NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With the economy taking a nose dive, Americans are cutting back on spending — from food and travel to even medical treatments. Both healthcare and dental care are taking a back seat to more urgent needs. According to a recent survey by Cigna, a leading provider of health benefits, 41 percent of Americans are taking worse care of their health because of the economy. In fact, nearly half of Americans report that someone in their household has skipped necessary health care in the past year due to the cost, according to a recent Kaiser Foundation Poll. A recent study published in Health Services Research found that an increase in unemployment may be associated with fewer preventive care visits.

Even though times are tough, it is still important to take care of your body, particularly your oral health. With 92 percent of adults ages 20 to 64 experiencing dental decay in their permanent teeth at some point in their lives, proper oral care routines and preventive dental care visits are more essential than ever for achieving a cleaner, healthier mouth.

New York-based dentist Dr. Gregg Lituchy advises “include a fluoride rinse in your daily oral care routine to help protect your teeth against cavities. I recommend my patients use an anti-cavity fluoride rinse that delivers multiple benefits, such as LISTERINE(R) TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash from the makers of LISTERINE(R) Antiseptic, a product that has been trusted for more than 100 years and has more than 50 clinical studies supporting its safety and efficacy.”

Dr. Lituchy offers four easy tips to help reduce the risk of oral care problems and maintain a beautiful smile-without hurting your wallet:

— Multitask — rinse your mouth with an anticavity mouthwash while you’re washing your face.

— Avoid sticky situations — foods that stick to your teeth create an environment for bacteria to thrive, so the best strategy is to brush your teeth after meals and snacks.

— Don’t skip your dental check-ups — visiting your dentist at least twice a year is the best way to maintain good oral health and detect problems early on that could cause you more economic pain in the future.

— Technique matters — learn the proper way to brush and floss. Ask your dental professional or visit the Web site for the American Dental Association, which offers educational tutorial videos. (www.ada.org)

SOURCE Listerine Total Care

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