Dental Health. This document includes 12 tips that can be used as part of a monthly year-long dental health campaign or as individual messages.

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1 Dental Health This document includes 12 tips that can be used as part of a monthly year-long dental health campaign or as individual messages. What is gingivitis? Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease when germs in tartar cause gums to become infected, red and sore. Gingivitis becomes periodontal (gum) disease if not treated. The early stages are most often painless. Be on the lookout for these early warning signs: Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing Mouth sores Bright red, red-purple or shiny gums Gums that are tender to the touch Getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist can help stop the spread of gingivitis. Does it matter if I use toothpaste? Using toothpaste when brushing your teeth is important for a number of reasons: When combined with the right brush strokes, toothpaste works to remove plaque. Using toothpaste that has fluoride makes your teeth less likely to decay and even helps fix the harm caused by early decay. Other toothpaste ingredients help to clean and polish teeth. Toothpaste helps keep your breath fresh. It really doesn t matter what brand or type of toothpaste you use as long as it contains fluoride. Why should I floss? Dental Health Tips Page 1 of 5

2 Floss is a powerful weapon in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease. A toothbrush cleans the tops and sides of teeth. But floss removes plaque and food that stick to your teeth and gums in between teeth. Floss also helps polish tooth surfaces and helps to control bad breath. You lower your chances of having periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay by flossing your teeth every day. And you increase the chances of keeping your teeth for a lifetime. When you visit your dentist or hygienist, ask for flossing tips to keep your smile bright. Tobacco use and oral health The use of any tobacco products can hurt your overall health and the health of your teeth and mouth. Tobacco products harm your gums by disrupting how bone and soft tissue are attached to your teeth. Both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products contain toxins known to cause cancer. Stopping the use of tobacco products can lead to a healthier life. Here are a few tips to quitting: Target a stop date and record your reasons for stopping. Get support from friends, family, your doctor and stop-smoking resources and programs. Lower stress to curb the urge to use tobacco products. Take medication, if necessary, and use correctly.* Expect setbacks. Focus on your goals and reasons for quitting. *Medication may not be covered by member s benefit plan. Source: American Dental Association; American Cancer Society Should I brush my teeth at work? Meals and snacks eaten during the day are the best reason to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to work. Germs live in your mouth in the form of plaque. And while visible evidence of food may disappear, the germs in plaque continue to grow. Over time, plaque can build up and harden into tartar. That can lead to gum disease. Brushing after lunch and snacks at work can help protect your teeth from decay. If you don t have time to brush, a mouth rinse can increase the cleanliness of your mouth. Check with your dentist before you try any new products. Sealants help protect teeth and promote good dental health Dental Health Tips Page 2 of 5

3 Sealants are put on teeth to help protect them from cavities. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of teeth. This helps to seal out food and plaque, lowering the chances of decay. Research shows that sealants can last for years if taken care of the right way. Talk to your child s dentist about whether sealants are right for your child. Having sealants doesn t mean that other dental care isn t needed, but they are one way to help protect children s teeth during the years they are most likely to get dental decay. Protect your teeth from cavities Tooth decay is also known as caries or cavities. The germs that live in the mouth form plaque. The plaque interacts with deposits left on teeth from sugary or starchy foods. Over time, acid is formed that harms tooth enamel which weakens the teeth and leads to tooth decay. Here are a few tips to lower your risk of tooth decay: Don t eat a lot of sweets and between-meal snacks. Drink plenty of water that can help wash away food particles. Brush after every meal and floss daily. Only buy toothpastes and rinses that contain fluoride. See your dentist at least every six months for checkups and professional cleanings. If you suspect a cavity, visit a dentist right away. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Academy of General Dentistry What is fluoride? One of the proven ways to fight tooth decay is through using fluoride. Fluoride is taken into tooth enamel and makes teeth less likely to decay. It even helps to fix early decay. Fluoride is taken into the body when it is added to water or used on teeth. Public water fluoridation is considered the most useful and low-cost measure to avoid tooth decay. If you don t get fluoride from your water, you can also use products containing strong concentrations of fluoride to fight tooth decay. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride is one of the best ways to protect against tooth decay. What is a filling? Dental Health Tips Page 3 of 5

4 When tooth decay causes a loss of tooth structure, a dental filling is used to fill the resulting cavities and fix the biting surfaces of a decayed tooth. Dental amalgams are one type of filling material that dentists use to fix tooth structure. Also known as silver fillings, dental amalgam uses mercury, silver, tin and copper. Silver fillings have a 150-year record of success. They are one of the safest, strongest and least costly ways to fill a tooth. It is estimated that more than 1 billion of these fillings are put in patients each year. A second type of filling is a composite filling. This filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture. Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements. Prices vary, but composites can cost up to two times the price of a silver filling. If you think you may have a cavity, go to your dentist. Your dentist can help you decide what kind of filling will work best for you. Know the signs of oral cancer Oral cancers include the mouth, tongue, lips, throat, parts of the nose and voice box. Oral cancer strikes nearly as often as leukemia and claims more lives than skin or cervical cancer. Signs to watch for: A mouth sore that fails to heal or that bleeds easily A white or red patch in the mouth that will not go away A lump, thickening or soreness in the mouth, throat or tongue Trouble chewing or swallowing food Each year, more than 30,000 new cases are detected. Most early signs of the illness are painless and are hard to spot without a careful head and neck exam by a doctor or dentist. When detected at its earliest stage, this disease is more easily treated and cured. When detected late, the chances of living more than five years is about 50 percent. Sources: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Preventing Plaque build-up for healthier teeth Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria on teeth and gums. After a meal or snack, germs in plaque form acids that attack tooth enamel. Over time, this can lead to tooth decay. Dental Health Tips Page 4 of 5

5 Plaque also creates substances that can bother gums. The gums become red, tender or bleed easily. Eventually, this can lead to more bacteria and infection. The gums may pull away from the teeth. Left untreated, the bone around the teeth can even be destroyed. Here are a few tips to prevent plaque build-up: Brush teeth twice daily and floss between teeth. Eat a balanced diet, limit the number of between-meal snacks and choose foods like vegetables, cheese or fruit for snacks. See your dentist for cleanings and checkups. Source: American Dental Association Why are my teeth sensitive? At least 40 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sensitive teeth at some time. The cause is movement of fluid in tiny tubes in the dentin. Dentin is the layer of tissue below the hard enamel. When enamel has been worn down or gums recede, the tiny tube surfaces are exposed, resulting in pain when eating or drinking hot or cold foods and/or drinks. Here are some tips to help: Use toothpaste that lowers sensitivity. Talk to your dentist about sealants and other desensitizing and filling materials. Avoid too many foods with acid. Drink lots of water and avoid drinks that are high in acid. Make sure your toothbrush isn t too hard. Be gentle when brushing. See a dentist if a tooth bothers you for more than three or four days and reacts to hot and cold temperatures Dental Health Tips Page 5 of 5