“This post was sponsored by the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central.”
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, “The Dentist makes me nervous.” Like really nervous. I’ve put off dental care before, and now I’m playing catch up. Fillings to be filled and roots to be canaled. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and through this process I’ve been so thankful for the amazing dentist that I have. Its not my favorite thing in the world, but you quickly realize that what you put in you get back. And its this time of year, with the slew of holidays and the sweet treats, that really make you realize just how important caring for your teeth and gums are. Having a good dentist, while important, is only a small part of the puzzle. So with a renewed interest in dental care, and a nervousness which I don’t want to pass on to my children, here are some things you and your family can do to make sure your teeth are in tip-top this holiday season.
1. Brush twice a day with a soft tooth brush – The brushing twice a day, no big deal. I got that. But the brushing too hard thing, that’s a tough one. Be gentle on those gums people! Healthy brushing habits prevents tooth loss and gum disease.
2. Floss Daily – Flossing, tooth care’s ugly stepsister. It’s time consuming and you rarely think of it unless an errant popcorn kernel gets in-between your teeth. Setting a good example for my kids is really what got me to be more consistent about flossing my teeth.
3. Take care of your toothbrush – We’ve all heard about replacing your toothbrush every six months, or whenever your dentist gets a new one. But there’s a lot more to it. First, make sure you are really rinsing your toothbrush, next store your tooth brush in an upright position {didn’t know that one}, and try not to store your toothbrush within containers too often.
Henrik Abelsson Abelsson – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons –
4. Visit your dentist twice a year. Find one you like and are comfortable. Be honest with your dentist. When I met mine for the first time, my husband already really loved him. I was completely honest with him about my past dental experiences. Just talking about it made me feel so much better and going to the dentist is a little less anxiety filled for me.
5. Make sure to grab yourself some quality Dental Insurance. We’ve been using Tricare dental programs for thirteen years, with a one year lapse in service. We temporarily switched over to a civilian insurance, but as soon as we were able we quickly went right back to MetLife Tricare Dental. When you visit an in-network provider you get two exam and two cleanings within a consecutive 12-month period. And we all know that prevention is key with anything related to your health. Its something to be taken seriously, speaking from experience. And luckily Tricare allows you to feel stingy without the service feeling stingy.
So while you’re sitting there stealing your kid’s Halloween candy {totally guilty}remember the importance of taking care of those teeth! Remember that Tricare has been taking care of military families for a long time, and continue to do so by offering low premiums that are affordable and provide great preventative care in a world where health care costs are rising! And what’s important to me is that those serving in the National Guard and Reserve also have access to MetLife dental.
For more information on enrolling visit Tricare’s MetLife Dental site. Enrolling was a snap, and customer service has always been amazing for us. Catch up with them on Facebook and twitter as well.
Happy Holidays!
