Oral health: It’s more than just a smile

SFC Joe Montoya — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:31:30 -0400

When I was in the Marines, the last thing I worried about was my teeth. I got checkups while I was serving, but after I left the service and lost those free checkups, I didn’t go to the dentist as often as I should have. Some new problems crept up and old ones came back.

Sound familiar? It’s pretty common for us to forget about our dental health once we leave the service. Auto insurance, mortgages and taxes seem to be more important than dental bills. As you get older, though, a lot of things that you take for granted suddenly become a concern.

We need to pay more attention to our teeth and gums. I’ll give you three reasons why it’s important.

1. It affects your quality of life.

I know a lot of Veterans who are losing teeth due to periodontal (gum) disease. As a result, they’re embarrassed to smile, and it becomes difficult to interact with people because of problems with their teeth. They feel uncomfortable in business meetings and interviews. Their self-esteem falls. To get that smile back, they have to get costly implants and dentures. They aren’t living a happy life.

It gets worse. Simple things such as eating, drinking and even talking can become a chore, and other problems such as bad breath and gum infections can arise from not taking proper care of your teeth and gums. These problems can cause chronic pain, doing further damage to your long-term mental health.

2. It affects your overall health.

I was surprised when I first heard of the link between oral health and general health, but it’s true. Poor brushing and flossing can cause gum disease, which is an infection that can lead to all kinds of problems, including tooth and bone loss, infections in the heart and even pneumonia.

Gum disease is linked to low birth weights in babies and premature births, and although more studies are needed, scientists think there may be a link between oral health and cardiovascular disease.

Other diseases and conditions can worsen gum disease. For instance, I’m a diabetic, and high blood sugar levels can make it easier to get infections. That means I’m at a higher risk for gum disease. Getting my teeth cleaned regularly can prevent gum disease and can actually lower blood sugar levels and improve my condition.

3. It saves you money.

Getting small problems treated now can prevent more costly procedures down the road. I’m now having to get crowns to replace a lot of the fillings I received as an enlisted man. If you don’t get that cavity filled now, it may mean costly root canals, crowns and even implants down the road.

A simple cleaning and exam, coupled with good hygiene, can prevent thousands of dollars of dental work. Dental benefits can help with the costs. Plans offered through VADIP, the VA's dental insurance program, include 100% coverage for cleanings and exams at network dentists, plus you'll pay less for more costly procedures if you need them.

It’s the simple things

I know: We Veterans are tough, and we don’t like being reminded of small everyday things like brushing, flossing and going to the dentist. When I was serving overseas, brushing my teeth wasn’t important, and flossing was almost unheard of. But oral health problems can compound, and I’ve seen first-hand what a difference good oral hygiene can make.

It really is this simple:

• Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Floss daily, either with regular dental floss or an interdental cleaner that uses water to
remove plaque. It only takes a few minutes.
• Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and oral exams.
• Don’t smoke.

And remember to take advantage of dental plans through VADIP. Delta Dental offers three options to fit your needs and budget, all of which cover your preventive care at the dentist.

Do yourself a favor. Take a few minutes to take care of your teeth, and they’ll take care of you as you grow older.

Joe Montoya is a market outreach representative for Delta Dental of California. He has worked with the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program, Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program, U. S. Public Health Service Active Duty Dental Program, and federal employee dental programs. He retired from the armed forces after 27 years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard.

Learn more:

• I'm a Veteran and I want to explore the plans offered through Delta Dental: https://bit.ly/3LteyGd
• I want to learn more about the link between oral health and general health: https://bit.ly/41V2PWl

Welcome Veterans Affair members to Delta Dental

Veterans Affairs members can review their VADIP dental benefits, find a dentist and register.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Apr 25 at 2023 9:50 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:50:33 -0400

SFC Joe Montoya excellent advice, I am currently waiting on a bone graft to heal enough to get a crown before I can move on to the next issue.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2023 8:31 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:31:45 -0400

5 year active, 1yr. Marine reserve. I didn't have a dental problem. Im paying for it now. A lot of small dental problems crept up on me. Semper Fi.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Apr 28 at 2023 1:32 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:32:56 -0400

Good afternoon SFC Joe Montoya. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 3 at 2023 4:19 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 03 May 2023 16:19:04 -0400

Topnotch advice shared brother SFC Joe Montoya

Response by SrA Ronald Moore made May 14 at 2023 8:17 AM

SrA Ronald Moore — Sun, 14 May 2023 08:17:45 -0400

It’s time to See a dentist on my end!

Response by SSG David Phetteplace made May 15 at 2023 9:42 AM

SSG David Phetteplace — Mon, 15 May 2023 09:42:42 -0400

There is also a link between substandard oral care and heart disease. I have to premed before routine cleanings because I have had a valve repaired and they are worried that bacteria dislodged during cleaning can enter the blood stream and get stuck in a blood current eddy and cause an infection in the heart.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 15 at 2023 9:09 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Mon, 15 May 2023 21:09:41 -0400

One of the things I can thank being a flier for is having to get an annual physical and dental exam. That habit stuck with me when I got out.

Response by SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D made May 16 at 2023 9:22 AM

SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:22:29 -0400

Excellent SFC Joe Montoya, taking care of our teeth and gum is part of the good health. Veterans with 100% disability can handle then through VA Community Care or either VA dentist.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made May 16 at 2023 11:05 AM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Tue, 16 May 2023 11:05:51 -0400

I am in the same boat as SFC. Joe montoya. After ETS of 2 years, I had minimal dental work and it showed. Fortunately after the VA had me at 100% disabled many years later I am finally getting good dental care. I live near Omaha NE. and we have a damn good VA hospital here with a fine dental clinic. The parking and phone system suck, but other than that, our VA facility is great.

Response by SP6 Genevieve Zartman made May 26 at 2023 10:10 PM

SP6 Genevieve Zartman — Fri, 26 May 2023 22:10:36 -0400

Hola SFC Montoya, it's a sad situation, in order to qualify for dental care at the VA, you have no more than 30days to go to your nearest VA Dental Clinic, I followed the protocol because when I was overseas, unloading the rations, it was all ice, needless to say I fell face first and busted my front teeth, had many caps, veneers but they were a temporary fix anyways I've been dealing with VA Dental and it's worse than the hospital, it's literally pulling teeth, I was supposed to get implants but COVID-19 happened, then come to find out that the Chief of the Dental clinic had retired, anyways I have a provider that dismisses my want/ need implants why not, she blatantly said that I wasn't a candidate, well to make a long story short, I messaged my Congressman, asking him who was in charge of the VA Dental System, no reply but a couple of days later, the Dental clinic called to make me an appointment for dental implants. So what I'm saying, if they say no, never give u, stay persistent and vigilant, The VA Dental System needs to be updated, but who can we address these concerns to because no one knows who the F*k we should contact, I believe in one of Forest Gump analogies, "Stupid is as Stupid Does, anyways contact your Congressman and tell the others to do likewise, it will make a difference

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 2 at 2023 9:04 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:04:22 -0400

thanks for sharing

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 6 at 2023 9:01 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:01:11 -0400

Bad oral health can lead to heart disease

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jun 6 at 2023 7:12 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:12:44 -0400

Unfortunately I am a member of the Air Force Dental hobby shop club...I have had to have a lot of work done but as of now I am ok. Medical dentistry was patch it up and get you deployable ready!

Response by Maj James Tippins made Jun 8 at 2023 6:04 PM

Maj James Tippins — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 18:04:54 -0400

Sound advice.

My family was poor back in the 60s and I did not receive great medical care. As a result, I had cavities out the wazoo and never went to a dentist unless I was in pain.

When I enlisted in the USAF at 19, I ended up at the Presidio of Monterey early the next year of 1972. I made the mistake of visiting the local dentists on that Army post. They decided I did not need three of my diseased molars and simply pulled them instead of saving them or crowning them. I guess they thought we would die soon anyway, so why bother? Actually, I have no idea why they did it and at 19, I wasn't smart enough to challenge the officers.

After I transferred back to USAF bases, I visited real dentists who cared about my teeth. I never lost another one but the damage was done. I have long since replaced the amalgam fillings and have crowned many teeth to slow down the eventual replacement of some of my teeth. I keep saying no to bridges to close the Army gap, for one thing because they are expensive and for another thing because I am so old.

As a retiree, I have signed up for the dental plan. We go every six months for cleaning and exams. I get crowns replaced every few years because decay just never stops. Eventually, if I live long enough, I will need posts and a bridge.

I am finished ranting. I hope this stokes even one of you on the edge of dental care to get off your bum and do it!

Response by SPC Harold Decoteau made Aug 31 at 2023 10:41 AM

SPC Harold Decoteau — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:41:43 -0400

We need some kind of oral/teeth maintenance VA program for those of us who served over seas.