Can brushing your teeth prevent heart disease?

The importance of good oral hygiene

Your mouth provides clues about your overall health. Daily brushing and flossing helps keep bacteria in your mouth under control. But poor oral hygiene can cause bacteria to increase, which may lead to gum disease. The bacteria found in gum disease can spread to your heart, which can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. In addition, certain bacteria in your mouth can get into your lungs and may cause pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses.

How to protect yourself

Practicing good oral hygiene and seeing your dentist for regular cleanings are important parts of your overall health. A cleaning helps remove any plaque missed during brushing. Regular cleanings also make it easier to identify more serious problems that may need to be addressed.

What is good oral hygiene?

Oral hygiene basically consists of flossing and brushing every day. It’s a simple way to improve your overall health.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss each day.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• See your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
• Don’t let oral health problems linger—contact your dentist if a problem arises.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed.

How Your Plan Helps

Your plan makes it easier to get the dental services you need now and the unexpected ones you may need later.

Prime plans: Get up to $1,000 of dental coverage

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Prime plan members can add dental coverage to their plan for just $30 a month. With the Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred Dental Option, you get up to $1,000 in dental coverage, including no copay for preventive services such as oral exams and routine cleanings; 20% coinsurance on basic services such as fillings and simple extractions; 50% coinsurance on major services such as dentures, bridges, and crowns; no deductible for all services; and no waiting period.¹ The benefit is administered by Dominion National.

Saver, Basic, and Value plans: Dental coverage included!

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Saver, Basic, and Value plan members have an embedded dental benefit that provides up to $1,000 in dental services. There is no deductible for all services, no copay for preventive services such as oral exams and routine cleanings, and 50% coinsurance for basic and major services such as fillings and simple extractions.¹ There is no waiting period. Services are administered by Dominion National. To find a dentist, go to thpmp.org/dentist.

Saver, Basic, and Value plan members can also enhance their dental coverage by upgrading to the Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred Dental Option for an additional $18.50 monthly premium.²

Smart Saver plan: Dental coverage included!

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Smart Saver plan members have an embedded dental benefit that provides up to $1,500 in dental services. There is a $100 deductible on basic and major services, no copay for preventive services such as oral exams and routine cleanings, and 50% coinsurance after deductible for basic and major services such as fillings and simple extractions.¹ There is no waiting period. Services are administered by Dominion National. To find a dentist, go to thpmp.org/dentist.

Benefit information may be different if you get your benefits from a current or former employer.

¹Benefit and network limits may apply. The plan is administered by Dominion Dental Services, Inc., which operates under the trade name Dominion National. Services must be performed by providers in the Dominion PPO Network. To check to see if your dentist is in network or to find a dentist, go to thpmp.org/dentist.

²If purchased, the Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred Dental Option replaces the embedded dental benefit. Benefit amount remains at $1,000 annual maximum, but coinsurance on basic services is reduced to 20%, and major services such as dentures, bridges, and crowns are covered with 50% coinsurance. There is no waiting period.