Dental Health Tips
Caring for your child's teeth starts with their first tooth. Blue Cross Shield of Michigan is here to help you figure out what care to give in the different stages of your child's dental development to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
There is a connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy pregnancy. Getting proper dental care while you’re pregnant can improve your health and the health of your child. While you take care of your children in every other way, let the Michigan Healthy Kids Dental program help you with their oral health.
Pregnancy can bring changes to your mouth. These changes can cause gums to become irritated, red and swollen. This irritation is an infection known as gum disease. If gum disease is not treated, it can lead to tooth loss.
Signs of gum disease include:
Avoid dental problems by taking good care of your mouth during pregnancy. Every mother wants to decrease her risk of having an unhealthy baby. Follow the steps below to help have a healthy mouth and baby.
You can practice good care by:
What you eat and drink plays a big part in your dental health. Follow a healthy diet by eating:
Also, make sure to drink plenty of water every day and to avoid sugary food and beverages.
If you have an infant at home, keep in mind that the germs that cause cavities are contagious. Mothers can pass germs from their mouths to their newborn child, so avoid kissing your baby on the mouth or tasting their food. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol after meals and snacks to lower the amount of cavity-causing germs in your mouth.
Even before your baby's teeth show, you should clean its gums with a damp cloth after meals and at bedtime. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush without paste once teeth show. Learn more by reading Good Health Starts at Birth (PDF).
Call our customer service representatives with your questions about Healthy Kids Dental plans and pediatric dental care.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
1-800-936-0935 (TTY: 711)
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Your baby’s first teeth usually come in at about 6 months of age. Over the following few months, your baby will continue to get their upper and lower front teeth.
When your baby gets their first tooth, make an appointment to see your dentist. Your dentist can offer tips on teething, thumbsucking and home care.
Baby bottle tooth decay can happen when breast milk, formula or juice stays in a baby's mouth for a long period of time, such as when they are put to bed with a bottle. This tooth decay can cause your baby pain. To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, follow these steps:
Sucking is a natural reflex. When a baby is not eating, a pacifier is better to use than a finger or thumb. Here are some important tips on using a pacifier:
Be sure to feed your child from the five major food groups:
Second molars, the last of the baby teeth, will come in during this time. Now is a good time to teach your child how to brush their teeth. Brushing your child’s teeth can be challenging, but don’t give up. Remember, the goal is to get your child in the habit of brushing.
Here are some tips to help make brushing easier:
Young children are eager to follow the example of adults, so make sure you model good behavior. You can set a good example for your family's dental health by:
Keep track of your child's good oral health habits with a brushing calendar (PDF) and play a healthy dental word search game (PDF).
Most dental diseases are 100 percent preventable with regular care and dental checkups every six months. Healthy Kids Dental are eligible for checkups at no cost. Learn more by reading Your Child's Dental Checkup (PDF).
Good oral hygiene habits begin with parents. Start care for your baby's gums before teeth develop and continue good dental care through their childhood. Learn more by reading our Parent Tip Sheet (PDF).
The first step in having healthy teeth is preventing tooth decay. Sealants can protect your child’s teeth against cavities.
A sealant is a thin plastic coating that protects back teeth from decay. Children should have sealants placed on their teeth as soon as they erupt to help prevent cavities. Learn more about sealants and how they protect teeth by reading Seal Out Decay (PDF).
Don't wait at an emergency room. See a dentist who is an expert at treating dental pain.
When your mouth is in pain, it may be tempting to go to the Emergency Room for care, but there are cheaper, better options available to you as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member.
The ER is not always the best option for dental pain. You could wait hours to be seen by a medical doctor who isn't a dental expert. A visit to the ER can also be more costly than going to a dentist.
By choosing a family dentist and going to them for care, you can avoid the hassles that often come with ER visits.
Additionally, having a family dentist also means that:
There are many reasons why you might feel like you can't go to the dentist, but as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member, we can help you with many of the common issues, like:
Affordability - Many common procedures are covered at little to no cost to you. For a list of many of the procedures covered under your plan, look in the Benefit Summary (PDF).
Transportation - Modivcare can provide transportation to and from dental appointments at no cost to you. If you live in Wayne, Macomb or Oakland counties, call 1-866-569-1902. If you live in a different county, call your local office of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Not having a family dentist - If you do not have a family dentist and need help finding one near you, call Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1-800-936-0935. We’ll help you schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.
Use the Find a Dentist tool on our website to get help locating a dentist near you.
If you think you are having a dental emergency that could threaten your or your child’s health and safety, go to the ER.
Make sure after an ER visit that you go to your dentist. They can help you get the additional dental care you need to help prevent future dental problems.
Is it after hours and you aren't sure if it's a real dental emergency? Call us at 1-800-936-0935 and speak with a nurse who can help you better understand what to do next.
Prevent future problems by taking care of your teeth today.
Make sure that you:
There is a connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy pregnancy. Getting proper dental care while you’re pregnant can improve your health and the health of your child. While you take care of your children in every other way, let the Michigan Healthy Kids Dental program help you with their oral health.
Pregnancy can bring changes to your mouth. These changes can cause gums to become irritated, red and swollen. This irritation is an infection known as gum disease. If gum disease is not treated, it can lead to tooth loss.
Signs of gum disease include:
Avoid dental problems by taking good care of your mouth during pregnancy. Every mother wants to decrease her risk of having an unhealthy baby. Follow the steps below to help have a healthy mouth and baby.
You can practice good care by:
What you eat and drink plays a big part in your dental health. Follow a healthy diet by eating:
Also, make sure to drink plenty of water every day and to avoid sugary food and beverages.
If you have an infant at home, keep in mind that the germs that cause cavities are contagious. Mothers can pass germs from their mouths to their newborn child, so avoid kissing your baby on the mouth or tasting their food. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol after meals and snacks to lower the amount of cavity-causing germs in your mouth.
Even before your baby's teeth show, you should clean its gums with a damp cloth after meals and at bedtime. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush without paste once teeth show. Learn more by reading Good Health Starts at Birth (PDF).
Call our customer service representatives with your questions about Healthy Kids Dental plans and pediatric dental care.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
1-800-936-0935 (TTY: 711)
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Your baby’s first teeth usually come in at about 6 months of age. Over the following few months, your baby will continue to get their upper and lower front teeth.
When your baby gets their first tooth, make an appointment to see your dentist. Your dentist can offer tips on teething, thumbsucking and home care.
Baby bottle tooth decay can happen when breast milk, formula or juice stays in a baby's mouth for a long period of time, such as when they are put to bed with a bottle. This tooth decay can cause your baby pain. To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, follow these steps:
Sucking is a natural reflex. When a baby is not eating, a pacifier is better to use than a finger or thumb. Here are some important tips on using a pacifier:
Be sure to feed your child from the five major food groups:
Second molars, the last of the baby teeth, will come in during this time. Now is a good time to teach your child how to brush their teeth. Brushing your child’s teeth can be challenging, but don’t give up. Remember, the goal is to get your child in the habit of brushing.
Here are some tips to help make brushing easier:
Young children are eager to follow the example of adults, so make sure you model good behavior. You can set a good example for your family's dental health by:
Keep track of your child's good oral health habits with a brushing calendar (PDF) and play a healthy dental word search game (PDF).
Most dental diseases are 100 percent preventable with regular care and dental checkups every six months. Healthy Kids Dental are eligible for checkups at no cost. Learn more by reading Your Child's Dental Checkup (PDF).
Good oral hygiene habits begin with parents. Start care for your baby's gums before teeth develop and continue good dental care through their childhood. Learn more by reading our Parent Tip Sheet (PDF).
The first step in having healthy teeth is preventing tooth decay. Sealants can protect your child’s teeth against cavities.
A sealant is a thin plastic coating that protects back teeth from decay. Children should have sealants placed on their teeth as soon as they erupt to help prevent cavities. Learn more about sealants and how they protect teeth by reading Seal Out Decay (PDF).
Don't wait at an emergency room. See a dentist who is an expert at treating dental pain.
When your mouth is in pain, it may be tempting to go to the Emergency Room for care, but there are cheaper, better options available to you as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member.
The ER is not always the best option for dental pain. You could wait hours to be seen by a medical doctor who isn't a dental expert. A visit to the ER can also be more costly than going to a dentist.
By choosing a family dentist and going to them for care, you can avoid the hassles that often come with ER visits.
Additionally, having a family dentist also means that:
There are many reasons why you might feel like you can't go to the dentist, but as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member, we can help you with many of the common issues, like:
Affordability - Many common procedures are covered at little to no cost to you. For a list of many of the procedures covered under your plan, look in the Benefit Summary (PDF).
Transportation - Modivcare can provide transportation to and from dental appointments at no cost to you. If you live in Wayne, Macomb or Oakland counties, call 1-866-569-1902. If you live in a different county, call your local office of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Not having a family dentist - If you do not have a family dentist and need help finding one near you, call Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1-800-936-0935. We’ll help you schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.
Use the Find a Dentist tool on our website to get help locating a dentist near you.
If you think you are having a dental emergency that could threaten your or your child’s health and safety, go to the ER.
Make sure after an ER visit that you go to your dentist. They can help you get the additional dental care you need to help prevent future dental problems.
Is it after hours and you aren't sure if it's a real dental emergency? Call us at 1-800-936-0935 and speak with a nurse who can help you better understand what to do next.
Prevent future problems by taking care of your teeth today.
Make sure that you:
Enrolling is easy. For more information and to see if your child qualifies, call Michigan ENROLLS. Read more about pediatric dental care at Healthy Kids Dental.
Michigan ENROLLS
1-800-975-7630
8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday