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Now That’s a (Fresh) Breath of Air! Remedies to Overcome Bad Breath.

Isaiah on October 3, 2024

You brush and floss every day. Maybe you also use a tongue scraper and gargle with mouthwash. But still, somehow, you’re aware of it, and so are others around you. Why can’t you stop suffering from bad breath?

According to research, over 50% of adults complain of chronic bad breath, and older adults are more prone to the problem.

Many people think there’s nothing they can do to prevent bad breath. AMBA is here to clear the air (literally!) of that misconception. The road to fresh breath can be very simple and straightforward. The first step to preventing bad breath starts with understanding the source of the offending odor.

Common Causes of Bad Breath

Food

Bad breath is often a temporary problem caused by eating certain foods. Garlic, onions, and various spices are among the usual suspects, as are alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. Preventing bad breath caused by these factors can be solved simply by avoiding the offensive substance.

In fact, many foods can help improve your breath. These include crunchy fruits and vegetables. These foods – such as apples, citrus fruits, carrots, and more – can help to fight bad breath in two ways. First, they scrub away plaque and bacteria from the teeth as you chew. Second, they stimulate saliva flow, which helps to rinse away odor-causing bacteria, sulfur compounds, and food debris. Chewing on fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and mint can also help to freshen the breath naturally.

Dry Mouth

Older adults frequently suffer from dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Prescription medications cause more than 90% of dry mouth cases. Many common prescriptions can cause a decrease in salivary function.  The resulting lack of sufficient saliva to wash away food debris can cause bacteria to accumulate. Dry mouth can also be an effect of autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or chemotherapy. Keeping your mouth moist can help prevent bad breath. Many older people rely on artificial saliva products. But sipping plenty of water throughout the day and sucking on sugarless lozenges or candy can help, too.

Gum Disease

If you don’t brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly, bacterial plaque can begin to collect on your teeth and gums, leading to gum disease. The risk of gum (periodontal) disease increases with age: 70% of adults 65 and older in the U.S. suffer from the condition.

One of the first warning signs of gum disease is bad breath. As gum disease progresses, the severity of the odor increases due to inflamed gum tissue and excessive bleeding.

Treatment for periodontal disease can help eliminate bad breath. Your dentist will likely first remove tartar deposits so that the gums can heal. Ask your dentist what steps you can take in your home care routine to reduce the bacteria in your mouth and prevent it from accumulating again.

Artificial Teeth

Bacterial plaque can affect dentures, bridges, and crowns as much as natural teeth, so regular oral cleaning remains as crucial as ever. One effective way to remove plaque from dentures is to take out your dentures daily and clean them with the appropriate cleansers. Likewise, food and bacteria can also become trapped under fixed crowns and bridges. Clean under your bridge or crown with the floss threaders or small interdental brushes.

If you regularly experience bad breath, talk with your dentist about potential underlying conditions. Problems such as gingivitis, cavities, or tonsil stones could also cause bad breath. Your dental professional is best suited to diagnose oral health and hygiene problems. It’s just one more reason why regular checkups are so important. AMBA and NCRGEA can help you keep your mouth healthy with a Dental Plan that includes coverage for routine cleanings and many procedures, including fillings, crowns, implants, and more. Even better, there is NO WAITING PERIOD for covered services! Sign up now at www.AMBAdentalvision.com/NCRGEA or call 800-956-1228 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm ET.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9157195

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2015/04/grandma-your-breath-smells-funny

The Top Fashion Trends for Glasses for Autumn 2024

Isaiah on August 12, 2024

When the leaves turn into beautiful shades of gold, staying stylish takes its own fall turn. One of the most essential fashion statements you make is with your eyewear. Want to stay one step ahead of what will be hot in glasses trends this autumn and enjoy healthier vision? AMBA is here to provide the insights you need!

Warm Hues and Earthy Tones

Autumn fashions are driven by color schemes that reflect the autumn scenery. These shades can include rusticated reds, brassy reddish browns, and rich yellow-gold hues. These colors look great on frames. Different shades of tortoiseshells and animal prints blend into brown and black outfits for a look perfect for people who love statement-making eyewear.

Current trends are leaning towards red as the color of fall eyewear. Red frames—ranging from bright cherry to deep oxblood—constitute one of the ultimate fashion accessories. Red frames not only match well with bold and colorful clothing, but they also make a bold statement with a neutral outfit. 

Elevated Classics

Classic frame silhouettes retain their timeless charm, but new materials and accents provide updated, modern allure. Embellishments like layered colors (such as champagne gold) and textured finishes add depth and visually exciting embellishments.

Translucent Frames

Understated transparent frames make an impression since they help your eyes be visible through light or slightly tinted frames. When paired with sparkling pieces or gradient-tinted effects, transparent frames add a touch of bold subtlety and glamour.

Vintage Revival

Everything old is new again! Retro glasses have become fashionable again. With their throwback shapes and current updates, such as bold colors or sparkles, retro glasses provide vintage shapes borrowed from the past. 

Look for circular and oval lenses like those of the 1960s—1970s. Shapes like cat eyes or browlines are continuing to make a comeback.

Bold and Chunky Frames

Thick frames are perfect for people who want their eyewear to make a bold statement. These chunky lenses are based on styles popular during the new wave movement of the 1980s. The look is being modernized with statement brow lines and transparency effects. 

Mixed Materials

Combining various textures and materials to frames gives dimension to fall eyewear trends. For example, the fusion can include wooden top rims, transparent lower frames, or metal accents on acetates.

Metallic Accents

A new trend that continues to gain popularity is frames adorned with metallic accents to add glitter and shine. Lustrous silver, golden, and rose gold temples, hinges, and lenses complete the glamorous look.

Fall 2024 boasts many exciting eyewear trends, so you are bound to get the perfect frames to match your style. One thing that always looks good: significant savings on your next pair of glasses. NCRGEA and AMBA have a Vision Plan that can help you get the eyeglasses and the prescription that’s just right for you at great discounted rates. This plan includes annual WellVision checkups and coverage on a large selection of designer eyewear. Best of all, you’re pre-approved! Sign up now at www.AMBAdentalvision.com/NCRGEA or call 800-956-1228.

Sources: 

https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/trends/autumn-winter-2024-fashion-trends
https://stylecaster.com/lists/glasses-trends-2024/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a60813851/2024-sunglasses-trends/

NCRGEA Members Have Options Beyond The State’s Dental and Vision Plans

Isaiah on August 7, 2024

We’re diving into the details of your dental plan benefits 

Insurance plans are complex. Small differences in plans can save you thousands, depending on what services you need in a given year. As we age, we often have more needs for care, and with fixed incomes, it’s important to understand the details of your dental plan choices. 

We want to help you compare the dental plans that the State offers with those that NCRGEA provides, to help you make informed decisions. 

 Important notes about plans provided by NCRGEA:

 » Vision plans are also available to NCRGEA members and are similar to the state’s plan. Enroll any time! See details at ambadentalvision.com/ncrgea 

» NCRGEA offers a special rate category: Member + Associate, for a dues-paying spouse of an active NCRGEA member. 

» Hearing Benefits are provided FREE to all NCRGEA Members! 

» NCRGEA Members get great discounts on Identify Theft Protection. 

Dental Plan Comparisons

The State provides a dental plan through UnitedHealthcare. NCRGEA provides two plan options through Ameritas, an A-rated insurance provider endorsed by more than 70 retiree organizations across the country and one of the strongest networks available in North Carolina. Most NCRGEA members choose the Freedom Plan from Ameritas.  

Enroll Online
Enroll by Phone

Benefits Provided By AMBA

Travel Insurance: Is It Worth the Cost?

Tracie Eubank on March 4, 2022

Travel can be one of life’s greatest gifts. But how important is it to protect your journey with travel insurance?

Simply put, travel can pose financial risks that you may not be willing to take. Travel insurance can reimburse you for certain pre-paid, non-refundable expenses if the unexpected happens.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan may include coverage for trip cancellation, delays like those due to weather, medical emergencies and even natural disasters.

Beyond this standard package is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. It costs more but can cover trip cancellation within two days of your departure, including due to COVID-19 illness.

Shop around

For standard travel insurance, expect to pay 4% to 10% of the overall cost of your trip. CFAR coverage costs about 40% more than standard insurance.

In 2021, the average cost of a plan was $297, or $357 for international travel, according to insurance comparison site Squaremouth. These numbers can be impacted by the length of your trip, your age, and the types of coverage you choose.

To find your best option, use online comparison tools to shop for quotes and read what each policy covers. You can buy from a travel insurance provider, through a travel agent, or from a travel reservation site when you book.

Before you buy

Before you decide to purchase travel insurance, check your existing options. For example, your homeowners or renters policy may cover your be- longings for loss or damage.

Check your health insurance plan too — if you’re traveling within the U.S., chances are it will cover any medical expenses you incur. But your existing health plan, including your Medicare coverage, won’t be valid if you become sick or injured in an international locale.

If you already have a life insurance policy, or an accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policy, you may not need to purchase additional coverage for your trip. And some credit cards offer built-in travel insurance or rental car coverage.

Reviewing your current coverage limits and deductibles can help you decide if you need travel insurance.

Visit lgfcu.org/#creditunion for more good ways to manage your money.

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Enroll in E-Statements with SECU

Tracie Eubank on March 4, 2022

Make the switch to go paperless and view your State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) account statements online with E-Statements.¹ It’s easy to sign up and can reduce the risk of identity theft from lost or stolen mail.

E-statements also help save the environment by reducing the amount of paper, ink, and other resources used to print paper statements. Quicker access to your statements and the option to download them for safekeeping are other great benefits. To view even more and learn how to enroll, visit www.ncsecu.org today!

¹To sign up for E-Statements, you must consent to the terms of SECU’s E-Sign Agreement prior to your enrollment in Member Access.

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What Your Ears May Be Saying About Your Heart

Tracie Eubank on March 4, 2022

Could a hearing loss be trying to tell you something about your heart’s health? Listen carefully, because a growing body of evidence – based on six decades of research – points to a connection between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease.

In fact, several prominent experts call the ear a “window to the heart.”

“The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible any abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body,” explains David Friedland, MD, Ph.D., of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Friedland has been studying the hearing-cardiovascular connection for years.

Conversely, a healthy cardiovascular system (heart, arteries and veins) may positively affect a person’s hearing.

Another study, involving nearly 5,000 Icelandic citizens, indicate that a hearing impairment and dual sensory impairment (involving both vision and hearing) in older men are associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Researchers also observed that men and women who used hearing aids had significantly lower mortality risk compared with hearing-impaired individuals who did not use hearing aids.

Find out what your ears may be saying, simply call 877-806-7054 to request an appointment for a professional hearing exam with an Amplifon Hearing Health Care provider at a clinic near you. Our Patient Care Advocates will answer your questions and guide you through the entire process.

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Humana Neighborhood Centers Welcome NC State Health Plan Members

Tracie Eubank on March 2, 2022

Humana Neighborhood Centers, both in-person and online via the Virtual Neighborhood Center, offer special events, programs and activities designed to educate on physical and mental health. Many services can be used by anyone, including those who are not Humana members, at no cost. Each location offers a unique calendar of in-person or virtual events, programs and activities.

In-person locations are operating with limited capacity and by appointment to ensure the safety of visitors. Humana’s Virtual Neighborhood Center offers daily online classes on learning to manage health conditions, cooking healthy meals and learning to improve mental and physical health at home.

There are five Neighborhood Centers in North Carolina: Asheville, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. The centers offer classes and events and customer care specialists are onsite to answer plan benefit questions. Licensed Humana sales agents are available to help eligible non-members choose and enroll in Humana plans. Beginning in May, Humana Neighborhood Centers will host North Carolina State Health Plan (NCSHP) educational events at all five centers each month in 2022.