Congratulations! You have a job that offers employee benefits. Now what? To make the most out of your benefits package, you need to understand what it covers. Here are 5 tips to help you dig into your company’s health and wellness benefits. Tip #1: Review all plan materials You could be leaving valuable savings on […]

Negative Side Effects of Soda Are Hard to Swallow
The debate continues. Should you call that fizzy carbonated drink pop or soda? Whichever side you’re on, there’s one thing that’s not up for debate: Soda is not good for your health. It contains no essential nutrients — no vitamins, minerals or fiber — and regular soda is full of calories. Drinking sugary soft drinks […]

Consumer Checkup: Zero-Waste Toothpaste & Your Smile
Brushing your teeth twice a day is the first step in a good oral hygiene routine. If you’re already doing that, kudos to you! With all that brushing, you probably go through quite a few tubes of toothpaste each year. In 2018 over 146 million tons of waste landed in U.S. landfills, and plastics made […]

Is Bacteria In Your Mouth Increasing Your Cancer Risk?
According to the CDC, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease. To better understand cancer, researchers are now looking for clues in the mouth. As a result, they have found a connection between the tiny organisms that make up your mouth, aka your oral microbiome, and the […]

COVID-19 and Your Oral Health: What’s the Connection?
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: oral health is health. Everything from what you eat to how you care for your smile impacts your oral and overall health and may affect how your body fights and responds to COVID-19. While the science is evolving, data suggests that oral health may play an […]

Stress of COVID-19 Linked to Increased Oral Health Problems
If you’ve been feeling a little on edge lately, you’re not alone. According to a report released by Harvard Medical School and University of North Carolina, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress levels in the U.S. by 55%! Elevated stress levels can lead to many overall health problems, including issues affecting your oral health. And […]

Do Dental Probiotics Really Keep Your Mouth Healthy?
You’ve heard how probiotics can help your gut health, but did you know they may also improve the health of your teeth and gums? Dental probiotics, just like the kind of probiotics used to boost digestive health, help balance the amount of good and bad bacteria in your mouth. In fact, oral probiotics may help […]

Are Spicy Foods Good for You: The Oral Health Benefits of Hot Peppers
In the desert southwest, the tiny chili pepper is mighty in flavor and cultural significance. From packing heat into salsa and sauces to hanging decoratively on the walls of homes and restaurants, these bright, shiny-skinned peppers are the spice of life in Arizona. Part of the plant genus Capsicum, the chili pepper is a flowering […]

Easy Grilled Chicken with Homemade Dry Rub
This perfect blend of spices adds a new level of flavor to juicy grilled chicken breasts. The grilled chicken breast is rich in protein and phosphorus for strong teeth. And, unlike barbecue sauces, the dry rub recipe for chicken enhances the taste without adding cavity-causing sugar. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon ground […]

Tooth Trivia: Put Your Dental IQ to the Test
Pop quiz, hotshot! You might think you know your stuff when it comes to the basics of dental care, but do you really? Put your dental IQ to the test with these 5 questions: True or False: Older adults can still get cavities. True — In fact, as we age our risk for oral health […]