Sometimes, we might forget or underestimate the importance of dental care as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Who could blame us? Going to see a dentist for a cavity filling or root canal is not the highlight of anyone’s week.

In recent years, studies and word-of-mouth have brought much needed attention to the connection between dental care and a person’s overall health and wellbeing.

This Dental Care Infographic by DentalPlans.com—with data from several dental and health organizations—will help you understand how dental care can impact your overall health, what diseases can stem from poor dental care, the types of gum disease, five barriers to good dental care and 10 quick solutions for better oral health.

Click here to download a PDF of the Dental Care Infographic. We encourage you to share this resource with others to spread the word about the importance of oral health, dental care and how it affects your health.

Do you chew sugarless gum or drink a lot less soda than you used to? Let us know how you’ve kept up with your dental health in the comments.

Just because some foods are nutritious doesn't mean that they are beneficial to your dental health.

Recently, San Antonio cosmetic dentist Dr. John Moore compiled a list of the top seven foods that either promote or diminish oral health.

At the top of the best foods list were high-fiber fruits and vegetables. Moore explained that these items help scrub away debris from other foods that have been left on an individual's teeth. Since crunchy produce requires more chewing, it also helps promote saliva flow that washes away cavity-causing food particles.

Dairy products that do not contain added sugar may help boost oral health by providing calcium and minerals that replenish tooth enamel, Moore said.

Although many dentists warn their patients against drinking coffee and tea because they may stain your teeth, Moore explained that green and black teas contain compounds called polyphenols, which interfere with the formation of plaque and cavities. He said that polyphenols inhibit the growth of bacteria and also help prevent them from producing acid.

Other foods that Moore recommended for improving dental health included nuts and products that contain the sugar substitute xylitol.

If your teeth start to appear stained due to consuming dark-colored foods and beverages, the American Dental Association (www.ADA.org) has a list of suggested whitening toothpastes and mouth rinses that are labeled with the Seal of Approval, which makes them easy to spot.

Moore, as well as many dietitians, recommended that people avoid carbonated beverages, such as sodas. Even diet versions of these drinks can erode teeth with their artificial sweeteners, which feed cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

While dried fruits may seem like a healthy snack option, the dentist said that these highly concentrated, sticky items may cling to teeth in the same way that chewy candies do. He also noted that dried prunes and raisins contain non-soluble cellulose fiber, which can bind and trap sugars within the mouth. Raisins are commonly known as “nature’s candy.”

What foods do you chew on or stay away from to boost your dental health? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week, our President, Jennifer Stoll, was at the NBC Miami studios for a live interview to let South Florida know how easy it is (and free) to help DentalPlans.com make a big donation to Operation Smile.

This month, DentalPlans.com teamed up with Operation Smile to help save the smiles of children born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate—a condition that brings about eating, speech and social difficulties.

To help provide these children with the life-changing reconstructive surgery needed, special promotional efforts are taking place on Facebook and Twitter until the end of June (read “Top 10 Reasons to Share a Smile, Save a Smile in June”).  There is still time to participate so head on over to our Social Communities to join in the fun.

You can also join us in paying smiles forward through direct contributions at our One Smile Page. And, let us know in the comments about what you did to bring about a difference (and smile) in the life of a child through our efforts with Operation Smile.

Katrina Layne has been helping people across the country save money on dental care for more than six years at DentalPlans.com. We recently interviewed the Dental Care Savings Specialist to find out what she likes most about helping people access affordable alternatives to dental insurance.  

1. What was the most fulfilling story you heard from a customer after getting a discount dental plan and getting affordable dental care? I had a member tell me that as a child her parents didn’t pay much attention to her dental needs. As a result, she had a lot of work she needed to have done that was very costly and was embarrassed to even smile.  Because of our plan, she was able to afford to get all the work completed and she told me that DentalPlans.com gave her smile back. 
2.  What motivates you to do your job? Knowing that we have an affordable great service that helps our members take care of their dental care needs when they may not otherwise afford it.
3.  What do you like best about your job? The atmosphere and my fellow co-workers make this a great place to work.
4.  How do you explain the differences between discount dental plans and dental insurance? Our plans are an alternative to dental insurance with no waiting periods, quick activation and no annual limits. Also, our plans have a low one-time fee for the year instead of a monthly cost that most dental insurances companies have.

Please visit our LinkedIn company profile for a list of available opportunities with DentalPlans.com

Many people have experienced a bout of bad breath at one time or another. While the cure for your oral odor may be as simple as freshening your mouth with a toothbrush and minty toothpaste, others experience chronic halitosis that can't be covered up for long.

Chronic bad breath is not only a concern for individuals who are worried that they will repulse their romantic partners, but also for anyone who comes into close contact with a halitosis sufferer during work or face-to-face conversations.

People who experience bad breath on a regular basis may think that they can get rid of it by chewing gum or sucking on mints, but these products only mask the smell for the time being.

While it may seem obvious, certain foods can cause bad breath. However, odor caused by garlic or other potent ingredients doesn't always disappear after a few toothbrushing sessions.

The American Dental Association (ADA) explains that as food is digested, particles are absorbed into the bloodstream and transferred to the lungs. These molecules can continue to be expelled into the air as a person exhales until the food has been completely digested and removed from his or her body.

That is one reason why you may have bad breath. Another possibility is that you have dry mouth—a condition called xerostomia—which can allow bacteria to fester within the mouth and produce foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds, the ADA explains. Dry mouth can be caused by sleeping with your mouth open, smoking or as a side effect of some medications.

On the topic of mouth bacteria, there has been a growing interest in the potential uses for probiotics in treating halitosis. Many people have heard of probiotic-enriched yogurt and dairy products that may help regulate digestion, but few understand how this process can benefit one's breath.

In a recent article from the Huffington Post, Dr. Harold Katz explained that oral care probiotics contain live strains of bacteria. He goes on to write that one recent study indicated that individuals who were treated for one week with a probiotic containing L. salivarius experienced a decrease in volatile sulfur compounds in their mouths.

Products such oral care probiotics are considered to be healthy, meaning that they help replace the harmful varieties that cause bad breath, gum disease and cavities.

Although it may seem embarrassing to talk to your dentist about halitosis, rest assured that you are not alone. About one-quarter of adults experience this condition, according to researchers at the University of Buffalo.

For more information on discount dental plans call 1-888-632-5353.

We discovered DentalPlans.com mostly out of desperation. We not only saved money, but necessary time.

My husband and I recently moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where we tried various dentists in the area to get our teeth cleaned, but had not yet found a dentist to call our own.

We previously lived in Bermuda, where I had a job working for an advertising agency for several years. With this came the perks of having dental care as part of my work benefits. When we decided to re-establish ourselves in the United States, I quit my job, and we no longer had insurance.

When attempting to get business as a free lance designer in St. Augustine, it was tough going for a long time. The economy was taking a dive, and since St. Augustine is a fairly small town, there was not much opportunity. So getting insurance was not financially possible.

One day my husband collapsed outside of a fitness club, and it was clear that he needed more help than anyone could give him. An ambulance was called and off we went to the hospital. It was determined that he had a heart attack, and a stent was put in.

While in recovery, the doctors discovered my husband had cancer on the back of his tongue, and referred us to a specialist. Before radiation treatment could begin, it was mandatory that my husband get his teeth cleaned and necessary repairs done.

When looking online, desperate to find dental insurance that could pay for the dental procedures that needed to be done, I discovered DentalPlans.com. Reading about the program, it sounded so good, I wondered if it was a scam. But to my delight, I discovered DentalPlans.com is all that it claims to be. Just as important as the affordability, was the availability for use in 3 days time!

It was an invaluable help during a time of desperation, and has continued to be a great blessing since. It led us to a dentist office that we love, and has continued to save us money while I establish my work practice And, my husband is now back to good health.

We have sung praises to many others who also have happily joined DentalPlans.com.

Don and Tina
St. Augustine, Florida

Thousands of health insurance agents, brokers, consultants and benefit professionals will be connecting in San Antonio from June 26 – 28 for the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Convention.

And DentalPlans.com’s Broker-Affiliate & Group Manager, Nicole Ropiza (pictured), will be at booth 212, networking with brokers and agents and sharing opportunities to earn 30 percent commission on first year sales through our DP Brokers Program.       

Nicole’s got 5 reasons to visit her and find out more about DentalPlans.com at the NAHU Convention:

• Learn how more than 9,000 agents are marketing money-saving dental benefits to individuals, families and groups nationwide.
• Expand your product benefits line and create new revenue streams as employers continue to drop employee health benefits and dental costs continue to rise. 
• Score some convention swag by visiting booth 212 and mentioning  #DPBrokers
• Enter to win $100 by dropping you business card or Tweeting to @DentalBrokers #DPBrokers that you visited our booth!
• Sign-up for the DP Brokers Program to enter to win a free discount dental plan and save money on dental care.

So, if you’re one of America’s benefit specialists attending the NAHU Convention in San Antonio, stop by and say ‘hi’ to her at booth 212. You can also reach Nicole and the DP Brokers Program at 1-877-926-1797 or find us online at www.DentalPlans.com/Brokers.

Summer is here and we want to celebrate with the easiest blueberry dessert ever! This comes from our friends at I Shot the Chef blog. Enjoy!

DentalPlans.com today announced the winners of its Million Mile Give-A-Way. More than 23,000 entered and 10 lucky winners (listed below) were randomly drawn to receive miles from the Delta SkyMiles® program. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all those who entered.

Million Mile Give-A-Way Winners:

James F.

Beulah A.

Sheryl N.

Elaine B.

Eric R.

Louise H.

Eric G.

Carlene S.

Zhaoxu Liu

James S.

You can enter to win a free discount dental plan in our Share a Smile, Save a Smile photo contest here!

Many people live with smiles that they are not satisfied with. However, there is little reason for this, given that there are a wide variety of dental services that can correct just about any oral abnormality. Also, if you have delayed smile-enhancing treatment due to lack of dental insurance, there are a number of available discount dental plans.

Some of these corrective procedures may do more than just boost your self-confidence. In fact, they may even reduce your odds of developing serious dental health problems that not only affect the appearance of your smile, but also your overall health.

For example, one Minnesota dental practice says that the gel used in their professional teeth whitening solutions has been shown to kill oral bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Anything that helps individuals avoid these types of dental complications may be well worth it since some studies indicate a link between gum disease and health concerns such as cardiovascular problems, stroke, bacterial pneumonia and increased risk of adverse events during pregnancy.

Although some people think that teeth straightening is a purely cosmetic procedure, they may be surprised to learn that crooked or gapped teeth may lead to dental disease. This is because it is more difficult to properly clean misaligned teeth, which can allow bacteria to grow off of leftover food particles.

While straighter teeth can improve the appearance of your smile in the long run, new technology used to correct the position of these structures can allow orthodontic patients to grin confidently without showing off a full set of metal braces.

In a recent article published by Chicago-based WGN-TV News, one orthodontist explains that a type of robot automatically bends the wires used in lingual braces - those that are placed behind the teeth and out of sight - in order to cut down the number of dental visits that patients require for wire adjustments.

"If we need to, we can make adjustments, not in the mouth, but on the computer, and the robot will make a new wire based on what we have observed in the patient. So, we don't have to take the wire out every time to adjust it ourselves," said Dr. Ray Tsou, quoted by the news source.

Overall, people who are considering cosmetic treatments may factor the aesthetic and potential health benefits of these treatments into their final decision. Comment below if you are considering improving your smile.