Let Go of Winter Mouth Woes

read Uncategorized
Enthusiastic couple piggybacking

The holidays are over, but the chilly winter weather is still going strong. Sledding, skating, and building snowmen are among the most enjoyable winter hobbies. While winter can bring grins, the frigid temps tend to trigger mouth problems.

Here’s how to deal with common winter tooth troubles:

Tooth Sensitivity: Sensitive teeth are common during the chillier months. The problem is usually due to exposed dentin, making teeth more vulnerable to pain. Winter staples such as hot drinks and cold air can further aggravate tender teeth.

Try This: If you’re craving a hot (or cold) beverage, enjoy it through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth. Call your dentist if your tooth sensitivity continues.

Dry Mouth: Winter seems to be the season we all come down with colds. When you have a cold, your nose is stuffed up, forcing you to breathe through your mouth. Excessive mouth breathing creates a dry mouth that can increase your chance of developing dental decay and other mouth infections.

Try This: Drink water regularly and chew sugarless gum to keep your mouth moist. You should also try limiting your caffeine intake. Caffeine is a diuretic, causing the body to lose water and thus contributing to dry mouth. If you experience dry mouth year-round, make an appointment with your dentist.

Lack of Vitamin D: Extreme temperatures can keep us stuck inside. With less outdoor time, you’re decreasing your daily dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in keeping your teeth and bones healthy. Exposure to sunlight enables the body to produce vitamin D.

Try This: If the dreary winter weather is hindering your natural dose of vitamin D, try snacking on fortified cereals and fatty fish. Both are excellent sources of this important nutrient.

Say Cheese – Your Teeth Will Love You For It

read Uncategorized
Cheese board with a variety of cheeses

Today is National Cheese Lover’s Day! Did you know that there are more than 1,000 types of cheese? This melted gooey goodness pleases your taste buds, tummy, AND teeth.

Your teeth are made mostly of calcium, and without enough calcium in your diet, you risk developing tooth decay and other problems. Cheese is a natural source of calcium, a key nutrient for building and maintaining strong teeth and bones. Cheese also contains a protein that prevents bacteria from sticking to your teeth.

Most cheese varieties are great for your smile. Here are the best types for your teeth, as well as a few you should enjoy in moderation.

Champion Cheeses

Take these words of wisdom – aged cheeses are a smart snack choice. Made with a semi-soft texture, aged cheeses lower the likelihood of tooth decay by cutting the acidity of your saliva.

Bacterial element cheeses, such as bleu cheese and Brie, are healthy standouts that break the mold. These cheeses are good for your dental health and contain probiotics – beneficial bacteria that can help your immune and digestive systems.

Take it Easy Cheeses

Enjoy processed cheeses in moderation. Most processed foods, including cheese, contain added sugar. When you regularly eat sugar-filled foods, tooth enamel can dissolve, thus increasing your chance for cavities. Always check food labels for sugar content.

Anything processed is nacho best cheese choice. However, in queso emergency: Use fresh ingredients to make your own healthy cheese dip.

Seal-A-Smile: Extending Access and Preventive Care for Wisconsin Children

read Uncategorized
Two hygienists hold a large, green Delta Dental toothbrush with two school-aged girls

Wisconsin is fortunate to have one of the most comprehensive school-based sealant programs in the country. Delta Dental of Wisconsin has been partnering with the State to jointly fund Seal-A-Smile, which is collaboratively administered by Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Children’s Health Alliance.

Wisconsin’s Seal-A-Smile program gives children, who may not otherwise have access, the opportunity to receive oral health education, preventive fluoride treatments, and sealants from a dental professional in a school setting.

A sealant is a protective coating on the tooth that seals the biting surface from bacteria and helps prevents tooth decay. Learning about dental health and oral care at a young age instills positive habits for a smile-filled future.

An aggravated oral health issue can leave children uncomfortable, irritated, and unable to concentrate in school. One in five children in Wisconsin has untreated dental disease.

What makes Seal-A-Smile so great? See for yourself.

• This program is one of the most widespread school-based sealant programs in the nation with programs across 61 out of 71 counties in Wisconsin.
• More than 22,000 children received dental sealants through the Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile program during 2012-13.
• Dental sealants prevent cavities on the teeth’s chewing surfaces by more than 70 percent.
• The untreated tooth decay rate for third graders in Wisconsin has decreased from 33 percent to 18 percent since 2003.

Delta Dental of Wisconsin is proud to keep children smiling with one of the strongest public-private partnership programs protecting children’s oral health.

Preventive Care & Your Dental Plan

read Uncategorized
Man brushing his teeth

You know it’s important to brush, floss, and eat healthy. But did you also know regular visits to the dentist not only prevent serious oral health problems, they can also help detect problems early – when treatment is easier and more affordable for you?

See your dentist regularly.

Most plans cover dental cleanings once every six months, allowing your dentist to check your mouth’s health on a routine basis. During this exam, you may also receive X-rays. Typically, your dentist will start with a full mouth X-ray, then follow up with bitewing X-rays when needed.

If you have children, ask your dentist about a kid-friendly preventive procedure – dental sealants. Sealants are placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars) and act as a barrier to help prevent cavities.

Another beneficial preventive treatment for kids is fluoride. Generally applied as a gel or varnish, fluoride is often called nature’s cavity fighter.

Follow these oral health tips for a healthy smile:

  • See a dentist regularly
  • Brush your teeth twice each day and floss at least once a day
  • Maintain a healthy diet
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Limit snacking on sugary or starchy foods.

When you stay healthy and practice good oral hygiene, your teeth can last a lifetime.

Oral Health Resolutions for 2015 – Kick the Habit

read Uncategorized
Chalk board with New Year's Resolutions written out

Holiday lights are not flickering as bright and post-holiday blues may be setting in, but stick with your New Year’s resolutions for a healthy 2015. No if, ands, or butts about it. January is the time of year for fresh starts and fresh air. Say goodbye to tobacco and hello to a healthier you.

Tobacco can have a serious impact on your oral health. Not only does tobacco contribute to bad breath and stained teeth — it can lead to heart disease, lung cancer, gum disease, and a mouthful of ailments.

According to the American Dental Association, there is no safe form of tobacco. Even filtered cigarettes and smokeless tobacco can be harmful to your oral and overall health. Chewing tobacco stains teeth and causes cancers of the cheek and tongue.

Here are few helpful reminders for traveling on the tobacco-free train:

1. Create a plan of action for quitting and revisit your plan often. Evaluate what is working and what needs to be changed.

2. Remind yourself of the benefits of quitting and how this will benefit your mind, body, and teeth.

3. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can have “just one.” Put this pressure to rest and replace it with a healthy habit and staying active.

4. Avoid being around other tobacco users or places where the urge to smoke is strong. Know that it is okay to say no if someone offers you tobacco.

5. Don’t go it alone. There is a professional help at your fingertips by calling the toll-free Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).

6. Commit to staying away from smoking for good!

Staying tobacco-free is a challenging journey, but saying goodbye to tobacco will greatly reduce your risk for oral health issues such as oral cancer or periodontal (gum) disease. Stick to your healthy New Year’s resolution for an energized and bright new year.

Dental Definitions Decoded: Annual Maximum

read Uncategorized
Gain insight into what an annual maximum on a dental plan is to make the most of your dental coverage.

Dental benefits work better when you know how to put them to use. The first step in achieving this is understanding what dental benefits do and how they work. Gain insight into what an annual maximum on a dental plan is to make the most of your dental coverage.

Annual Dollar Maximum + Annual Maximums on Dental Plans

Dental plans will differ depending on what you signed up for. Most dental plans have what is called an “annual dollar maximum.” This is the total amount of money the dental benefits provider—say Delta Dental—will pay for a member’s dental care within a specific period of time. That time period is called a benefit period.

A benefit period can start at different points of the year. For now, we’ll assume your plan’s benefit period is the calendar year. That would mean the annual maximum for your plan’s year applies to January through December.

If your plan’s annual maximum is $1,000, your dental benefits provider will pay for their portion of your dental work, say 80 percent, until they pay out a total of $1,000. Your plan’s details will explain if a procedure has cost sharing. The annual maximum on your dental plan resets at the beginning of each plan year. 

Keep in mind that depending on your dental plan, services that are considered diagnostic or preventive may not count toward your annual maximum.

The total dollar amount that a plan will pay for dental care for an individual member or family member (under a family plan) for a specified benefit period, typically a calendar year

The annual maximum in a dental plan is often confused with the “out-of-pocket maximum.” The annual maximum refers to the maximum amount the dental benefits provider like Delta Dental will pay out in one plan year. Conversely, the “out-of-pocket maximum” refers to the maximum amount the you, the member, will pay in one plan year.

Example of a Dental Plan’s Annual Maximum:

  • Your plan has an annual maximum of $1,000.
  • Your dentist says you need a cavity filling in January. The cost for that procedure is $100.
  • Then, in March you need to get a root canal, which is $500. Your dental plan has now paid $600 towards your dental care in this plan year. Your dental benefits provider will pay $400 and then you will have reached your plan’s annual maximum.
  • In October, you need a crown, the cost of which is $700. That means your dental plan will pay out the remaining $400 left for them to contribute in this plan year. That leaves you to pay the leftover $300 that exceeded your dental plan’s annual maximum.

How Do Annual Maximums on Dental Plans Work?

Visit your benefit portal today for specific information about your plan’s annual maximum.

Log into your member portal today to learn about:

  • Your plan year
  • Your annual maximum
  • What percentage of costs are covered for preventive, diagnostic, and restorative services

Looking for more? Check out:

*Updated 2019

2014’s Top Teeth Moments [INFOGRAPHIC]

read Uncategorized
Illustration - Top Teeth Moments 2014

2014 is coming to a close – we’re only a few short days away from the New Year. There were some significant smile-centric stories this year­ in popular culture, the dentistry world, and everything in between! Before we look ahead to 2015, let’s take a look back at 2014’s Top Teeth Moments.

Top Teeth Moments Infographic

The Perfect Mouthwash for You

read Uncategorized
Portrait of girl using mouthwash

Are you ready to ring in the New Year with a smooch from your sweetie? If you’re looking for that extra pop of minty freshness, consider a mouthwash.

There are dozens of mouthwashes on the market, all made to address different oral health conditions. With so many options, picking the perfect mouthwash can seem overwhelming. Our simple guide will help you find your mouthwash match.

Dry Mouth?

Try an alcohol-free mouthwash. The champagne is flowing, but your mouth is the opposite. While alcohol works as a good antiseptic in mouthwash, it can worsen a dry mouth. A desert-like mouth lowers saliva production, which makes bad breath even worse.

Cavity-Prone?

Look for a fluoride mouthwash. Fluoride rinses have been proven to fight up to 50% more of the bacteria that cause cavities than rinses without it.

Gum Problems?

Ask your dentist to recommend a prescription mouthwash. He or she may prescribe a rinse containing chlorhexidine digluconate, a strong antiseptic. Chlorhexidine is most often used before or after oral surgery and for treating periodontal disease.

Mouthwash may make your mouth minty, but it’s only a temporary fix. Routine brushing and flossing are essential to a minty mouth.

Toast to a new year and a mouth full of cheer!

Holiday Sweets and Your Smile

read Uncategorized
Woman snacks on a cookie

 

Are visions of sugarplums dancing in your head this December? We don’t blame you! With so many holiday goodies and gatherings, it’s hard to keep your sweet tooth under control.

Sticky foods = icky teeth

The stickier the food, the less likely it is to be washed away by saliva. Holiday favorites such as fruitcake, caramels, and peanut brittle can stick to teeth and cause acid to be produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This acid eats away at your tooth enamel and can cause cavities and other oral health problems.

Eat sweets with a meal

Saliva production increases during meals. This can help neutralize the acid being produced and rinse food particles from the mouth. If you’re craving a snack, chew on xylitol gum after you’re done.

Drink more H2O

Drinking water can help prevent tooth decay and rinse away food particles.

Remember to brush and floss regularly for a seasonal smile that lasts all year long!