13 tricks to keep your gums and teeth clean

13 tricks to keep your gums and teeth clean

Want gorgeous teeth and happy, healthy gums? Follow these tips along with your regular dental-health regime

1. Go on a white-teeth diet

What goes in shows up on your teeth. So if you’re drinking a lot of red wine and black tea, or smoking cigarettes, expect the results to show up as not-so-pearly whites. Other culprits include colas, gravies and dark juices. The bottom line: if it’s dark before you put it in your mouth, it will probably stain your teeth. Step one: brush your teeth immediately after having foods that stain. Step two: regularly use a good bleaching agent, either from the pharmacy or your dentist. Step three: be conscious of tooth-staining foods and drinks, and have them only when a toothbrush is around. If not, have an apple for dessert.

2. Hum while you brush

The ideal amount of time to brush to get all the bacteria-packed plaque out is at least two minutes, researchers found. Use your watch or keep a timer in the bathroom and set it for two minutes. Or find a tune that lasts about two minutes and hum it to the end.
3. Grip your toothbrush like a pencil

Does your toothbrush look as if it’s been used to clean the car? If so, you’re probably brushing too hard. Contrary to what some scrub-happy people think, brushing with force is not the best way to remove plaque. The best way is to place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against your gums and gently move it in a circular motion, rather than a back-and-forth motion. Grip the toothbrush like a pencil so you won’t scrub too hard.

4. Drink a cup of tea every day

Flavonoids and other ingredients in tea seem to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to teeth, and also block production of a type of sugar that contributes to cavities. Tea also contains high amounts of fluoride.

5. Change your brush

Throw away your toothbrush or change the head of your electric toothbrush at least every two to three months. Otherwise, you’re just transferring bacteria to your mouth.

6. Use alcohol-free mouthwash to rinse away bacteria

• 7 herbal teas that will make you healthier
• Dos and don'ts of choosing the right toothbrush
• Are you eating too much sugar?

Most over-the-counter mouthwashes have too much alcohol, which can dry out the tissues in your mouth, making them more susceptible to bacteria. Some studies even suggest a link between mouthwashes containing alcohol and an increased risk of oral cancer. To be safe, be a teetotaller when it comes to choosing a mouthwash.

7. Clean your tongue

Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper every morning to remove tongue plaque and freshen your breath. A major cause of bad breath is the build-up of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping will help to banish. Using a tongue scraper is more effective than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush.

8. Cut back on sugar

Even if you’re an adult, avoid sugary foods. Sugar plus bacteria equals oral plaque. Plaque then leads to bleeding gums, tooth decay and cavities. Plus, the acid in refined sugars and carbonated beverages dissolves tooth enamel.

9. Eat tooth-cleaning foods

Foods that are firm or crisp help to clean the teeth as they’re eaten. Apples have already been mentioned; other choices include raw carrots, celery and (unsweetened) popcorn. For best results, make “detergent” foods the final food you eat in your meal if you know you can’t brush your teeth 
straight after eating.

10. Hydrate

Drink about a glass of water for every hour that you’re at work. That way, when you get home, you’ll have had plenty of water for the entire day. Not only does the water help to keep your digestive system healthy and hydrate your skin, but it also helps to keep your teeth white. The more water you drink, the more bacteria you flush off your teeth and out of your mouth, meaning less risk of gum disease, fewer cavities and fresher breath.

11. Keep teeth for eating

Keep a bottle opener and a small pair of scissors in your bag or desk drawer. If you have the right gadgets to hand, you won’t be tempted to use your teeth as tools, which can damage them. In fact, never, ever use your teeth as tools for anything except eating.

12. Check your breath

To check the freshness of your breath, lick your palm and smell it while it’s still wet. If you smell something, it’s time for a sugar-free breath mint or to brush your teeth.

13. Prevent tooth fractures

Suck—don’t chew—very hard foodstuffs such as hard candy or ice. Chewing hard foods creates tiny fractures in the enamel of your teeth that, over the years, combine to result in major cracks.

Cigna Dental Insurance

Cigna Dental Insurance
Dental insurance to keep you smiling. There
are probably a lot of things you'd rather do than go to the dentist. But your teeth and gums are the gateway to good health. If you're unsure if you can afford dental coverage, you're like many American adults1—but get ready to smile.

If you're enrolled in a Cigna medical insurance plan, you can add affordable dental coverage. That way, you can manage all your health care needs in one place. What's more convenient than that?

With a Cigna dental plan, you'll get coverage for many services, not just routine cleanings and X-rays. Save the most when you stay in network, but whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network dentist or specialist, you'll enjoy a wide range of dental coverage, including:

Preventive care (cleanings, X-rays, and more)
Basic care (fillings, basic restorative work)
Major services (bridges, crowns, root canals and more)

Benefits of Cigna Dental

It's easier to manage your medical and dental care with:

Convenient billing and payments. Get your medical and dental insurance statements on one bill.
No claims submissions. Cigna network dentists submit claims automatically.
No need to choose a primary dentist. You have access to our national network of over 70,000 dentists, and can choose one whenever you're ready.
No referrals needed for specialist care. Choose from in-network providers, and you'll experience the greatest value.
Customer Service. Call 1.877.484.5967 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday, or download the enrollment from myCigna.com.
Online access with myCigna.com.View medical and dental claims online, anytime. Plus manage your health and budget with tools like an oral health assessment and awarding winning cost estimator2.
Mobile access on the go. Find a dentist, check coverage and show your ID card with the myCigna Mobile app.
Did you know?
Being your best self includes keeping up with your dental health. It's an important part of your overall health. Poor dental health can lead to other problems. For example, research shows a link between gum disease and conditions like pre-term birth, heart disease, stroke and diabetes3.

The connection between oral health and overall health has both lifestyle and cost implications. In fact, a 2012 Cigna study shows 27.5% medical savings when periodontal conditions are treated4.

Our affordable plans and services, 24/7 customer support and large national network of dentists are designed with you in mind.
And your visits to the dentist? We can help make those something to smile about.

1 In a 2012 federal survey, 42% of adults that cited cost as the main reason to forego a dental visit for an oral health problem said they could not afford treatment, or did not have insurance ("Oral health status measured in national survey ," the American Dental Association).

2 Top Technology Innovation, InformationWeek 500, September 2012

3 www.adha.org  (American Dental Hygienist Association)

4 "Appropriate Periodontal Therapy Associated with Lower Medical Utilization and Costs," presented at the International Association for Dental Research Meeting, March 2013, Seattle

FIND DENTAL INSURANCE THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET

Do You Really Need Dental Insurance?
Absolutely! Most individuals do not realize they are not covered. Not all health insurance plans include dental care. And if you are retired, you will find Medicare won’t pay your dental claims. Plus, research suggests that your dental health is connected to your overall health.
Here is a list of questions to determine your dental insurance needs. Having this list handy when you review dental insurance plans will help you save time choosing the plan that is right for you.

Check Your Dental Insurance Needs

 Does your current health insurance plan offer dental insurance?
 Are you over 65 and discovered that Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care?
 Are you self-employed?
 Are you temporarily between jobs?
 Do you want to keep your current dentist?
 Do you need dental coverage for just yourself?
 Do you need dental coverage for you and your spouse?
 Do you need dental coverage for your entire family?
 Do you need preventive care and cleanings?
 Do you need major services such as root canals or dentures?

Dental Health And Your Overall Health Care
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They are more connected than you may realize. Sometimes oral infections and gum disease can be a precursor to more serious health issues. Gum disease may also be a symptom of greater health concerns. Research and studies have shown oral health linked to:

Cardiovascular disease: People with gum disease were more likely to develop heart disease.1
Pregnancy and birth issues: Gum disease has been linked to preterm and low birth weight babies.1
Diabetes: People with gum disease have more difficulty controlling blood sugar.1
HIV/AIDS: People with AIDS are at special risk for oral health problems. Many of these problems arise because the person’s immune system is weakened and less able to fight off infection.1
Osteoporosis: Bone loss in the jaw has been linked to osteoporosis. The bone in the jaw supports and anchors the teeth. When the jawbone becomes less dense, tooth loss can occur

Dental Insurance

Flexible and Convenient
Taking care of your teeth doesn’t just help your smile. It’s good for your overall health, too. Because oral health is so important, we make it easy to pick a dental plan. Keep your smile healthy and happy with our plan benefits, including preventive care, basic services like filings, and major services such as root canals.1
Preventive care is covered at 100% with no deductible or waiting period.2 That means you can get coverage today and see your dentist for a cleaning as early as tomorrow.

Our private dental plans are family friendly. UnitedHealthOneSM dental coverage has no age limit requirement. Even those covered by Medicare can apply. Maintaining a healthy mouth is important to your general well-being, and our plans can provide comprehensive dental coverage for people of any age or at any stage in life.
Choose from Two Options

UnitedHealthcare Dental PremierSM is for people who prefer to keep their out-of-network dentist.
UnitedHealthcare Dental ValueSM has the lowest premium of our dental plans and is for those who prefer to access a dentist from the nationwide UnitedHealthcare Dental Network.
With either plan, you can access an extensive dental network with nearly 210,000 dental providers nationally.3 Plus, you can take advantage of the following:
We pay 80% for Basic Services, such as cavity fillings and simple (nonsurgical) extractions after the initial six-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
We pay 50% on Major Services like root canals and bridges after the initial 12-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
If shopping for coverage is new to you and your family, we can help simplify the process. Call (800) 944-4699 to speak with a licensed Product Advisor. You’ll receive a personalized recommendation. Or get an online dental insurance quote.

Surgical tooth extraction

Flexible and Convenient
Taking care of your teeth doesn’t just help your smile. It’s good for your overall health, too. Because oral health is so important, we make it easy to pick a dental plan. Keep your smile healthy and happy with our plan benefits, including preventive care, basic services like filings, and major services such as root canals.1

Preventive care is covered at 100% with no deductible or waiting period.2 That means you can get coverage today and see your dentist for a cleaning as early as tomorrow.

Our private dental plans are family friendly. UnitedHealthOneSM dental coverage has no age limit requirement. Even those covered by Medicare can apply. Maintaining a healthy mouth is important to your general well-being, and our plans can provide comprehensive dental coverage for people of any age or at any stage in life.
Choose from Two Options

UnitedHealthcare Dental PremierSM is for people who prefer to keep their out-of-network dentist.
UnitedHealthcare Dental ValueSM has the lowest premium of our dental plans and is for those who prefer to access a dentist from the nationwide UnitedHealthcare Dental Network.
With either plan, you can access an extensive dental network with nearly 210,000 dental providers nationally.3 Plus, you can take advantage of the following:
We pay 80% for Basic Services, such as cavity fillings and simple (nonsurgical) extractions after the initial six-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
We pay 50% on Major Services like root canals and bridges after the initial 12-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
If shopping for coverage is new to you and your family, we can help simplify the process. Call (800) 944-4699 to speak with a licensed Product Advisor. You’ll receive a personalized recommendation. Or get an online dental insurance quote.

11 home remedies for bad breath

Let’s face it, bad breath is embarrassing. The good news is that for the most part—with proper dental care—bad breath, also called halitosis, can be avoided. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, as bacteria that builds up on the back of your tongue or in between your teeth is the main culprit. Bad breath can be caused by foods, smoking, dry mouth, medical conditions, gum disease, and sinus conditions. No wonder dental hygiene is such big business.

If your halitosis hangs on for more than 24 hours without an obvious cause, call your dentist or doctor, says Roger P. Levin, D.D.S. It can be a sign of gum disease, gastrointestinal problems, sinus infection, bronchitis, or even more serious diseases, such as diabetes, liver or kidney failure, and cancer. Bad breath can also be a sign of dehydration or zinc deficiency.
Excerpted from “The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies

Spice things up
Other herbs and spices in your kitchen are natural breath enhancers. Carry a tiny plastic bag of cloves, fennel, or anise seeds to chew after odorous meals.

Brush your tongue
"Most people overlook their tongues," says Dr. Shapira. "Your tongue is covered with little hairlike projections, which under a microscope look like a forest of mushrooms. Under the caps of the 'mushrooms,' there's room to harbor plaque and some of the things we eat. That causes bad breath."
His advice? While brushing, gently sweep the top of your tongue, too, so that you don't leave food and bacteria behind to breed bad breath.

Create your own gargle
Mix extracts of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum (all available at health food stores) in equal proportions and gargle with the mixture four times a day. Keep the mouthwash in a tightly sealed jar at room temperature.
Even when you can't brush, you can rinse. Take a sip of water after meals, swish it around, and wash the smell of food from your mouth, says Jerry F. Taintor, D.D.S.

Eat your parsley
Parsley adds more than green to your lunch plate; it's also a breath-saver, because it contains chlorophyll, a known breath deodorizer. So pick up that sprig garnishing your plate and chew it thoroughly. Or toss a few handfuls (even add some watercress to the mix) in a juicer. Sip the juice anytime you need to refresh your breath.

Watch your intake of odorous eats
Highly spiced foods like to linger long after the party's over. Certain tastes and smells recirculate through the essential oils that they leave in your mouth. Depending on how much you eat, the odor can remain up to 24 hours, no matter how often you brush your teeth. Some foods to avoid include onions, hot peppers, and garlic.

Ease up on cheese
Camembert, Roquefort, and blue cheese are called strong for good reason—they get a hold on your breath and don't let go. Other dairy products may have the same effect.

Ban certain beverages
Coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey are at the top of the list of liquid offenders. Each leaves a residue that can attach to the plaque in your mouth and infiltrate your digestive system. Each breath you take spews traces back into the air.

Carry a toothbrush
Some odors can be eliminated — permanently or temporarily — if you brush immediately after a meal. The main culprit in bad breath is a soft, sticky film of living and dead bacteria that clings to your teeth and gums, says Eric Shapira, D.D.S. That film is called plaque.
 Video: Beating bad breath At any time, there are 50 trillion of these microscopic organisms loitering in your mouth. They sit in every dark corner, eating each morsel of food that passes your lips, collecting little smells, and producing little odors of their own. As you exhale, the bacteria exhale. So brush away the plaque after each meal and get rid of some of the breath problem.

Rinse out your mouth
Even when you can't brush, you can rinse. Take a sip of water after meals, swish it around, and wash the smell of food from your mouth, says Jerry F. Taintor, D.D.S.

Gargle on minty mouthwash
If you need 20 minutes of freedom from bad breath, gargling with a mouthwash is a great idea. But like Cinderella's coach-turned-pumpkin, when your time is up, the magic will be gone, and you'll be back to talking from behind your hand again.

Chew a mint or some gum
Like mouthwash, a breath mint or minty gum is just a cover-up, good for a short interview, a short ride in a compact car, or a very short date.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or your dentist can remove (extract) a wisdom tooth. The procedure often can be done in the dentist's or surgeon's office. You may have the surgery in the hospital, especially if you are having all your wisdom teeth pulled at one time or if you are at high risk for complications.
If you have any infections, surgery will usually be delayed until the infection has cleared up. Your doctor or dentist may have you take antibiotics to help heal the infection.

Before removing a wisdom tooth, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. A general anesthetic may be used, especially if several or all of your wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time. A general anesthetic prevents pain in the whole body and will cause you to sleep through the procedure. Your dentist will probably recommend that you don't eat or drink after midnight on the night before surgery so that you are prepared for the anesthetic.

To remove the wisdom tooth, your dentist will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth. He or she will separate the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then remove the tooth. Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.

What To Expect After Surgery

In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon. The following tips will help speed your recovery.

Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.
While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip, or your tongue.
Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use moist heat-such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out-for the following 2 or 3 days.
Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain. You can make your own salt water by mixing 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (240 mL)] of warm water.
Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. Also, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.
Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.
Continue to brush your teeth and tongue carefully.
Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days, if needed.

Why It Is Done
A wisdom tooth is extracted to correct an actual problem or to prevent problems that may come up in the future. When wisdom teeth come in, a number of problems can occur:

Your jaw may not be large enough for them, and they may become impacted and unable to break through your gums.
Your wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can get trapped under the flap and cause your gums to become red, swollen, and painful. These are signs of infection.
More serious problems can develop from impacted teeth, such as infection, damage to other teeth and bone, or a cyst.
One or more of your wisdom teeth may come in at an awkward angle, with the top of the tooth facing forward, backward, or to either side.
How Well It Works

Wisdom tooth removal usually is effective in preventing:

Crowding of the back teeth.
A wisdom tooth becoming stuck in the jaw (impacted) and never breaking through the gums.
Red, swollen, and painful gums caused by a flap of skin around a wisdom tooth that has only partially come in.
Gum disease and tooth decay in the wisdom tooth, which may be harder to clean than other teeth, or in the teeth and jaw in the area of the wisdom tooth.
Risks

After a wisdom tooth is removed, you may experience:

Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed.
Bleeding that won't stop for about 24 hours.
Difficulty with or pain from opening your jaw (trismus).
Slow-healing gums.
Damage to existing dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth.
A painful inflammation called dry socket, which happens if the protective blood clot is lost too soon.
Numbness in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off, due to injury or inflammation of nerves in the jaw.
Rare side effects, including:
Numbness in the mouth or lips that does not go away.1
A fractured jaw if the tooth was firmly attached to the jaw bone.
An opening into the sinus cavity when a wisdom tooth is removed from the upper jaw.
Dental surgery may cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have difficulty fighting off infections may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such people include those who have artificial heart valves or were born with heart defects.

Anesthetic (local and/or general) almost always is used during the extraction procedure. All surgeries, including oral surgery, that use general anesthetic have a small risk of death or other complications.

What To Think About

If your wisdom teeth are not causing problems, it may be difficult to decide whether to have these teeth removed to prevent possible dental problems later in life. Think about the following:

You may never have any problems with your wisdom teeth.
It is rarely harmful to your health to have your wisdom teeth removed, but there are slight risks involved with any surgery.
In younger people (late teens and early 20s), the wisdom tooth's roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense, so it is easier to remove the tooth. The easier it is to remove the tooth, the easier your recovery is likely to be.
Most problems with wisdom teeth develop between the ages of 15 and 25.
If you are older than age 30, you have only a small risk of having problems with your wisdom teeth. Few people older than 30 develop problems that require removal of their wisdom teeth.
Medical insurance does not always cover this procedure.
If you have a medical condition that may get worse over time and your teeth may cause problems, consider having your wisdom teeth removed while you are healthy.
Possible complications include dry socket (alveolar osteitis), infection, bleeding, and numbness.
Women on birth control pills who decide to have their wisdom teeth removed should try to schedule the surgery for the end of their menstrual cycle (usually days 23 through 28). There seems to be less risk of dry socket during this time.2

After a wisdom tooth is removed, you may have or notice:
Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed.
Bleeding that won't stop for about 24 hours.
Difficulty with or pain from opening your jaw (trismus).
Slow-healing gums.
Damage to dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth.
A painful inflammation called dry socket.
Numbness in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off, due to injury or inflammation of nerves in the jaw. Numbness will usually go away, but in rare cases it may be permanent.1
Dental surgery may cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have difficulty fighting off infections may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such people include those who have artificial heart valves or were born with heart defects.