“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. Now I did’t realize there was an entire month devoted to the dental health of our kiddos, but I think it’s great. I take my kids to their regular 6 month check-ups and follow dentists’ orders, but beyond that, I’ll admit I don’t always give my kids’ dental health a lot of thought; unless of course they have a complaint that needs to be checked out.
If you are a military family, you should definitely be enrolled in the MetLife Tricare Dental Plan to help ensure that your kiddos don’t have any reason to complain. One of the benefits that is espcially for kids and that I think is one of best precautions a parent can take is tooth sealant protection.
A dental sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars to prevent cavities and no drilling is required. Sealants are really non-invasive and kids don’t even know they’re on once applied.
Another dental issue that I didn’t realize was an issue until my dentist mentioned it, kids grinding their teeth. This generally happens at night (and can even be an issue with adults – just ask my husband). No one knows exactly why children grind their teeth kiddos whose teeth may be out of alignment may need a device to help keep things in place. Although grinding of teeth may not be a major problem when it’s baby teeth in question, it can cause headaches and jaw pain so if you think this may be happening, it’s best to get it checked out.
*Tip: Make sure your child’s diet includes plenty of water. Dehydration may be linked to teeth grinding.
If your child is showing any of those kinds of problems, you need to have them checked out, as we saw. But you also need to remember that your child has to see the dentist on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not there are any clear problems. The best approach is to check your local area for some quality family dentistry, and then ensure that you get your kids booked in for their twice-yearly check-ups. Without these, you can’t be sure that their teeth will be kept in the best condition.
How the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program Can Help
The MetlifeTRICARE Dental program has a whole array of benefits that can help keep those chompers healthy. As a preventative measure, insureds receive two cleanings and two exams per year at no cost, when a network dentist is seen. If it is deemed that sealants are needed, there is a 20% cost share benefit so that you don’t have to chose between the mortgage and your kids’ teeth. Two topical fluoride applications are covered in a consecutive 12-month period to help keep teeth healthy and if your little ones are active and love sports, there’s even a benefit for athletic mouth suard limited to one per consecutive 12-month period, with a 50% cost share, because we know sports can be tough on teeth.
For more information on your benefits or to find out how to enroll, visit www.metlife.com/tricare or call the toll-free customer service number at 1-855-638-8371. You can also stay up to date by liking MetLifeTDP on Facebook orfollowing on Twitter.
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