February 20, 2009

Dental benefits and your health

A good dental program is essential to your overall health and wellness. To help fight dental disease and keep your smile healthy, your UPMC dental programs offered through United Concordia include the Smile for Health^® Enhanced Dental Benefit. The enhanced benefit increases coverage for the treatment of gum disease and certain preventive and diagnostic services, and covers one additional cleaning during pregnancy.

UPMC’s dental programs make it easier than ever to keep your smile and your body healthy for a lifetime. To learn more about your dental benefits, access the dental coverage page. From this page, you also may access more oral health tips and learn about the dental benefits designed for UPMC by clicking on the link to the UCCI Clients’ Corner.

What else can I do to keep my smile healthy?

1. Limit snacking between meals. Eating throughout the day constantly exposes your teeth to acids that wear down the protective outer layer — the enamel — of your teeth.
2. Drink a soft drink in one sitting — don’t sip it. Sipping allows the sugars and acids in soft drinks to continually coat your teeth and wear away the enamel. Drink soft drinks with a straw positioned toward the back of the mouth and be sure to rinse your mouth with water.
3. Don’t chew ice. Chewing ice can cause fracture lines, cracks, and chips, which can make teeth more sensitive and lead to further damage.
4. Stay away from sticky foods. They fill in every nook and cranny in your teeth, are hard to remove, and can loosen your dental work. Be sure to brush and rinse after you indulge.
5. If you must eat them, eat sugary treats with a meal. When you’re eating a meal, extra saliva is produced in your mouth, which helps break down the harmful acids that attack tooth enamel and helps rinse away the sugars.
6. Munch on aged cheese. The calcium in cheeses like aged cheddar, parmesan, and Swiss may help protect tooth enamel from decay and increase saliva.
7. Drink water throughout the day. Water helps rinse the mouth and is a healthy alternative to sugary juices, soft drinks, and other beverages. Drinking water helps not only your oral health, but your overall health as well.

Return to list of stories in this issue