Teeth/Dental care
Your teeth are supposed to last a lifetime, and with proper
care they can. You already know that it is important to brush and floss at
least twice daily, but it is also important to visit a dentist at least once
every six months for a cleaning and check-up. Your teeth are mostly square so a
helpful tip on how to floss is to picture how you need to clean all four sides
of each tooth. Also, many people apply too much pressure when brushing.
According to a Seattle-area dental hygienist, holding your tooth brush with
just your thumb and the finger next to it (index finger) will apply just the
right amount of pressure to keep your teeth cleaned.
Also, if you don't already have a dental health insurance
plan, you may find the following information useful.
DSHS
DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) has a
comprehensive dental program for adults who qualify for DSHS benefits. In order
to recieve dental coverage from DSHS you must qualify for their medical
coupons.
To qualify for on-going coverage you must apply at a
Community Service Office in your area (you can find listings in the government
section in the Yellow pages).
Community Health Clinics
Maybe you don't qualify for DSHS medical coupons. Community
Health Clinics offer "sliding scale" fees. They will provide you
services at a fraction of average costs, based on your income.
Low Cost Dental Plans
There are many dental insurance companies that offer low
rates for young adults. Many companies offer plans starting as low as $20 a
month! There are tons of plans available. You can do some home research and
find the best one by going online and searching under "low cost dental
plans."
http://www.e-healthplus.net/index.html is one of many companies providing pre-paid dental plans. Individual membership is only $11.95 per month. They also provide prescription drugs, vision and chiropractic plans for free. One time application fee is $20.
