BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
A clean, happy mouth will give your whole body something to smile about.
It has been said that regular brushing and flossing help keep the dentist’s drill away.
When it comes to overall health, most people don’t stop to consider the fact that our mouths are the gateway to our body and taking care of our teeth is important to maintaining our health.
Conestoga Students Inc. oversees a benefits plan that helps students maintain their health and get the care they need. The plan is provided by Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. and costs each student $285 a year. The plan provides a maximum of $750 per year for dental work. The plan also includes vision, prescription drug and supplemental health coverage. Students at the college are automatically enrolled into the benefits plan when they start their first year. If they already have another benefits plan, they can opt out before the designated deadline.
“Dental hygiene is so important and part of one’s overall personal health,” said Dr. Anu Seoni, a dentist at the St. Jacobs Dental Group. “Our society puts a high premium on this. Lack of adequate oral hygiene has been linked to several systemic diseases such as heart disease.”
Dental hygiene doesn’t have to be a chore. All you have to do is brush and floss daily to help reduce dental problems.
“I have seen college students get into some poor eating habits which puts them at a higher risk for tooth decay and infection,” said Brenda Moffatt, a certified chairside dental assistant at St. Jacobs Dental Group, who has worked in the industry for 43 years. “I have also seen, as a result of the stress of a student’s life and schedule, serious mouth infections which can definitely be brought on by poor oral hygiene and nutrition, in combination with the student’s stress. This can cause a very sick student.”
Taking care of your teeth is one of the easier steps to maintaining your health.
“My advice for keeping on top of good oral hygiene would be, first of all, brush your teeth at least twice a day – no matter how late (or early) you go to bed, floss daily – do it while watching TV. And most importantly, go to the dentist regularly,” Moffatt said. “It’s a must. It is at these regular appointments that things are caught before they become an issue. And regular visits will cost far less in the end than waiting for a problem to arise.”
For more information about Conestoga Student Inc.’s dental and health benefits plan, visit www.mystudentplan.ca/conestoga/en/mybenefits-at-a-glance or drop in to CSI’s Health and Wellness Office in Rm. 173 in the rec centre on the Doon campus.
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