February is Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month

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

February is Children’s Dental Health Awareness month.  We learned very early on just how important dental health is to children when our own son had to have some dental work done at the age of three.  We were genuinely surprised to learn that by this very young age, despite brushing his teeth since he was old enough, that he had four cavities.  It was a very stressful experience for him, and for my husband and I as well!  Ever since, we have made sure our son gets his regular dental screenings and takes good care of his teeth daily by brushing and flossing.  Of course, as a mother, I always want to know if there is more that I can do to assure he doesn’t have to experience this again.

CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

SEALANTS

If you’re a member of the military, there are some great benefits available for dependent children and spouses of Active Duty service members and Reservists through the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program.  One of these great benefits is dental sealants, a plastic material that is applied to the surface of back teeth to prevent cavities.  It is recommended that dental sealants be placed on the permanent molar teeth of children shortly after the molars erupt.  The first permanent molars erupt in children around age 6, with the second set of permanent molars appearing around age 12.  And, good news!  This procedure is short, requiring no drilling or removal of the tooth structure.  This is a great way to protect little teeth as they grow and help to prevent cavities.  I plan to ask our own dentist about sealants at our next visit.

TEETH GRINDING

Does your child happen to grind their teeth?  Teeth grinding often occurs at night and it usually isn’t a problem for baby teeth, but it can cause your child to experience headaches, jaw pain, and wear on teeth.  How can you help your child if they grind their teeth?

• Decrease your child’s stress, especially just before bed.
• Try massage and stretching exercises to relax the muscles.
• Make sure your child’s diet includes plenty of water. Dehydration may be linked to teeth grinding.
• Ask your dentist to monitor your child’s teeth if he or she grinds their teeth.
• No intervention is usually required with preschool-age children.  However, older children may need temporary crowns or other methods, such as a night guard, to prevent the grinding.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

There are some great benefits of being a member of the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program:

• Two cleanings and two exams per year at no cost, when a network dentist is seen
• Sealants on permanent molars for children though the age of 18, with a 20% cost share
• Orthodontic coverage for children up to the age of 21 or 23 if a full time student
• Space maintainers are fully covered for patients under the age of 19
• Two topical fluoride applications are covered in a consecutive 12-month period
• $1,200 accidental annual maximum per enrollee
• Athletic Mouth Guard limited to one per consecutive 12-month period, with a 50% cost share

ENROLLING IS EASY

Ready to sign up and take advantage of these benefits?  There are four easy ways to enroll:

• Online visit www.tricare.mil/bwe
• Call 1-855-638-8371 CONUS, 1-855-638-8372 OCONUS, or 1-855-638-8373 TDD/TTY
• Fax a completed Enrollment Authorization document (found on www.tricare.mil/tdp) to 1-855-763-1337
• Mail a completed Enrollment Authorization document to MetLife TRICARE Dental Program, P.O. Box 14185 Lexington, KY 40512

STAY CONNECTED

If you use social media on a regular basis, it’s easy to stay in the know with helpful news and updates!  Be sure to follow MetLife TDP on these social channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetLifeTDP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/metlifetdp

 

Photo Credit: ©blueringmedia/Dollar Photo Club