Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Offers Six Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth During the Holidays
23 December 2014 - 7:31AM
Business Wire
Follow these tips to keep your mouth merry and
bright throughout the season
The holiday season is here, which means many people are “out and
about” shopping for unique items, attending special events and
visiting friends and family. With all of the face-to-face
conversations and picture taking that’s sure to take place,
maintaining a healthy mouth becomes even more important.
To help people keep their pearly whites strong throughout the
holiday season, Dr. Peter Bowers, Anthem’s Medical Director, offers
the following tips:
1) Two and Two. The American Dental Association (ADA)
recommends people brush their teeth two times a day for two
minutes. This simple habit can make a big difference over time.
2) Avoid hard candy and other sweets that might stay in the
mouth for a long period of time. The quantity and the amount of
time sugary foods and sweets stay in the mouth plays a major role
in tooth decay.
3) Limit the amount of sticky and/or chewy candies.
During this time of the year, it’s very easy to munch on
mouthwatering pieces of sticky or chewy sweets like caramel, toffee
and fudge. Just remember, stickier candies take longer to get
washed away by saliva and can increase the risk for tooth decay. In
addition, some of the stickier candies and desserts can loosen or
remove fillings, crowns and other dental work.
4) Drink water, water and more water. When teeth are in
constant contact with beverages that contain sugar, there is an
increased risk of tooth decay. Balance things out by drinking water
in between drinking sugary beverages. If bottled water is an
option, make sure to choose the fluoridated bottled water.
5) Don’t use the teeth. Giving and receiving gifts are a
common practice during the holidays. Some people get caught up in
the excitement of wrapping and opening items that they use their
teeth to remove tags from new clothing and to cut through string
and tape. Try to avoid using teeth as a pair of scissors because
this type of wear and tear can cause teeth to crack, chip and even
break!
6) Visit the dentist. Remember to schedule a checkup
appointment with the dentist. It’s important to maintain regular
and routine preventive dental care during the holidays and
throughout the year because a regular dental exam can bring
attention to issues that aren’t visible or painful in the early
stages. A dentist can spot early warning signs in the mouth that
may indicate disease elsewhere in the body1.
Enjoy the fun times and celebrations this holiday season and
remember to keep Dr. Bower’s tips in mind.
Source: 1-American Dental Association:
http://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/dentists-doctors-of-oral-health
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
in Connecticut
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem
Health Plans, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem
Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and
symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and
Blue Shield in Connecticut is available at www.anthem.com. Also,
follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue ShieldSarah
Yeager203-859-0996Sarah.Yeager@Anthem.com