Dental Plan Blog

Proper Nutrition for Dental Health

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Nutrition and your oral health are highly intertwined. Good nutrition promotes good oral health by enabling your mouth and its tissues to develop and stay healthy. However, some foods and habits are known to spur on plaque development, leading to a heightened risk of tooth decay and dental disease.

With all of this in mind, we’ve put together several quick facts and nutrition tips to keep your teeth and gums disease and decay free.

Quick Facts and Tips:

• Sugars and cooked starches (fermentable carbohydrates) can make a huge impact  on your risk of tooth decay, so avoid consumption of these items in excess
• About 20-40 minutes after you eat, your mouth releases acids. Each of these “acid attacks” increases your risk of tooth decay so it's important to limit the number of between-meal snacks you have (as you’ll limit the number of acid attacks as well).
• Foods such as bread and crackers stay on teeth longer that jelly beans or caramels despite perceived stickiness of the latter two. Look to consume foods that clear the mouth quickly, as they pose less of a threat of tooth decay.
• Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when infants’ or young children’s teeth get severely damaged from prolonged exposure to liquids containing sugars. For this reason, you should avoid letting your child fall asleep with a bottle of formula or juice.
• Make sure you get your Vitamin C. It helps protect your gums from infection and can be found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Last but not least, if you do consume sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods, make sure it’s as part of a balanced meal. This helps to increase saliva production and neutralize acid production in the mouth.

Need more tips on nutrition for oral health? Ask your dentist at your next dental checkup.

And, for those who need to find a dentist, Universal Dental Plan can help. Universal Dental Plan is an affordable dental insurance plan alternative in Massachusetts. We connect you with local Boston dentists and providers throughout the state who will be able to answer your questions and point you on a path towards excellent oral health.

Make the most of your dentist visit

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There are many dentists in the Boston area so finding the right one for you may be a tough decision. Furthermore, once you’ve found your dentist, you still have that first visit ahead of you (which can be a nerve wracking experience, especially if you haven’t been in awhile).

So, if your palms get sweaty at the thought of the dentist, or even if you’re just a little bit apprehensive to go, this blog is for you.

We’ve put together a list of 5 concrete actions to take so you can make the most of your dental visit.

#1) Make sure that you’re well rested by getting a good night sleep (7-8 hours) the night before your appointment

#2)  On the day of your appointment, avoid excess consumption of sugar and caffeine (especially if you know that these substances make you extra jittery).

#3) Stay relaxed. Wearing comfortable clothing can help a lot with this.

#4) Bring a list of all medications and vitamin supplements you’re currently taking to the dentist with you. That way, he or she will know not to prescribe anything that’ll give you a bad reaction when taken with your current medicines.

#5)  Make sure to tell the dentist about any abnormal symptoms such as pain or sensitivity of the teeth or gums, as they may be warning signs of an impending dental disease.

Now that you’re ready for your dental appointment, here’s a quick overview of the types of dental visits and what to expect.

Comprehensive exam- This includes a thorough examination of the teeth, mouth, head and neck. It’s usually part of a fist time visit to a new dentist.

Standard Checkup and Cleaning (i.e. dental prophylaxis) – These procedures should be done once or twice a year by your dentist and include both your oral exam and cleaning.

For those without dental insurance, an affordable dental plan such as Universal Dental Plan will give you up to 50% dental discounts on your comprehensive exam, standard checkup and cleaning and much more.

Dental Health and First Impressions

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Whether you’re on   a first date, a job interview, or meeting clients for the first time one thing’s for certain—you want to make a good first impression. Many factors go into the impression that you make but it certainly starts with a bright, healthy smile.

Studies show that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. During the first few minutes of your first interaction with someone new, they’ll often make assumptions about your economic and educational level, your trustworthiness and your level of sophistication—just from the quality of your smile.

Your breath also plays a huge role in shaping first impressions (and it goes without saying that bad breath is a huge strike against you). That being said, here are 3 helpful tips to keep bad breath at bay:

1. Use a mouth rinse daily to clean out bad breath causing bacteria
2. Don’t forget your tongue when brushing (make it part of your twice daily teeth brushing routine or perhaps use a tongue scraper)
3. Get regular dental cleanings  (if you’re looking for a new dentist, our plan has a growing network of Boston dentists plus other Massachusetts dentists and specialists to choose from)

On top of bad breath, crooked, missing or broken teeth create can negatively effect your first impressions, causing a stigma in both your personal and professional life. Individuals can restore their smile and self-esteem with various cosmetic dental procedures (i.e. dental implants) and orthodontia. But, these procedures can get very expensive, especially for those without insurance (or an affordable dental plan).

Universal Dental Plan is a Massachusetts dental insurance alternative that saves its members 20-50% off all procedures according to a fixed rate fee schedule (dental implants and braces included). Visit our website to learn more about us or just give us a call.

Are you stressed? Your gums can tell

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Everyone gets stressed, it’s an inevitable part of American life. Also, most of us know it can have a negative impact on our mental, physical and social well-being. But did you know that stress can negatively impact on our oral health as well?

Stress, whether at work or at home, can cause a variety of oral health complications including:

• Bruxism (i.e. teeth grinding)
• Canker sores
• Dry mouth
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Lichen planus (characterized by white lines, sores and ulcers in the oral cavity)
• TMJ/TMD
• Gum disease—Studies have shown that long-term stress affects our immune systems. This increases our susceptibility to various infections, such as the ones responsible for periodontal disease.

Do you suffer from any of these problems? Or have you just been stressed lately and perhaps worried these problems could crop up soon?

If so, it’s vital that you talk to your dentist and work together to develop healthy habits.

 Here are 3 steps you can take to decrease stress and improve your oral health:

• When you’re feeling stressed, don’t forget your oral health. Instead, take time to focus on your dental hygiene regimen.
• Don’t use tobacco or alcohol as stress relief vehicles. In addition to being highly addictive, these substances can cause significant damage to your oral cavity.
• Take proper measures to reduce stress in your life such as eating well, getting a full night’s sleep and exercising regularly

Last but not least, if you’re worried that stress is affecting your teeth and gums, call your dentist for an appointment. He or she can treat stress-related dental problems and offer suggestions for better at-home care.

Need help finding a dentist? Universal Dental Plan can help you locate one close by from our growing network of Massachusetts dentists and specialists. Call us today at 617-859-1777 and join our affordable dental plan for deep 20-50% savings on all procedures.

Can your dental health affect your overall health?

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Your dental health speaks great volumes about the health of your body. With a single oral exam, your dentist can often detect any immune system problems, nutritional deficiencies, stress or infections you might have. Think of your dentist as a disease detective and your oral cavity the window to your overall health.  

Infections of your teeth, mouth and gums can take a major toll on the health of…

… your heart. Studies have shown that people with periodontal disease are 1.5-2 times more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack and even 3 times more likely to suffer from a stroke!

…your lungs. Your oral tissue can become infected with respiratory disease-causing bacteria. Once inhaled, these bacteria can cause major problems and lead to the development of diseases like pneumonia.

…people with diabetes. Diabetics are more likely to develop periodontal disease than their non-diabetic counterparts. This is according to the American Academy of Periodontology which states that periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Research also shows that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, which puts diabetics at a heightened risk for diabetic complications.

…the intestines. Poor oral health aversely impacts the function of the digestive system. This, in turn, can lead to intestinal failure and a whole host of other problems.

…the blood stream. When your gums are healthy, bacteria in your mouth typically don’t enter the bloodstream. However, gum disease, some invasive dental treatments and medicines that reduce saliva flow may provide bacteria an easy port of entry. Once in the bloodstream, bacteria has free reign to wreak havoc on your body’s vital organs causing harmful infections.

So, it goes without saying that you should keep your dentist in the loop on your medical conditions. That way, he or she can provide care and recommendations accordingly. Also, visiting your dentist twice annually for oral exams and cleanings is one of the many precautions you can take for heart health, lung health and to keep harmful infections at bay.

Need to find a dentist? Universal Dental Plan (a discount dental plan) makes regular visits to Boston dentists and other Massachusetts dentists and specialists affordable for its members.  That way, they can stay one step ahead of the curve and ensure oral diseases and conditions are diagnosed and treated promptly.