If you are receiving Medicare and/or Medicaid, it can often be difficult to find a doctor or an Imperial Beach dentist who will accept your insurance. Unfortunately the payment schedules set up by the government have resulted in many doctors opting out of the system because they simply cannot afford the substantially lower payments for Medicaid/Medicare services as well as afford to pay for the substantially greater paperwork involved in taking such patients.
Next time you hit the grocery store in order to restock the pantry, pay attention to nutrition labels, and consider adding a few dental-friendly snacks to your cart. Here are a few suggestions to whet your appetite.1) Cheese and dairy products. If you are tolerant of lactose, try adding some yogurt, mild cheeses, and milk to the menu. Foods rich in calcium are believed to help tooth strength and brightness.2) Lean proteins and nuts. The phosphorus found in certain protein-rich foods can prove helpful in restoring minerals to your teeth, and in turn protecting the enamel.
3) Low-acidic fruits. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and one might argue enough apples help during dental visits. The crunchiness of the fruit helps work your teeth as you chew, and the water content acts as a buffer that protects your teeth from acid.4) Water. You should be drinking at least eight glasses of water daily, regardless. Water hydrates the body and is perhaps the best liquid to drink for maintaining healthy teeth. If you enjoy soda, coffee, and tea, however, try to limit the consumption and don't feel silly about bringing a toothbrush to work for use after lunch.
Well, first of all, do not expect to find a doctor or, should you find one or a clinic taking Medicare/Medicaid patients, do not plan on getting an appointment quickly. Sadly, that will not happen very often. Indeed, if you need quick care, the emergency room is likely to be your only recourse. To track down Medicare/Medicaid providers, you can contact your local health department or social service agencies to find out more information and there are a number of Medicare and Medicaid doctor directories online. While they cannot guarantee you an appointment, they do have access to information about current providers.
You can also go to the Medicare website to find Medicare providers in your area, although there is no guarantee they will be accepting new patients. It is worth a try, though. Also, managed care is probably a better bet than private practice. HMOs organized by private insurers have a practical interest in having HMO doctors taking government-insured patients, while Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) are generally run by hospitals or medical schools, and often only accept Medicaid patients.
Next time you hit the grocery store in order to restock the pantry, pay attention to nutrition labels, and consider adding a few dental-friendly snacks to your cart. Here are a few suggestions to whet your appetite.1) Cheese and dairy products. If you are tolerant of lactose, try adding some yogurt, mild cheeses, and milk to the menu. Foods rich in calcium are believed to help tooth strength and brightness.2) Lean proteins and nuts. The phosphorus found in certain protein-rich foods can prove helpful in restoring minerals to your teeth, and in turn protecting the enamel.
3) Low-acidic fruits. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and one might argue enough apples help during dental visits. The crunchiness of the fruit helps work your teeth as you chew, and the water content acts as a buffer that protects your teeth from acid.4) Water. You should be drinking at least eight glasses of water daily, regardless. Water hydrates the body and is perhaps the best liquid to drink for maintaining healthy teeth. If you enjoy soda, coffee, and tea, however, try to limit the consumption and don't feel silly about bringing a toothbrush to work for use after lunch.
Well, first of all, do not expect to find a doctor or, should you find one or a clinic taking Medicare/Medicaid patients, do not plan on getting an appointment quickly. Sadly, that will not happen very often. Indeed, if you need quick care, the emergency room is likely to be your only recourse. To track down Medicare/Medicaid providers, you can contact your local health department or social service agencies to find out more information and there are a number of Medicare and Medicaid doctor directories online. While they cannot guarantee you an appointment, they do have access to information about current providers.
You can also go to the Medicare website to find Medicare providers in your area, although there is no guarantee they will be accepting new patients. It is worth a try, though. Also, managed care is probably a better bet than private practice. HMOs organized by private insurers have a practical interest in having HMO doctors taking government-insured patients, while Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) are generally run by hospitals or medical schools, and often only accept Medicaid patients.
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Learn more about Imperial Beach dentists. Stop by Karen Carter's site where you can find out all about top Imperial Beach dentists and what they can do for you.
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