Dental Plan Designs with Kids in Mind

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Quality dental care is essential for a child’s well-being. Research shows cavities are the single most common chronic disease among children. Untreated decay affects 19.5% of 2 to 5 year olds and 22.9% of 6 to 19 year olds. Dental disease can affect a child’s life, from eating and sleeping, to school performance and self-esteem. 

That’s why it’s so important for children to see a dentist.

Give your child a lifetime of smiles – start early! Children should be seen by age one or when their first tooth comes in. And, fortunately for you, most Delta Dental plans cover the important preventive services your child needs from a dentist:

  • Exams
  • X-rays
  • Cleanings
  • Fluoride treatments
  • Sealants 

Review your dental plan benefits carefully to see what services your plan covers. Here’s to your little one’s healthy, growing grin!

Keeping Your Heart Healthy for Your Valentine is the Best Present You Can Give

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During the month of February, Americans see the human heart as the symbol of love. Coincidentally, it also happens to be American Heart Month. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women.

With statistics like that, we should all look for ways to reduce the chances of developing the disease. Taking care of our mouth is a great place to start.

How are heart disease and the mouth connected?
Gum disease, which is a bacterial infection, roughly doubles the risk that a person will develop heart disease. Bacteria in the mouth can migrate into the blood stream and form small blood clots that can contribute to the clogging of arteries. Inflammation from gum disease can also lead to the buildup of fatty deposits inside the heart arteries.

The connection can also go the opposite direction with heart disease treatment contributing to gum disease. Certain drugs can cause dry mouth, increased plaque, or enlarged gum tissue. These conditions can lead to gum infections, which makes heart disease and gum disease a two-way street.

Regular brushing and flossing help keep your gums healthy and can help decrease your risk for heart disease. You should also visit your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings. Only dental professionals can remove the tartar and plaque that builds up on your teeth.

Don’t want heart disease to hold you back during your golden years? Then don’t wait to see your dentist! This Valentine’s Day, add a dental appointment to your to-do list. It may not be a dozen roses or a box of candy, but preventing heart disease and staying healthy for years to come is the best present you can give your special Valentine.

Because Everyone Deserves a Bright Smile

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Smiling woman standing outside with the sun behind her

If you were asked to choose between a healthy smile and a tooth-decayed grimace, which one would you pick? The choice is obvious.

Everyone deserves pearly whites they can be proud of.

That’s why Delta Dental of Wisconsin offers dental plans for everyone – individuals, families, employers and everybody in between.

Dental insurance can play a significant role in your overall well-being. Our dentist networks, customer service, and wellness-focused dental plans are a smile-worthy combination for all Wisconsinites. Delta Dental of Wisconsin is the obvious choice.

What are you waiting for? Get your grin on! Learn more about Wisconsin’s No. 1 Dental Plan.

Bye Bye Binky! How to Pass the Paci and Put the Thumb Down

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Like most babies, your little one probably finds comfort in a pacifier or binky or sucking a finger or thumb. But what happens when your baby treks into toddlerhood? You can take the binky away, but they’ll still have their thumb.

While thumb sucking and pacifiers are perfectly healthy and natural, your child should stop both behaviors before or around the age of three to help prevent crooked teeth.

To wean your child from their sucking habit, it’s best to begin before he or she reaches 24 months. Here are some suggestions to stop pacifier use or thumb sucking:

  • Limit pacifier use to nap time and before bed. If your child is a thumb-sucker, start by ignoring the behavior.
  • Use a comfort item as a substitute. A soft blanket or stuffed animal are great ways to soothe your toddler during naps or times of stress.
  • Use a toy or snack as a distraction. Place an obstacle in your little one’s hand to keep their thumb out of their mouth. You can also try a sock or a glove.
  • Reward and praise your child for not using a pacifier or sucking their thumb. Positive reinforcement is an effective way to change your toddler’s habit.
  • Break the binky. Poke a hole in the pacifier or cut off the tip. This breaks the suction and it won’t work. Your baby will think its “broken” and it’s time to throw it away.
  • Cold turkey may be the toughest, but after 3-4 days your child will have completely forgotten about it and have moved on. Just make sure you’ve searched all drawers, diaper bags, and sleeping areas to rid the house of any binky paraphernalia.

Visit your dentist or pediatrician for more advice about how you can gradually phase out the habit and keep it from returning. Once your child puts the binky and thumb down, you’ll be giving your tot two thumbs up!

Creative Activities for Children’s Dental Health Month

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Untreated tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, so the ADA deemed the month of February National Children’s Dental Health Month to change that! By sharing with our children how dental health impacts our overall health, heart, brain, and more, we can ensure they understand the importance of brushing and flossing. Make sure they’re always smile-ready by using these dental health activities for kids to make good habits stick.

Educating children about the importance of dental health is key to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. As a dental professional, parent, or teacher, help to spread the message of about why proper dental health habits give more than just a white smile.

To help you get started, here are 3 dental health teaching aids guaranteed to make brushing and flossing more fun!

1. Brush + Clean In Between | Dental Health Activities for Kids

2. Teach Egg-ceptional Smile Habits | Dental Health Activities for Kids

What you’ll need:

  • White paint
  • Empty egg carton
  • Toothbrush (not to be reused)
  • Floss
  • Play dough

What it teaches:

This hands-on activity for the kiddos teaches them about plaque hiding places and the importance of brushing well!

Start by “brushing the teeth” using the white paint, toothbrush, and egg carton.

Once the paint is dry, it’s time to floss! Work with your tot to place “plaque” (moldable dough) in between each egg carton crack. Then use the floss to remove the dough from each tooth.

3. Weekly Brushing + Flossing Chart| Dental Health Activities for Kids

What you’ll need:

  • Access to a printer to print out this chart
  • Markers or colored pencils

Establishing good dental health habits early on promotes a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Just like adults, kids should be brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. To keep track, place this chart in the bathroom. Teach them to track their daily dental dose with our brushing and flossing chart.

Let your child color in each circle after brushing or flossing. Stickers are a fun alternative for marking, too!

4. A Mouthy Mix-Up| Dental Health Activities for Kids

Teach your tot how to maintain a healthy mouth by educating them on these terms that keep smiles sparkling. Work with your child to unscramble the words and discuss how each helps to maintain a healthy mouth!

Editor’s Note: Content updated February 2019.

Beat the New Year’s Odds: Accomplish Your Resolutions!

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Every year on January 1st, a magic motivation fills the air. New Year’s resolutions lead to a path paved with wishes and gold. It’s a chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

Then why do only 8% of Americans follow through on their New Year’s aspirations? It’s important to set realistic goals and establish a routine. After all, old habits don’t have to die hard!

Recharge, rethink, and reinvent your resolutions. Here are some of our favorites:

Smile more.

In addition to improving happiness, smiling may even extend your life! A 2010 study of professional baseball players showed those who smiled genuinely in their baseball pictures lived an average of five years longer than players who didn’t smile. This study provides some evidence that smiling does play a role in living longer.

Be proud to show off your smile – take care of your teeth. Brush and floss daily, and vow to visit your dentist. Dental visits can make you feel better too! Americans who visit their dentist regularly are 22% more likely to report their overall well-being as good or better, compared to those who don’t visit the dentist.

Get moving.

If you have a gym membership, you know how crowded the gym can get after the holidays. Staying fit is one of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions, according to a recent survey.

Lacking motivation? You don’t have to be on a treadmill to workout. Simple household chores like washing the car, gardening, or vacuuming can count as moderate exercise. Your oral and overall health are closely linked. So get moving to benefit your body and smile!

Eat well.

Maintaining a healthy diet is easier than you think! In fact, eating nutrient-rich food benefits your physique, mood, and grin. Munch meals and snacks based on the USDA’s guidelines. Dietary staples include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

Here’s a simple way to start healthy eating habits: Take an extra five minutes each night to plan the next day’s meals. Once you get the hang of it, start scheduling each week’s meals.

Plan and practice to perfect your new healthy habits. Set realistic expectations, take baby steps and celebrate each tiny victory. Here’s to your healthiest and happiest year yet!

Making the Most of Your Dental Coverage at the Dentist

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Planning ahead will allow you to receive the best value from your dental benefits. See how you can make the most of your dental coverage with Delta Dental:

It Pays to Stay In-Network:

If you have Delta Dental of Wisconsin coverage, choose one of our many participating dentists from our two dentist networks. More than 90 percent of Wisconsin dentists and more than three-fourths of dentists nationwide are members of the Delta Dental Premier network, making it the largest dentist network in Wisconsin and nationwide. The Delta Dental PPO network is more exclusive and offers greater cost savings. By leveraging the Delta Dental Premier and Delta Dental PPO networks, we can offer customers more choices, better accessibility, and lower prices for their dental benefits.

Our Network Dentists:

  • Submit claims directly to Delta Dental. That means less paperwork for you!
  • Will never bill you. Delta Dental has negotiated lower dental fees with our network dentists. If the Delta Dental network fee is lower than the dentist’s regular fee, you’ll see the difference on your Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Your EOB will show you what was charged, what was paid, the amount the dentists will write off, and how much you should pay.

Compare the bill you receive from the dentist with the EOB you receive from Delta Dental, and let your dentists know if there are differences or if you have questions. For more on EOBs, click here

Let Go of Winter Mouth Woes

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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

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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

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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.