February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. TRICARE offers two different plans to ensure your child can get the dental care they need.
The American Dental Association reports that while all toothpaste helps remove plaque – a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums every day and can lead to tooth decay – toothpaste with fluoride provides an extra benefit in preventing tooth decay by making tooth enamel stronger. The US Surgeon General agrees drinking water with fluoride everyday helps keep cavities away.
Brushing at least twice a day – once in the morning and once at night – should be a part of each child’s daily routine. You also want to get into a routine of scheduling dental exams every six months after your child’s initial visit. These routine appointments, as well as getting no-cost preventive services, should help keep cavities away.
Family members are eligible for care through two types of programmes: the TRICARE Dental Programme (TDP) and the TRICARE Retiree Dental Programme (TRDP). Both are voluntary programmes that require enrolment for beneficiaries.
