Adult  
Care  
LIBERTY  
LIBERTY cares about more than just teeth!  
DENTAL PLAN  
®
Maintaining a Clean and Healthy Mouth  
Teeth are pretty amazing. They help us eat and drink  
to survive. Our teeth do the job of breaking down food  
into digestible particles and our tongue helps push the  
food particles down to our stomach. Gums serve an  
important role, too: protecting our teeth. Our mouth is  
an important food processing “machine” that our body  
needs to function. We can easily take our mouth for  
granted, but if the mouth isn’t healthy, our overall health  
can decline.  
At LIBERTY Dental Plan, our primary goal is to educate  
and teach our members the importance oral health has  
on overall health and well-being. We encourage our  
members to establish a “Dental Home” – an environment  
where families have regular dental checkups.  
Let’s look at the important role teeth and gums  
have, and how we can keep our mouths clean,  
healthy and happy.  
Inside our mouths  
When we eat, and drink, some small food  
particles and drink residue gets left behind  
in our mouth, and collects in the spaces  
between our teeth and gums. Because  
these food particles and drink residues are  
so small, we don’t even think about it, or the  
potential harm they can do inside our mouth.  
These particles and residues mix with our saliva  
fact:  
There are 300 different  
types of bacteria inside  
your mouth - some  
freindly, and some  
not so friendly  
,
and if left unattended, turn into a sticky film  
called plaque.  
This plaque bacteria releases an acid that attacks  
the outer shell of your teeth, which leads to cavities. If  
the mouth is not regularly cleaned, then more plaque  
bacteria builds up on our teeth and can harden into a  
rough substance called tarter (or calculus). Tarter collects  
along your gum line, and if left unattended, can lead to  
gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and gum disease.  
Once tarter forms, only a dentist with special tools can  
remove it.  
Did you know  
Bacteria are living  
organisms that eat,  
grow, reproduce  
and discharge waste  
matter (biofilm) known  
as dental plaque  
Now we know that we have an enemy within our mouth  
that can damage our teeth, gums and overall health. To  
prevent this, we must practice daily oral health care to  
minimize damage and to maintain a clean, healthy and  
happy mouth.  
™
www.libertydentalplan.com  
1
Making members shine, one smile at a time  
©
2019 LIBERTY Dental Plan Maintaining-a-Clean-and-Healthy-Mouth-Eng RN 01 2019  
Daily oral health hygeine:  
Frequently rinsing your mouth  
Clean, pure water can help rinse away plaque  
bacteria. After eating or drinking sugary drinks, place  
some water in your mouth and swoosh it around to  
gently rinse your mouth and help flush away food  
particles and drink residues. You can also use a  
small capful of mouthwash in place of water. Before  
bedtime, it is important to note that you should avoid  
drinking any sugary drinks right before bed, which will  
promote plaque bacteria. It is best to drink only water  
right before bed.  
A simple rinse with water  
can help remove food  
particles in your mouth,  
and can reduce plaque  
from forming  
Brushing your teeth 2X every day  
While rinsing your mouth helps to remove excess food  
particles and residues from drinks, brushing your teeth  
and gums is the best way to properly clean your  
mouth to safeguard your teeth and gums from plaque  
bacteria. Brush your teeth twice a day. Using a soft to  
medium bristle toothbrush (manual or powered) and a  
small amount of toothpaste of your preference, brush  
your teeth and gums thoroughly for at least 2 minutes.  
Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle so that the  
toothbrush hits the crevices where the gums meet the  
teeth. Brush the front, back and top surfaces of the  
teeth, then finish with a quick brushing of the tongue.  
After a thorough brushing, your teeth will be sparkling  
clean and happy.  
Establish a daily oral  
health hygiene routine in  
your home  
Brush for  
2
minutes,  
2
times a day  
If you are unsure how to properly brush your teeth, ask  
your dentist to be shown then proper technique at your  
next visit.  
When to replace your toothbrush: every 3-4 months, or sooner if  
the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t clean your  
teeth and gums properly. If brushing your teeth with a manual  
toothbrush is difficult due to hand, arm or shoulder problems that  
limit movement, use a powered toothbrush. If you are not sure  
what type of toothbrush is best for you, talk with your dentist.  
Flossing your teeth 1X every day  
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There are crevices between teeth that a toothbrush  
just can’t reach. For this reason, it is strongly advised  
that you learn to make flossing your teeth 1X every  
day a part of your daily routine. Only use dental floss  
or disposable floss picks to reach and clean plaque  
bacteria from crevices between teeth. Floss between  
every tooth in your mouth, especially the teeth way  
in the back. It doesn’t matter what time of day you  
floss, all that matters is that you do it. If you are unsure  
how to properly floss your teeth, ask your dentist to be  
shown the proper technique at your next visit.  
Learn to make flossing a  
part of your daily routine  
If you don’t of floss daily, then you are putting your  
teeth and gums at a higher risk for cavities and gum  
disease. To reduce this risk, you can schedule deep  
cleanings with your dentist 4X a year (every 3 months).  
At minimum, 3X a year (every 4 months).  
™
www.libertydentalplan.com  
2
Making members shine, one smile at a time  
©
2019 LIBERTY Dental Plan Maintaining-a-Clean-and-Healthy-Mouth-Eng RN 01 2019  
Daily oral health hygeine: (continued):  
Did you know  
4
Avoiding sugary foods and drinks  
Drinking black coffee  
prevents tooth decay!  
Polyphenol found  
Virtually everyone loves foods and drinks that contain  
sugar and sugar derivatives. It signals receptors in  
the brain to crave and want more, and it can be  
addictive, especially to children. Did you know that  
there are over 57 variations of processed sugar? All  
fall into one of two categories: glucose and fructose.  
While glucose can be metabolized by nearly every cell  
in the body, fructose cannot. Fructose is metabolized  
almost entirely by the liver. While excessive amounts  
of glucose can lead to obesity and tooth decay  
in coffee breaks up  
plaque bacteria from  
forming in the mouth  
(cavities), high fructose consumption can lead to  
obesity, tooth decay, and diabetes. Processed food  
manufactures cleverly combine multiple variations of  
sugars into their ingredients to trick consumers  
To protect your teeth  
and health, avoid  
Both sugar types dissolves in the mouth and leaves  
concentrated, miniscule particles on the teeth and  
gums that feeds plaque bacteria, which leads to  
cavities. The best way to safeguard your mouth, and  
your health, is to avoid consuming excess processed  
sugars (cane sugar, fructose, and all other 55  
chemically engineered processed sugar derivatives;  
especially fructose based). Spend some time to learn  
about the different sugars and why you should avoid  
them. As a safeguard against tooth decay, always  
rinse your mouth with water after consuming sugar,  
especially right before bed.  
processed foods and  
drinks containing  
chemically engineered  
fillers and sweeteners  
Biannual Dental Home visits:  
Clean your teeth and gums 2X per year  
Keep your mouth healthy and happy by seeing your  
dentist at least 2X per year. Just like a car, your teeth  
need to be maintained regularly. Going to the dentist  
is like getting a “tune up.” Your teeth are checked  
for cavities, gums and mouth are checked for any  
disease, all that built-up tarter is scraped away and  
your teeth are polished. After an examination and  
deep cleaning, your teeth are invigorated, sparkling  
clean, and very happy  
When your teeth and  
mouth are clean, you  
can’t help but smile!  
It especially important for pregnant women and  
people with diabetes to see their dentist 2X per year.  
Diabetics are more prone to oral health problems.  
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy lowers the risks  
of diabetes when combined with a realistic nutrition  
plan. If you or someone you know is diabetic, read our  
AdultCare brochure: Diabetes and Oral Health Prevention.  
™
www.libertydentalplan.com  
3
Making members shine, one smile at a time  
©
2019 LIBERTY Dental Plan Maintaining-a-Clean-and-Healthy-Mouth-Eng RN 01 2019