RECIPE: Greek Yogurt Hummus

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This recipe for hummus with Greek yogurt is a satisfying snack that’s good for your smile!

The time is always right to make healthy changes for you and your family. Something to consider cutting out – or at least cutting down on – is junk food. This recipe for hummus with Greek yogurt is a satisfying snack that’s good for your smile! Chickpeas are packed with folic acid, which helps facilitate healthy cell growth in your mouth. And if you use celery or carrot sticks instead of pita chips to dip in the hummus, it’s even better. Celery and carrots help clean teeth with their crunchy texture.

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What Your Family History Says About Your Teeth

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What does your family tree have to do with your smile?

Your parents probably told you candy causes cavities, but that’s not the only thing that causes them. Risk for cavities is 60 percent due to genetic factors such as preference for sweets, teeth enamel strength, and saliva composition, according to the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. If members of your family often develop cavities, you might want to talk with your dentist about sealants or fluoride treatments.

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Water in School is Cool – the Delta Dental Cool Water Program

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Delta Dental Cool Water Program

The Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation recently announced its Cool Water Program. Wisconsin elementary and middle schools can apply for a grant to replace an existing water fountain with a new water bottle filling station and fountain. The grant will cover the cost of the full installation, and provide toothbrushes and dishwasher-safe water bottles for all students and staff.

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National Tooth Fairy Day Video

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National Tooth Fairy Day
She’s a bit flighty, she sprinkles sparkles where she goes, and she’s the biggest advocate for healthy smiles. It’s our cherished Tooth Fairy! Teach your children valuable lessons about dental health care with her DIY activities and more videos for kids. We’ve got all the resources you need to make National Tooth Fairy Day burst with fun and education. National Tooth Fairy Day is so important, it comes twice a year! We all could use an extra reminder to brush and floss anyway. We’re celebrating once on February 28th, and again when August 22nd rolls around. For that one we’ll be having our own floss party for National Tooth Fairy Day! Do you and your kids know why the tooth fairy is so important? Besides leaving behind a goodie or two in exchange for a loose tooth, the tooth fairy also teaches little ones the right ways to brush and floss for a lifetime to come! Use this reminder to teach the kids why plucking away plaque is so important. Learn more about daily dental health habits for kids:

The Basics of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

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Baby bottle tooth decay

When parents put their little ones to sleep, sometimes they leave them with a bottle. While that might be soothing as they drift off to dreamland, leaving a bottle in the crib can be problematic for tiny teeth. Take a moment to brush up on the basics of baby bottle tooth decay.

What is baby bottle tooth decay?

Put simply, baby bottle tooth decay means cavities in baby teeth and can begin soon after teeth appear. It occurs when a baby’s teeth are exposed to sugar for extended periods like at nap time or overnight. During this time, sugar pools around teeth and attacks enamel. This sugar can be introduced from baby bottles with liquids such as milk, formula or juice. With enough exposure, it can lead to high amounts of tooth decay.

Why is it a problem if baby teeth are going to fall out anyway?

Even though baby bottle tooth decay relates to teeth that eventually fall out, it can still create lasting consequences. Healthy baby teeth are essential for chewing, speaking and smiling. When kids’ oral health is compromised, they may experience difficulty with these important aspects of growing up. Unhealthy baby teeth can also set the stage for improperly formed adult teeth, tooth crowding or crooked teeth when adult teeth come in. If the problem isn’t addressed, it could lead to pain or infection, so it’s always a good decision to stay vigilant about oral health from the very start.

How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

You have several options to keep your baby’s teeth free from decay. The best way is to avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle. Or, make sure to only fill the bottle with water. No matter what time of day it is, be especially careful about juice because it contains high amounts of sugar. Make sure to limit juice intake to no more than six ounces per day for preschoolers and 12 ounces for older children. If you do allow juice, it’s better to serve it in a cup rather than a bottle. Most children should be able to drink out of a cup after their first birthday.

Preventive care like brushing and regular checkups is key, as well. Experts recommend scheduling your baby’s first visit within six months of the first tooth and no later than the first birthday. Clean their teeth according to infant dental care recommendations. As soon as baby teeth appear, you should begin brushing them with a baby toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. Around age 3 you can begin using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Begin flossing when your child has two teeth that touch.

By keeping your baby’s teeth safe now, you can help them develop a happy and healthy smile when their adult teeth appear.

What E-Cigarettes Do to Your Tooth’s Surface

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The ADA reports that the harmful effects of e-cigarettes now include causing cavities.

News around the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and “vaping” is growing. In addition to damaging the lungs and heart, electronic cigarette smoking has also been found to increase the risk of dental cavities. The side effects of e-cigarette liquid now include damaging the teeth, much like sticky candies and sodas do.

Kids Are at Risk

If you’ve ever witnessed someone exhaling an e-cigarette puff, you’ve likely noticed how different it smells than a regular cigarette. When smoking e-cigarettes, the user can pick from over 10,000 flavors available on the market. These include gummy bear, cotton candy, and peach iced tea and are commonly known as “e-liquid,” which is vaporized and inhaled. When the ADA looked at more than 400 available e-liquid brands, they saw that “84% offered fruit flavors and 80% offered candy and dessert flavors.”

What was initially intended to assist older people in quitting smoking is now attracting a growing number of teens who were not smoking before. More than 20% of high school students report using e-cigarettes on a regular basis. This is almost twice what was reported in 2017. E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco product for middle school and high school kids in the United States. Social media campaigns, product placement, and sweet candy flavors are a few of the ways kids are being introduced to e-cigarettes. 

Children are already at a higher risk of developing cavities. The FDA Commissioner stated that “[youth e-cigarette prevention] may be the most important thing I can accomplish in my role as the agency’s Commissioner.” Discussing the risks of smoking and the harmful effects of e-cigarettes with your teen or young adult can make a difference. This pamphlet from the FDA will help you prepare before discussing e-cigarettes with your kid. 

Side Effects of E-Cigarette Liquid

Researchers found two reasons for their cavity-causing nature. According to the lead on the study, Jeffrey Kim, D.D.S., Ph.D., the “viscosity,” or gumminess, of the e-liquid, and the chemicals that make up the flavor both can cause cavities. It seems only natural that inhaling flavors like cotton candy and gummy bear would impact your teeth just like eating them would. But e-cigarettes come with a host of other problems that sweets don’t. 

More Harmful Effects of E-Cigarettes

The ADA states that “e-cigarettes [impact] on human health goes beyond respiratory and cardiac systems and may have significant implications on oral health.” Researchers found that the aerosol in e-liquid increased bacteria on the enamel by four times! 

There are negative repercussions that go beyond the teeth. Multiple reports have come out about the risk of e-cigarettes exploding. One 18-year-old male was using his e-cigarette before giving a presentation when it exploded. He was left with burns in the mouth and the stomach, and lacerations in the mouth from the device.  

Another individual, a 23-year old male, experienced injuries and burns on his face, hand, and chest after his e-cigarette exploded. A scan of his oral cavity revealed fractures of his hard palate and nasal septum, and dislocation of the adjacent teeth. The soft palate and front teeth receive extensive damage when an explosion like this occurs. Due to their unregulated nature, researchers don’t consider them a safe alternative to cigarette smoking.

How to Quit

In 2016, the US Surgeon General declared use of e-cigarettes by young people a major public health concern. With awareness around the harmful effects of e-cigarettes increasing, more resources are available to help those affected. If you’re a concerned adult looking to improve the health of your family, community, or self when it comes to e-cigarettes, review this free, easy-to-read, illustrated booklet from the Surgeon General’s office. 

If you or someone you love needs more resources on how to quit smoking, check out Tips From Former Smokers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As their use becomes more widespread, stories multiply around how unsafe e-cigarettes are. Stop a bad habit in its tracks and spread your awareness about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and the damaging side effects of e-cigarette liquid.

For more tips for quitting smoking, check out this blog:

*Updated October 2020*

How Poor Oral Health Can Lead to Disease in Old Age

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oral health care for the elderly

You probably know by now that your oral health is connected to your overall health. But, do you know how lack of oral health care for the elderly can lead to disease in old age?

Researchers have found that the bacteria and inflammation in your teeth and gums are linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even dementia. That’s right, dental plaque and dementia could be linked!

Dental Plaque and Dementia

When sticky plaque on your teeth combines with sugars, the bacteria release acid that attacks your tooth’s enamel. Plaque buildup can lead to gum disease, gingivitis, and heart disease. When left untreated, severe gum disease can develop. If that occurs, the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth and allows bad bacteria to destroy the underlying bone, compromising all that supports your teeth.

Gum disease has also been found to increase the risk of dementia later in life. Researchers have found that periodontal problems may also be associated with milder cognitive impairment, such as memory problems. This can make activities of daily life, like brushing teeth, more difficult.

While the findings show no direct correlation between dental plaque and dementia, it did show that “people who had chronic gum inflammation for 10 or more years were 70 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those without periodontitis.”

Oral Health Care for the Elderly

As you age, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain a healthy mouth as mobility and dexterity issues increase and dentist trip funds decrease. So, how can elderly focus on good oral health care for themselves?

Maintain a Good Routine — If you’re able, make sure to keep up on a proper oral hygiene routine, which includes brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist for regular checkups.

Budget Wisely — Make sure to set some money aside for annual visits to your health providers, including your dentist.

Solicit Help — Caregivers can make sure that seniors make it to regular dental visits and keep up a proper oral hygiene routine. They are also particularly helpful to seniors with mobility issues. They can help brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. In addition, caregivers can prepare foods that promote good oral and overall health.

Do you or someone you know live in a managed home? Collaboration between dentists and facilities allows seniors to receive treatment and regular dental checkups. This eliminates the need to travel to and from the dentist’s office and helps patients feel more comfortable.

Whether considering in-home care, moving into a care facility, or still independently living at home, proper oral health care for the elderly is vital to having a healthy body.

Looking for more oral health tips? Check out our blog.

Milk & Root Surface Cells | Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

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save a knocked-out tooth

More than five million teeth are “avulsed,” or knocked out, from both adults and children each year. If you or your child plays sports with bodily contact (even accidental), the odds that there will be a lost tooth through force are higher. Make sure you know how to save a knocked-out tooth, and you have a chance to restore your smile.

A tooth can be knocked out anywhere and anytime, so brush up on what to do if you or someone close to you has a tooth knocked out. There are a few basic things to remember; not only can they save you money when a tooth is knocked out, they can also potentially help you keep the tooth. For example, did you know that you can save a knocked-out by putting it in milk?

Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth with Milk – Act Fast

The most critical factor to saving and preserving a tooth for reimplanting it successfully is time. In other words, get to the dentist or an emergency room as quickly as possible. The possibility of reimplantation diminishes rapidly after 30 minutes. If you can’t get to help that fast, the second-best thing that you can do is properly store the tooth.

First and foremost, keep it moist by whatever means possible. If you can, put the tooth back in the socket. Your next best option is to store your tooth in milk (not water). Use a small container or bag.

So, why do we recommend using milk to save a knocked-out tooth? When the cells from the tooth’s root surface come into contact with water, they tend to swell up. They can even burst. Milk provides the necessary proteins needed to maintain the proper pH balance, anti-bacterial properties, and sugars that keep these root cells growing. Storing your tooth in milk improves the chances of successful reimplantation at your dentist.

If milk isn’t available, storing the tooth inside your mouth is the next best option. Water is not the best or most effective option for preserving your tooth, but if it’s all that’s available, it’s better than holding it in your hand.

Time and location when you’re storing an avulsed tooth are most important to a successful reimplantation. Here are some other considerations that will help improve the chances of success:

  • Hold the tooth by the crown – Always grab and hold the tooth by the crown, or the chewing surface. Do not touch the root of the tooth. This can help keep the roots of the tooth cleaner if it can be saved. Don’t wrap the tooth in a piece of cloth or napkin. This will dry out the tooth, and it would not be practical to put it back in the mouth.
  • Rinse off the tooth – As mentioned before, this step may or may not be possible depending on where you are when the tooth is knocked out. If you do have access to clean water, a gentle rinse to remove dirt and debris is advised. Remember not to use any soap or cleaning products, and never scrub the tooth. A quick, gentle stream of water will do the trick.

Getting a tooth knocked out can happen anywhere, anytime. Take quick action and remember these basic steps. They will go a long way toward improving your chances of keeping the avulsed tooth clean, safe, and able to be reimplanted. This saves hassle and expense down the road.

To learn more about our dental benefits plans for you and your family, click here.

Do Retirees Still Need Dental Coverage?

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benefits after retirement

The average age for retirement fluctuates over time, but generally remains between the age of 63 and 66 years old. Seniors today are more active and engaged than ever before, and represent about 16% of the nation’s population. In the next decade, that will jump to 20%. It’s no secret that our family, friends, and neighbors are living longer, which makes dental care for seniors that much more important. If we’re living longer, let’s keep our teeth longer, too! To do that, you’ll need to get informed on dental benefits after retirement.

One key to a happy retirement is a healthy retirement. Since employer-sponsored dental benefits come to an end when you retire from your job, seniors have good reason to brush up on benefits after retirement.

Although some retirees may be tempted to “do without,” the toll that takes can be catastrophic on both on health and finances. Did you know seniors are at a higher risk of dental health complications, or that 16% don’t have any natural teeth? See why benefits after retirement are essential to more than just your smile.

Why You Should Have Benefits After Retirement

Seniors often take a variety of medications that can cause dry mouth. A dry mouth isn’t as harmless as you may think; it can lead to rapid tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Your gums, cheek lining, and tongue are impacted by a dry mouth, as well. If dry mouth is a concern for you, ask your dentist to recommend solutions like moisturizing mouth rinses. They can help improve the pH level for a more comfortable mouth. Be sure the pH of the dry mouth solution is a 6.7 or higher, since some solutions have been found to have a harmful, acidic nature. Additionally, if you use an inhaler, it’s important to rinse your mouth afterward. This will prevent fungal infections from occurring.

Poor oral health can affect a person’s ability to chew, speak, smile, and maintain adequate nutrition. In the long run, sustaining good smile health practices by going to the dentist will reduce sensitivity and inflammation of the gums, and increase your comfort level with your smile.

If proper dental health practices weren’t always part of your past lifestyle, implants, partial dentures, or full dentures could be in your future. With an individual dental benefits package from Delta Dental, the cost of those procedures wouldn’t fall solely on you. You’d also have access to benefits like a pre-treatment estimate and a large network of approved dentists.

Without regular dental care, many adults seek care in costly emergency departments. The ER can cost three times as much as a dentist visit. And the dentist gives you a toothbrush, too. Since 80% of dental-related ER visits are due to preventable conditions, why not take care of them in a dental office instead? One rule remains imperative: seniors still need regular dental care to protect their oral and overall health.

To buy individual dental insurance that’s right for you, start off by evaluating your budget and your dental work needs. Educate yourself on the ever-changing dental insurance marketplace. Check out our plan offerings to see if one works for you.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions about taking the first steps to buy individual dental insurance.

Bad Taste After Brushing? Common Explanations

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bad breath after brushing

If you have bad breath after brushing your teeth, you aren’t imagining things. The minty freshness of toothpaste plus the scrubbing power of your toothbrush may not be enough to fix some underlying issues.

We have between 2,000 and 8,000 taste buds in our mouths, mostly on our tongues. With so many taste sensors, it’s easy to detect a lingering flavor – especially if you don’t like it. You may experience a bad taste in your mouth, even after brushing, because of these factors:

What causes bad breath after brushing teeth?

  • Medication: Anti-depressants, neurological medications, and anti-thyroid prescriptions can leave a metallic taste in your mouth. The severity varies for individuals. Talk to your dentist and your primary care physician about this. They can recommend a mouth rinse to help with taste and dryness. 
  • Women in their first trimester of pregnancy:A bitter taste is typical due to increased levels of estrogen, and this is only temporary. Talk to your dentist and your primary care physician to see what they recommend for short-term solutions.
  • Acid reflux:Stomach acid can cause a similar bitter taste in the mouth if you experience reflux. Discuss your symptoms with your primary care physician and dentist right away if you haven’t already.
  • Dental problems: Tooth decay, gum infections, and other problems can cause a bad taste in the mouth due to the presence of bacteria. Visiting the dentist regularly will help ensure you’re addressing any issues 
  • Halitosis: Bad breath, officially termed “halitosis,” can also be a problem on its own. Bacteria in the mouth caused by food particles stuck between teeth can contribute to the foul taste. It’s important to floss, brush your tongue, and use mouthwash. Brushing your teeth alone is not enough. Chronic bad breath could be a sign that it’s time to see the dentist. 
  • Nasal problems: The common cold, allergies, and other infections can leave a bad taste from the mucus buildup. Bacterial or viral residues can remain in the mouth, causing an unpleasant taste.
  • Bad habits: Smoking or a poor diet can also lead to bad breath. Good oral health is the key to removing this and improving your health.

Bad breath after brushing your teeth may not go away instantly. It is still important to brush twice a day and floss your teeth. Remember to brush your tongue to remove debris and bacteria that can add to the problem.

For more information about your smile health, browse our other blogs.