Serving Mealtime Smiles: Giving Back Keeps Wisconsin Smiling

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A healthy diet is key for oral and overall health. But for many older Americans, access to good, nutritious food is hard to find. Hundreds of thousands of these Americans are malnourished, subsisting on a diet that’s high in sodium and carbs and low in vitamins and minerals.

This poor diet negatively impacts the heart and dental health for our elderly neighbors.

Meals on Wheels provides adults with healthy, pre-made meals delivered right to their door. Since its start in 1954, Meals on Wheels provides more than 2.5 million senior adults a year with mealtime smiles. And since 1971, Meals on Wheels of Stevens Point has been helping the seniors in our great community.

Delta Dental of Wisconsin joined the cause in 1988. Every week, employees volunteer for this incredible program through a company benefit called the Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP). As a committed community partner, Delta Dental of Wisconsin provides employees up to eight hours of pay each year for time spent volunteering for organizations like Meals on Wheels.

According to Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s director of human resources, Sue Shulfer, “We proudly offer a number of programs to encourage and easily allow employees to volunteer their time to charitable nonprofit organizations that are close to their hearts. In fact, we have witnessed many employees feel proud of the work Meals on Wheels does to improve the health of our community they give above and beyond the eight hours.”

3 Pregnancy Tips You Weren’t Expecting

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Pregnant Women Meeting At Ante Natal Class

Back pain, morning sickness, fatigue, hunger — it’s hard to know exactly what to expect when you’re expecting. Your teeth may seem secondary to other symptoms, but they matter more than you realize. Here’s how to keep your smile healthy throughout your pregnancy:

Your hormones aren’t the only things changing.

The same pregnancy hormones causing you to sob during a Sarah McLachlan commercial affect your teeth too. Increased estrogen and progesterone levels multiply dental plaque. Because of a surplus of the sticky stuff (bacteria), many women are prone to get pregnancy gingivitis. It’s characterized by inflammation of the gums, swelling, and tenderness. Plus, studies consistently link periodontal disease to pre-term and low-birth-weight babies.

You’re brushing for 2.

Your baby’s teeth start to grow as early as 3 months into pregnancy. Make 2 smiles and 2 bodies strong — eat a balanced diet filled with calcium, phosphorous, protein, and vitamins A, C, and D. Eat healthy and your baby’s kicks will feel more like a high five.

You need to have more than an ultrasound.

Add a dentist visit to your new nursery and gender reveal party plans. A dental check-up may not be top of mind, but it’s a key to a healthy pregnancy. If you’re newly expecting, bring your baby-to-be belly to the dentist. A routine cleaning will keep your smile on-track.

Prepare your smile for pregnancy with our other mom-to-be blogs.

Bigger Network Boosts Employee Morale

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Solving problems as one team. Three cheerful young men working together while sitting at their working place in office

Healthcare coverage enhances employee morale. Coverage is important, but your employees want options too.

Network size impacts the numbers of dentists who are able to serve your employees. The larger the network, the more likely your employees can stay with their current dentist and get the most out of their benefits plan. And if employees are happy, so are you!

A few things to keep in mind:

Consider dependents

The network size should be large enough to meet the needs of your employees and their dependents.

Location, location, location

It’s advantageous to have at least 2 dental offices in the network within 5 or 10 miles of your employees’ home or work location. (Less time out of the office for dental visits.)

Share the benefits

Let employees know the benefits of network size

  • The Delta Dental PPO network has more than 95,000 providers nationwide.
  • The Delta Dental Premier network is the largest provider network in the country, with nearly 145,000 participating dentists.
  • Here’s a quick video to help you understand the two Delta Dental Networks.
  • Delta Dental’s PPO Plan delivers the industry’s best effective discount — averaging 20.3 percent nationally on all claims paid — resulting in nearly $3 billion in annual savings. Make sure you and your employees know the benefits of the Delta Dental dentist networks today!

Healthy Habits for Aspiring Astronauts: Good Oral Health Doesn’t Stop on Earth

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healthy-habits-imageIn 1973, cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko developed a toothache while on a 96-day mission to the International Space Station. His tooth caused him so much pain that it was near impossible for him to complete his mission. It’s clear that everyone can benefit from good oral health, including astronauts!

That’s why Delta Dental of Wisconsin is a proud major sponsor of Dream Flight USA, a space shuttle education mission that travels to Wisconsin schools to take student smiles to infinity and beyond.

Dream Flight gets children engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program docks a mock space shuttle at elementary schools. Students complete hands-on workstations that challenge their critical and analytical thinking skills.

A Delta Dental sponsored workstation stresses the importance of children’s health and proper dental hygiene by having students assemble a tooth- and space-friendly lunch for their fellow astronauts. The hope is that future astronauts and scientists will not have the same oral health issues as Romanenko did in 1973.

Nick Ryan, executive director of Dream Flight, said, “So many students – hundreds a year – have been able to experience the hands-on learning delivered by the STEM Shuttle because of Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s support. Delta Dental provides funding for several shuttle missions a year to schools that don’t have money in their budgets for enrichment programs. Because of Delta Dental’s support, we have also been able to keep our fees down, making the STEM Shuttle more affordable for other schools.”

Here’s to many more years of healthy students reaching for the stars!

Move Aside, Turkey: 5 Sides that Steal the Show

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Move Aside, Turkey: 5 Sides that Steal the Show

Whether it’s ham, hens, or good ol’ fashioned turkey, meat shines as the holiday table showstopper.

Not this year! Meat, step aside for sides. It’s time for these dishes to take center stage.

Here is our definitive ranking of traditional dishes — all featuring tooth-healthy twists for a festive feast. Warning: Nostalgia will occur.

5. Green Bean Casserole

image via ifoodreal.com

Side to Serve: Clean Green Bean Casserole with Parmesan Crumb Topping

Star Quality: The creamy classic gets a clean makeover with this lip-smackin’ casserole. Crunchy veggies like green beans increase saliva flow and gently scrub teeth. Plus, they’re full of fiber, low in calories, and high in nutrients.

4. Mac and Cheese

image via healthyfoodforliving.com

Side to Serve: Sweet Potato and Brie Mac & Cheese

Star Quality: It doesn’t get much more festive than these 2 holiday favorites! Sorry turkey. It’s not you, it’s Brie. Brie is good for your dental health and contains probiotics – beneficial bacteria that can help your immune and digestive systems.

3. Cranberry Relish

image via feedyourskull.com

Side to Serve: Cranberry-Orange Relish

Star Quality: Recent research found evidence that cranberries contain compounds that may disrupt the plaque formation process. However, these rosy wonders do contain sugar — remember to brush after relishing in your homemade relish.

2. Mashed Potatoes

image via steamykitchen.com

Side to Serve: Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Star Quality: Do the mashed potatoes right this year. This recipe uses cauliflower instead of potatoes (you won’t be able to taste the difference). This kitchen chameleon is tasteless, so it easily takes the place of its high-calorie counterparts.

1. Stuffing

image via myrecipes.com

Side to Serve: Wild Rice Stuffing with Toasted Pecans

Star Quality: This particular recipe is packed with protein, thanks to the toasted pecans. And if you’re worried about your carb count, try this version that will leave you breadless.

Do you agree with our rankings? Tell us your favorite holiday sides!

Better off Friends: 3 Ways to Break Up with Your Sugar Addiction

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We all crave sugar. But there are ways to cut ties with this sweet addiction.

No matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to quit the sweet stuff. In fact, the average American consumes more than 126 grams of sugar per day, making the U.S. the most sugar-obsessed country in the world.

It’s common knowledge that too much sugar can affect your weight, liver, brain, and teeth. So why can’t we quit you, sugar? There’s more to sugar than its sinfully sweet taste.

When your brain experiences sugar, it’s love at first bite. That spark is due to dopamine — also known as the “reward chemical.” Sugar fuels dopamine, which causes your brain to light up and literally crave more.

You don’t have to shut sugar out of your life completely. It is important, however, to regulate your intake.

Soften the blow with 3 smart sugar strategies:

• You can do so much better…read the ingredients.

Take extra time at the grocery store to read product labels. Unfortunately, sugar doesn’t go by one name. There are 56 different names for the sweet stuff! Use this list at your next supermarket stop.

It’s important to remember nearly all foods contain some sort of sugar — even ones that don’t taste sweet. When in doubt, consume fruits and veggies containing natural sugar. Added sugars don’t deserve you.

• Everything happens for a reason…including sugar cravings.

Think before you eat. When’s the last time you drank water? A dip in energy often signals dehydration. And dehydration causes you to think you need to eat when all you really need is H2O. So before you reach for a sugary snack, let your thirst tell your hunger, “It’s not you, it’s me.”

• See what else is out there…explore sugar alternatives.

Artificial sweeteners are in pre-packaged foods and can be used at home too. Unlike sugar, they can help with weight control and won’t contribute to tooth decay and cavities.

If you want to take the natural route, agave is a step in the right direction. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, making it a healthier option. Find a sugar alternative that works for you.

Challenge yourself! Cut ties with excessive sugar consumption and you’ll be better off in the long run.

We want to hear your sugar strategies — How do you control your cravings?

Get Ready to Rock and Enroll: 5 Ways to Prepare for Open Enrollment

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Open enrollment is here! Here are 5 coverage questions you should be asking yourself:

Open enrollment.

It’s the term buzzing around your HR department this time of year. But what does it mean? And how does it affect you as an employee?

Open enrollment provides employees the opportunity to select different benefits for the upcoming year (or new benefits, if you’re enrolling for the first time).

Now is the time to consider your current coverage, financial situation, personal needs, as well as the needs of your dependents.

To prepare, here are 5 questions you need to ask yourself this open enrollment period:

1. What’s included in my current coverage?

Re-visit your current coverage. Does your plan cover the number of times you see a doctor or dentist? Does the plan offer prescription drug coverage to suit your needs? Does it make sense with your current budget? Have there been changes to employer-sponsored benefits or allocations?

2. What kind of coverage will I need for the upcoming year?

A lot can change in a year, and you’ll need to consider what the future may hold. Will your family experience a dynamic change? Do you have a health condition that may require more attention? Do you desire coverage for specific services, such as vision?

3. Will my current plan change?

This is a key detail to get from your employer and/or benefit provider. Your current plan may not be offered in the upcoming year. Ensure that there are no coverage surprises come January 1st.

4. What other options is my employer providing?

Assess additional plan options and determine if and how they’ll better meet your needs.

5. Will my physician and dentist still be in-network if my plan changes?

If you have a regular doctor and/or dentist, check if they’ll still be in-network. Remember — It’s usually more cost effective to see an in-network provider. If they’re not, determine if you’re open to finding a new provider.

Still have questions about open enrollment? Don’t hesitate to speak with your employer or HR department. You can also ask your question(s) below.

Your health and insurance coverage matter!

Leftover Candy Conundrum: What to Do with Extra Halloween Candy

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Once the costumes are tucked away and the trick-or-treaters are in bed, there always seems to be something scary left behind… Piles of candy.

Don’t turn your leftover candy into holiday candy hoarding! There’s plenty you can do with the leftover holiday candy that doesn’t involve chocolate-covered stomach aches. Here’s our advice for how to use every last piece. Our fav? Donate to a charity near you!

1. Bake these Leftover Holiday Candy Recipes

Halloween treats and teeth aren’t exactly BFFs. However, it’s ok to indulge -just make sure to always brush after! Grab your apron and your kiddos’ leftover chocolate — it’s time to whip up a decadent dessert!

Why chocolate? Not only is chocolate delicious, it’s one of the least harmful sweets for your teeth. It can be eaten easily and dissolves quickly in the mouth, which decreases the amount of time that the sugar stays in contact with teeth.

If your taste buds crave coconut, make some chocolate mounds cookies. Are you a self-diagnosed chocoholic? Try these chocolate bar-filled cupcakes or these double chocolate bars!

2. Create with Leftover Holiday Candy

After you celebrate Halloween, it’s time to go from monsters to masterpieces! Make a candy mosaic or edible jewelry. Any candy with a colored coating makes the perfect medium. Dip pieces into small bowls of water and then swirl on paper. Trust us — the memories are worth the mess!

3. Donate Leftover Halloween Candy

Get a head start on holiday decorations! Your household candy can bring a smile to someone nearby or halfway across the world.

Many charities encourage donations of any kind, including candy! Donate candy to a local shelter or soup kitchen. Find a charity near you.

Sweeten a soldier’s day. Encourage your kids to write letters and send candy care packages to troops. Visit Operation Gratitude or Operation Shoebox for more information.

4. Educate with Leftover Holiday Candy

Trick or teach? Both! Use treats to teach and kids won’t even notice they’re learning!

Younger kids can practice patterns, counting, and colors. Encourage little ones to sort candy by color or shape — the possibilities are endless! More experienced trick-or-treaters can brush up on their math skills. Get started with this candy math worksheet .

 

Which ideas are you most excited to try? After the fun and games are complete, always remember to have your kids brush and floss before bed.

Editor’s Note: Content updated October 2018.

Go Pack Go and Help us Sack Plaque!

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As proud fans of the green and gold, we are happy to give you an extra reason to cheer on the Green Bay Packers this season. Through a sponsorship with the Packers Radio Network, for every Packers sack, Delta Dental will donate $100 to the Seal-A-Smile program to help sack plaque in Wisconsin schools.

The Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile program is a collaborative effort between Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Oral Health Program, and Delta Dental of Wisconsin. It provides school-based dental sealants to at-risk children throughout the state.

Sealants are a protective coating placed on tooth surfaces most likely to get cavities. Best of all, they can help reduce cavity rates by up to 70%.

So the next time Clay Matthews or Julius Peppers break through the line, cheer them on to help reduce children’s cavities.

If you’re out of the house or away from a TV at game time, make sure to listen to the Packers on the Packers Radio Network.

Tune in all over the state on these stations:

  • Eau Claire – WBIZ AM 1400; WBIZ FM 100.7
  • LaCrosse – WKTY AM 580
  • Milwaukee – WTMJ AM 620
  • Madison – WIBA AM 1310; WIBA FM 101.5
  • Stevens Point – WSAU FM 99.9
  • Wausau – WSAU AM 550

Go Pack Go!