Dental Health

Did you know that your dental health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect yourself by learning more about the connection between your dental health and overall health.

PROTECT YOUR DENTAL HEALTH

Contact your dentist as soon as a dental health problem arises. Taking care of your dental health is an investment in your overall health.

BRUSH 2/DAY

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush using fluoride toothpaste

DAILY CARE

Clean between your teeth twice a day

RINSE

Rinse vigorously after brushing teeth

EAT HEALTHY

Limit intake of food with added sugars, including soda and juice

REPLACE

Replace your toothbrush after you've been sick

SCHEDULE

Regular dental cleanings and check-ups are important

AVOID TOBACCO

Avoid tobacco use, including vaping

Need Dental Insurance?

If you are uninsured or underinsured with your dental coverage, we may be able to help. We understand that our community faces challenges obtaining dental care to meet unique and individual needs. HFM has partnered with Cascade Hemophilia Consortium to offer free dental insurance to those who need it.

*To maintain your coverage you must visit the dentist two times during the calendar year for regular teeth cleanings.

In order to be eligible for this program you must meet the following criteria:

You must have a bleeding disorder
Be a Michigan resident
Have no dental insurance or only Children’s Special Health Care Services
However, if you have Medicaid, Medicare, or a private or employer based dental insurance plan, you may be eligible for time-limited coverage based on special circumstances–these exceptions are limited and determined on a case by case basis. Please call us for more information.

If you have questions:

If you have application or eligibility questions please contact Kaite Scott, LLMSW, Program Social Worker, at kscott@hfmich.org or 734.292.5267

Applications and Highlights

Did You Know?

*Information provided by Jennifer Kerns, BS, RDH, Dental Hygienist for the Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center at Munson Medical Center

Dental Pain

Dental pain and infection prevent 4% -7% of students from doing their required homework and attending school, which makes it difficult for little ones with cavities to do well in school. If your child misses multiple days of school from dental problems, talk to your hematologist about making a dental appointment to improve your child’s oral health – and their future.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the earth and has been used to prevent cavities in the US since the 1940s. Gaining tremendous popularity now, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a non-invasive liquid that can be used to treat small cavities easily without pain or trauma. Ask a dental professional for more information about SDF.

Fight Diseases

For years, researchers have been studying the effects of oral bacteria in our blood stream. These dangerous oral pathogens have been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, atherosclerosis, premature birth, aspiration pneumonia, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. In more recent years, new studies have shown that periodontal bacteria may be linked to Alzhiemer’s Disease. This new research confirms how important dental care is throughout our lifetime.

Keep Your Teeth Longer

Advances in dentistry and the discovery of fluoride have made it possible for people to keep their teeth longer. On average, only 24% of seniors are now missing their teeth, compared to 47% just a few decades ago. Preventing dental problems is a lot less expensive than fixing them.