Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Protect your kids’ teeth this Halloween

Your kids have just gotten home from a long night of trick-or-treating, and they dump pillowcases full of candy onto your living room floor. Before they dive in, you wonder: What can I do to protect their dental health when they are surrounded by so many treats? The first step, many experts say, is helping the kids organize their candy and allowing them to keep only their favorite kinds. By getting rid of all the extra candy, you will limit the amount of sugar they are exposed to over the following days.

Next, eliminate the sticky candies and hard candies. These types of treats remain on your teeth long after the candy has been consumed, causing more damage than a piece of chocolate or peanut butter cup would. In addition, hard candies can chip a child’s tooth or cause them to choke, so it is better to eliminate all of those varieties immediately. Getting rid of sticky candy is especially important if you have a child with braces; candies like Laffy Taffy can do damage to orthodontic appliances and potentially cost you hundreds of dollars in repair work. Finally, experts recommend that you set aside a certain time each day (for example, after dinner) to allow the kids to have a few pieces of their remaining candy.

By keeping a consistent time for treats, you can make sure your children brush their teeth immediately afterward to get rid of harmful sugars. This is not typically possible at school, so avoid packing pieces in their lunches. When in doubt, talk to a True Dental Discounts pediatrician about the best ways to prevent tooth decay in children. Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for your children’s oral health!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

True Dental Discount Reviews and Testimonials

If you’re looking to find out more information about True Dental Discounts and the reviews from their members then look no further! Below are some member reviews and testimonials for True Dental Discounts. If you would like to read more member reviews / testimonials then visit the True Dental Discounts website for more information.

I finally found something that really helps! The first week I received the Advantage Card, I saved $418 on Dental expenses. That was money I would have had to pay out of my own pocket.
- J. Britt, Orlando, FL

I just want to say thanks for having this service for those that cannot afford dental insurance. I have noticed the savings since the very first time I used it, and I’ve never even heard of Discount Dental Plans before. I was so pleased with the company I called in to see what other programs they offer and signed up for coverage on Medical and Chiropractic as well!
- Kevin, Philadelphia, PA

The free prescription drug card is such an added bonus. I’m on a maintenance drug that used to cost me $107.67 every three months. After receiving my free discount drug card it now costs just $43.42. This is an annual saving of $257, which is even more than the entire plan cost. What a great free bonus to go along with my dental plan.
- Hassan, Sacramento, CA

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Reading problems linked to poor vision

Does your child have trouble reading at school? If so, he or she may have undiagnosed problems with their vision. Even if a child has passed the vision screening at school, he or she may still have complications that go unnoticed during routine scans. According to the American Optometric Association, the eye chart test given in schools checks only for visual acuity – just one of seven skills needed to read properly. This results in many children “passing” the vision test who still need further testing and correction. Experts recommend children undergo a comprehensive optometric exam that tests not only for visual acuity, but also:
  • Visual fixation – the ability to aim the eyes accurately, whether it’s on a stationary photo in a history textbook or on a moving line of text in a PowerPoint presentation.
  • Accommodation – the ability to adjust eyes’ focus as the distance of an object in a person’s line of sight changes. This is especially important in school, where students often have to shift their focus from their textbooks to the chalkboard across the room.
  • Binocular fusion – the ability to unify information gathered from each individual eye. If a child’s vision is not aligned correctly, the brain will begin to compensate by favoring one eye over the other, causing a lazy eye.
  • Convergence – the ability to look at a nearby object by turning the eyes inward. This skill is important when children focus on doing homework or reading a book.
  • Field of vision – the complete area able to be seen by a person’s eyes. Children must be tested for the appropriate levels of peripheral and central vision to ensure they can see and read well in the classroom.
  • Perception -- the ability to process and recognize objects in a person’s field of vision. Proper vision skills are required for children to be able to consistently recognize shapes and other repeated images, like letters or numbers.
Once a child’s vision has been thoroughly tested, he or she will be given corrective lenses that address any diagnosed problems. This often removes a huge hurdle in the reading process and makes any additional reading therapies more effective. For more information about comprehensive visual exams for students, talk to an optometrist on your True Care Advantage vision plan. You can get significant savings on an exam that will set your child up for success in school, and in life.