Make the most of your dental benefits
When it comes to your teeth, AMS Rules and benefits focus mainly on preventative and basic dentistry. Most of the specialised dentistry costs are to be funded by the member. Managed Care Plan members can use their dental benefit and MSA. Standard Care Plan members have a limited additional benefit and need to fund the excess from their own pocket. Please refer to your Benefit Guide for more information on your dental benefits and budget, or even better, look after your teeth. Prevention is the best medicine!
For you to make the most of your dental benefits, follow these tips for good oral health and hygiene:
1. Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day. The best time to brush teeth is after meals. Choose a toothbrush, preferably electric, with a small head for better access to back teeth. Soft bristles are kinder on your gums. Tooth brushing should take between two and three minutes. Keep your brush clean, never share it with anybody else and change it every three to four months.
2. Fluoridated toothpaste helps to harden tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay. Make sure your kids have toothpaste suitable for their age group and do not let them swallow it. It is imperative that parents/guardians supervise brushing up until the child is 7 years old and has developed safe and adequate oral hygiene habits.
3. Floss your teeth and use a mouthwash. Clean between the teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes or floss at least once a day. Use a slow and gentle sawing motion. A mouthwash is not always a must, but can still help to kill bacteria in your mouth.
4. Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries). In severe cases, teeth may be ‘eaten’ right down to the gum.
5. Limit sugary foods. Bacteria in dental plaque change sugars into acids.
6. Avoid tobacco. Not only will it save you from discolouring your teeth, oral cancer or periodontal complications, smokers often use sweets to mask the smoky breath which doubles the amount of damage caused.
7. Protect your teeth from injury. Wear a mouth guard when playing sports or if you grind your teeth at night. Don’t use your teeth for anything other than chewing food. If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you riskchipping or even breaking your teeth.
8. See your dentist for regular check-ups. Visit your dentist if you have any dental problem such as toothache, jaw pain or bleeding gums. Even without dental problems, adults should go at least once, if not twice, a year for an annual check-up; children every six months.