities in the mouth. Why? Because the saliva acts like a buffer and is constantly working to return your mouth to a normal pH. pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic something is. Neutral, which is what we want, is around 7. But if we drink or eat acidic things, (like regular and diet pop, juice, oranges, power drinks, etc), our pH can plummet to 3 and remember battery acid is a 1!


So what can you do if you have a dry mouth?

First, don’t add any extra acid to your diet.
Try sipping water throughout the day.
Place a humidifier where you sleep.
 Don’t use mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
Try products like Biotene or Xylimelts .
 
For more information on this topic,  click here. 

Dental insurance can be very confusing and frustrating.  It sometimes seems like the insurance companies are intentionally trying to confuse you. Here are some myths you may have heard about insurance:
 
MYTH: I can't go to the dentist if I don't have dental insurance.
FACT: Absolutely not true. Many people without dental insurance find that regular dental care is affordable, especially since preventive treatment helps safeguard against future problems before they become more serious and expensive to treat. Regular dental visits are an important part of your overall health, as studies show that poor dental health is linked to other medical issues such as diabetes, oral cancer and heart disease.
If you don't have dental insurance , talk to your dentist about payment options that may be available to you.
 
MYTH: My dental plan should cover all of the costs of my dental care. ·
FACT: Dental plans are designed to help pay for a portion of your dental costs.  The cost depends completely on the services and procedures that your employer has purchased as part of your dental benefit plan.
 
MYTH: My dentist has recommended a more expensive procedure that is only partially covered by my dental plan. Is my dentist trying to take advantage of me?
FACT: Absolutely not. While your plan may limit certain types of treatment it will cover, you and your dentist should always decide what treatment is best for your specific needs. Dental plan administrators are not usually dental professionals and therefore are not in a position to decide which treatments are right for you.
Don't let the plan coverage dictate your treatment.
 
MYTH:A note on my explanation of benefits indicates that my dentist's fee is more than was allowed by the dental plan for a procedure, Is my dentist charging me too much?
FACT: Your dentist is not over-charging you. Dental plans set limits for the amount paid for any treatment based upon a fee schedule -the plan's fee schedule, not your dentist's actual fees. The administrator will pay either a set percentage of your dentist's fee, or a maximum plan benefit, which is based upon the benefit level of your specific plan.
 
 MYTH: My dental plan is better-able to determine the fees for my dental needs than my dentist.
FACT: Your dentist is educated to  diagnose and treat oral disease and promote oral health and disease prevention. This requires a pre­ dental degree from a college or university, followed by a minimum of four years of dental school. A dental specialist undertakes an additional two to four years of training after dental school. Your dentist is a doctor of oral health who has taken the time to study your oral condition and develop a treatment plan for your specific dental needs. The cost for your care is based on treatment recommendations that take into account your dentist's clinical expertise and your specific needs and preferences.
 
Dental plans often limit your options through a contract with your employer and are not based on your individual needs. So, be sure to talk with us about your individual treatment plan and any questions you may have about your dental benefits.
 
If you still have questions about dental insurance, please get in touch with our office. We are here to help you.
 
Used with Permission from the Michigan Dental Association.