CNNMoney.com reported in July of this year that “barely half the population has dental insurance”. That is a high percentage.
Just a few months ago when I got a gold crown to fix a damaged tooth, it cost me about $600. And that’s with dental insurance. The price they quoted without dental insurance would be $900.
But just step across the border to Mexico at a DentiCenter office and the cost is $250. That’s a huge price difference!
DentiCenter is a small but growing chain of full-service dental centers sitting along the U.S. border of California, Arizona and Texas. The 6 offices are located in Mexico but 97% of its patients come from the U.S.
Vacation in Baja and vist the dentist too. Photo from The Travelers Journal.
I would probably go to the office in Baja, Mexico and visit the beautiful beaches and cove. Then it wouldn’t be so bad to visit the dentist, as long as you get a short vacation out of it.
The idea of traveling abroad for medical care is becoming common. There are even medical tourism companies that cater to just that idea. Especially in Thailand and India.
DentiCenter is one that caters to dental care. The center is founded by Dr. Juan Eng, a USC-trained periodontist from the Baja peninsula. They have been in business for 20 years now. DentiCenter’s services includes free transportation for all patients a convenient shuttle to and from the Mexico-U.S. border.
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I am always on the look out for new and neat soaps. Except this bar by Nature’s Plus is not exactly soap. As it does not contain caustic soda or tallow. It’s labeled as a cleansing bar.
The makers of this cleansing bar had this to say about it, “has a pH of 4.5 to protect your skin’s natural acid mantle. This unique cleanser contains the specific amount of allantoin needed to help your skin maintain its youthful glow. Free from the harsh, irritating ingredients found in soap and enriched with 500 IU of Vitamin E.”
Allantoin is a unique product that is used for skin protection. Allantoin is a white, odorless, crystalline powder. Allantoin is also used to hasten the growth of new, healthy tissue. Allantoin increases the desirability of cosmetic creams and lotions by its action as a skin protectant. - The Sage
As for my review of Nature’s Path beauty bar:
It’s a very hard oval bar. The scent reminds me of Pine Sol but more on the citrus side. So not too bad, but I would prefer a more neutral smell. The yellow color is also too much and can leave yellow messes on you soap dish and bathtub. I would say they tone down on the yellow color too.
Otherwise, it makes a nice facial bar and can even be used as shampoo bar too. Washes off clean and easy, leaving no residue. Your scalp fees very nourished from the Vitamin E and Allantoin. But it does leave your hair a bit dry. I guess you can always follow this with conditioner or use hair oil after.
A little more info about the pH of your skin:
Nature endows human skin with a natural pH range of between 4.5 and 5.5. Regular soaps tend to be alkaline, effectively removing the “acid mantle” that your skin drier, less pliant, less vibrant than it should be. Natural Beauty Cleansing Bar are pH balanced, protecting the skin’s natural “acid mantle.”
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I’ve always been aware of most mouthwash containing alcohol. For example, a typical 16 oz bottle of Listerine contains 22% of alcohol.
Most people like the idea of the “burn” in your mouth while gargling, it’s suppose to give your mouth that clean feeling. But sometimes I think it’s too much for me and even makes my eyes tear up. So lately I’ve switched to the alcohol free version. And so glad I did!
Aim Mouthwash 16 oz $2.99 availble at Drugstore.com
There is a surprising new scientific evidence coming out of Australia that found that alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of oral cancer.
Oral cancer is usually known to be brought upon by frequent smoking and alcohol consumption.
According to The Daily Telegraph out of Australia, “The ethanol in mouthwash is thought to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily and cause harm.”
As we swish around the alcohol in our mouth, a carcinogenic toxic by-product named “acetaldehyde” is formed and accumulates in the oral cavity. This is the main cause of oral cancer linked to mouthwash.
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