How to Care for Your Teeth

This post was sponsored by the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central.

Halloween is over, and if you kids are like mine there are little crumpled piles of candy wrappers hidden in various spots around the house.

Sigh.

And with the rest of the holidays coming up, there will be lots of extra pie, candy, cookies and treats for the entire family to snack on. That’s why the folks at the MetLife Tricare Dental program (TDP) thought it was an especially good time for me to talk with all of you about how to properly take care of your teeth.

Who is MetLife Tricare Dental? Well I’m sure you’ve all heard about MetLife insurance before — who hasn’t seen their cute commercials with Snoopy and Woodstock? Well MetLife Tricare Dental Program provides complete dental coverage to military families at low premiums.

Enrollment is quick and easy: Visit www.tricare.mil/bwe to enroll or www.metlife.com/tricare for additional information, or call 1-855-638-8371 Sunday 6:00 p.m. – Friday 10:00 p.m. (EST) except holidays.

As a veteran myself I’m a huge advocate of military families knowing and taking advantage of the benefits and programs available to them. Dental care is part of your family’s regular health care needs–and as far as I’m concerned should be treated just as much as a necessity as regular physical exams. You only get one set of adult teeth–you need to take care of them and prevent gum disease, tooth decay and the build up of plaque.

As luck would have it, the kids and I had our 6 month dental appointments this week. I was able to ask the dental hygienist for her tips on how to care for you teeth.

How to Care for Your Teeth

Brush at least twice a day using a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
note: You only need a blob of toothpaste the size of a pea!
Brush all of your teeth–don’t forget the ones in the back and on the sides
Brush for long enough–at least 2-3 minutes.
note: Set a timer or find a favorite song that lasts 2 minutes to play while brushing!
Use a new soft bristle toothbrush every 3 months.
note: Do not share a toothbrush–everyone should have their own. Rinse your brush when you are done cleaning and allow it to air dry, upright. Don’t store it in a closed container or with a cover on it.
Floss your teeth.
Brush your tongue to keep your breath fresh!
Visit your dentist twice a year to have your teeth checked, get a special cleaning, have a fluoride treatment and learn how to brush and floss correctly.
note: The TDP offers excellent preventive and diagnostic dental care when you visit a network provider. This includes two cleanings and two exams per year, within a consecutive 12-month period, at no cost, when a network dentist is seen

Still not sure how to brush your teeth correctly? Here’s a nice video to show you how (1 minute 30 seconds)

When I was a kid they had a cartoon on tv called “The Toothbrush Family” who had a special song about brushing your teeth. I still catch myself singing it occasionally, so I couldn’t resist including it here (37 sec)!

If you are a service member, or have friends or family who are–ask them if they’ve looked into MetLife Tricare Dental Program. They can find all the details at the MetLife Dental website.

They can also connect with them online at the MetLife Tricare Dental Facebook page or the MetLife TDP Twitter account.