Spirit Dental Resources

Now that the holidays are soon to be over, fun holiday shaped treats will no longer be in season. But what does that mean for you and the healthy food you were able to disguise into fun treats for your kids? It doesn't have to mean a thing! As we approach a new year, healthy eating and keeping up with good habits comes to the forefront for most individuals as we start to think about resolutions. Keeping a constant, healthy diet is good for both your body and teeth. That’s why we’ve put together a list of five great snacks you can make for yourself or your kids. Just because there isn’t a holiday to celebrate, doesn’t mean we need to make eating healthy boring. 1. Teddy Bear Toast Source: craftmorning.com Whole wheat toast, a little peanut or almond butter, raisins and bananas - how simple is that! It’s cute, delicious, and hard to say no to. I mean, look at that face! 2. Owl Rice Cakes  Source: afewshortcuts.com Getting kids to eat rice cakes instead of Doritos seems like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Not only is this a healthy snack, but it's also one we can see your kids continually asking for because who doesn’t love playing with their food?! Needs: Rice cakes, peanut or almond butter, Cheerios, bananas, blueberries, an apple, and cantaloupe. 3. Butterfly Snacks Source:Jugglingwithkids.com Cute and perfect for an on-the-go snack or in a school lunch. You can have your kids help you paint the safety pins and add eyes! The pipe cleaner antenna goes on last as it just slides in at the end. Directions: Fill a snack size plastic bag ¾ of the way full. You can add grapes and Goldfish as seen in the image or any other healthy snacks you have in the house. Seal the bag, clip the safety pin over the middle. Next, take about a 6-inch pipe cleaner, bend it n half and slide it towards the back of the safety pin, so it stays in place. Voila! 4. Sushi Sandwich Source: Babble Sushi rolls are a perfect way to make an ordinary sandwich a fun meal. Plus, it’s a fun activity that will help keep the kids busy. These can be made with any ingredients that you like. Peanut butter and jelly is another great option to the above turkey and veggie roll. To get started, take a piece of sliced bread, cut off the edges and work the bread till it becomes a little flatter. Next, slice your ingredients into little strips about the width of the bread. Spread mustard, mayo, or the condiment of your choice on the bread. Then place one piece of each ingredient on one end and roll! From there, slice it into bite-sized pieces and enjoy. 5. Cheese Monsters --> Source: Danya Banya It all starts with a package of mini Babybel cheese! Take a paring knife and cut through the outer layer to make the teeth/mouths. From there, the kids can help add on the googly eyes. To prevent glue from getting on the cheese, take a small cup, add a little glue and get a popsicle stick. Using the popsicle stick can help make sure the glue is contained to the stick and not on your kids fingers!

Wires, rubber bands, brackets, oh my! Braces are a solution for quite a few oral issues including overcrowded teeth, overbites, crooked teeth, and “bad bites” just to name a few. In particular, the overbite is the second most common reason for braces.* According to the medical dictionary, an overbite is a condition in which the top teeth or incisors overlap the bottom teeth too much when the jaw completely is closed. The issue is quite common and can be remedied with braces and proper care. Although, secondary issues can appear if the issue is ignored. Causes of an Overbite An overbite is a malocclusion that can be inherited, caused by a jaw malformation during development or a result of bad habits. Thumbsucking, prolonged bottle feeding, cleft lip and palate, and the use of a pacifier after three years of age can all be contributing factors. How Braces Help Orthodontics is a standard solution for helping a condition such as an overbite. The process starts with a round of x-rays and impressions to see the structural overview which is then used to help determine the path needed to manipulate both the bottom and top teeth over time. Most abnormal bites are discovered between ages 6-12 with treatment starting between 8-14.** Seeing as this condition is usually discovered at an early age, parents or caretakers might be eligible for financial help from their dental insurance plans. Not all plans cover children’s orthodontics, something to keep in mind when shopping for an orthodontic dental insurance. Why Fixing the Problem Is Important When an abnormal alignment is caught early, it can help cut down on the time needed to fix the issue. If teeth aren’t aligned properly, they might not be able to perform vital functions quite as well which can result in other oral issues or digestive problems. Whether you’re a child or an adult, it’s never too late to fix this issue. If it will help improve your quality of life, we recommend seeking medical attention as soon as you can. Resources: * Johnson Elite Orthodontics ** American Dental Association Getting Over Your Overbite, Dentistry.com Malocclusions of Teeth, Healthline

The holiday season is here again, which means it’s time to celebrate with delicious feasts and tasty treats. But before you overindulge, consider the health of your teeth and gums, which might take a hit as you focus on having fun at all of those holiday parties. To help you maintain a brighter, healthier smile throughout this holiday season, we’ve compiled five tips that are easy to follow. Check them out below and get ready to impress your dentist at your next checkup. 1. Choose Holiday Foods Wisely Eating right throughout the holiday season won’t only help you maintain your waistline; it could also help you maintain your lovely smile. Try to follow these guidelines whether you’re at a family gathering or your annual office party: Try and limit the amount of candy that you indulge in so you can keep all of that sugar off of your teeth in hopes of preventing cavities. Also consider choosing chocolate instead of other sugary, sticky sweets. Chocolate tends to wash off the teeth with greater ease than, say, a candy cane. Help undo some of the damage of all of the sweet treats you eat by having a variety of crunchy vegetables and fruits. Also, choose whole grains over refined carbs, and opt for water rather than sugary beverages. When you don’t want to drink plain water, stick with beverages that are clear or light in color, rather than dark drinks like red wine. Doing so may help prevent stains and keep your teeth whiter. 2. Stick to Your Routine The hectic holiday season could make it easy for anyone to feel too tired or distracted to stick to an oral hygiene routine. But going to bed without brushing your teeth or failing to floss at least once a day could be a recipe for new cavities in the new year. So no matter how many parties you have to attend or how much traveling you have to do, it’s highly recommended that you do your best to keep your mouth-cleaning routine the same. In other words, your daily schedule might change, but your brushing and flossing schedule shouldn’t. 3. Take Your Toothbrush with You Yep, that’s right, it’s a good idea to take your toothbrush with you when you head off to a holiday party. Just buy a mini toothbrush, mini toothpaste, and a mini package of floss that will easily fit into your purse or pocket. Then, when you’re done eating, you could head to the bathroom and freshen up your mouth. This may not work if you’re at a fancy party, but it could work just fine if you’re at a family gathering. Plus, if you’re too tired to brush when you get home, it’ll already be done! Okay, we know it might be a little weird to take your teeth cleaning kit with you when you’re off celebrating the holidays. So if that’s not really your thing, consider just chewing on some sugarless gum instead. Chewing gum, including spicy cinnamon gum, helps freshen breath while stimulating the production of saliva, which helps flush away food particles. 4. Try Not To Use Your Teeth As Gift Openers If you find yourself having trouble opening up a present, you might be tempted to use your teeth, but don’t do it. If you try to use your teeth as tools, you increase the risk of injuring your gums or your jaw, and you might even crack a tooth. Now that’s a recipe for disaster, especially when your dentist’s office is closed for the holiday! So whether you’re having trouble with a package or a bottle, grab the appropriate tool to get it open, and only use your teeth for chewing food. 5. Don’t Be Naughty – Keep Your Dental Appointments! Despite the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year, try your best to stick to your dental appointments. If you have a checkup or a cleaning coming up, it’s best to go rather than to reschedule. In this way, if there are problems brewing in your teeth or gums, you can catch them so they won’t get in the way of your holiday fun. And if you know that you should see your dentist shortly after New Year’s, this is a great time to schedule your appointment so you won’t forget. The end of the year is also a good time to evaluate your dental insurance needs. You can look for a plan that will be affordable and give you the coverage you need for the next 12 months so you’ll have peace of mind that your smile will remain bright and beautiful until the next holiday season rolls around. See? We told you that our five tips would be easy to implement. Now go ahead and take in everything that this special time of year has to offer! Sources: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/holiday-slideshow https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/holiday-smile#1  

Costumes, treats, decorations ... celebrating the different seasons and holidays with family and friends can come with so much enjoyment! To get in the Halloween spirit, we’ve decided to put together a list of three treats that can be fun to make with your kid(s). These treats might be on the healthier side, but they’re cute, taste great, and well, they don’t come with as much cavity potential. 1. Mini Pumpkins  (original recipe: Brendid.com) This treat only requires three things, an orange peeler, tangerines, and celery. Kids love things that come in mini sizes. Make five-plus of these treats, and you’ve got yourself a pumpkin patch! Who said playing with food can’t be fun?! 2. Banana Ghosts  (original recipe: www.superheatlhykids.com) How fun are these?! Take a few bananas, cute them in thirds, stick each piece with a popsicle stick. Next, get three bowls ready. One with plain yogurt (vanilla could work as well), one with coconut shavings, and one with chocolate chips. If the coconut shavings are a little big, you can put them in a food processor before using. Once everything is prepped and ready, you’re all set! Just dip the bananas in yogurt, then the coconut flakes, and finish them off with two chocolate chip eyeballs. Take your banana ghosts, place them on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and freeze. In just an hour, your treats will be frozen and ready to eat! 3. Apple Teeth  (original recipe: www.blommi.com) As a dental blog, we have to say; this might be our favorite! Little chompers for your little chomper. Apples, peanut butter, and marshmallows - easy and affordable! After you purchase all three ingredients, you’re ready to go! You should be able to get a couple of teeth out of one apple, so that should help you gauge how many apples you’ll need. Next step, slice the apples, let the kids spread a layer of peanut butter on each slice then line with mini marshmallows. Place an apple slice on top of the marshmallows to complete the mouth and voilà! These are great to take for lunch or for an after school snack!

Updated Nov 2022 If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you are probably wondering what to do for a broken tooth. Hopefully, you’re only reading this to help prepare yourself in case the situation ever arises. Broken, chipped, cracked, or a fully removed tooth - all not-so-great situations, but they can get much worse if not taken care of properly. In this article, we will take a look at what to do with a broken tooth, how to deal with chipped or lost teeth and the ways Spirit Dental's low-cost dental insurance can help. What to do if you crack a tooth A tooth with a minor crack or chip can wait for medical attention, but you will want to be cautious about eating foods that are tough to bite or chew. You’ll also want to be attentive to foods with extreme temperatures. Use over-the-counter pain meds as needed. Most chips don’t need immediate attention, but it is recommended that you give your dentist a call and make an appointment as soon as possible. If it’s just a small chip, the dentist may smooth and polish it out. If it needs more than that, the dentist may suggest a filling to help prevent the issues from getting worse. A crack usually involves the whole tooth, so you should call and make an appointment as soon as possible. It can either be a small crack that might involve a filling as a fix or, if it is bad enough, it may require a crown or a root canal. The dentist will assess the situation and provide the best solution. Tip: Wearing a mouthguard is key anywhere you could be hit. It will help protect your teeth from injury or trauma. What to do about a broken tooth Whether your broken tooth results from a cavity or external event, you will want to call a dentist immediately. In the meantime, these steps should be taken: Rinse your mouth with warm water or saltwater. Apply a cold compress to the cheek near the broken tooth. Apply gauze to the broken tooth to help soak up the bleeding. If gauze isn’t readily available, a wet tea bag can be used as a substitute. Note, bleeding should subside after 10 minutes. If you experience a severe break, you should see a dentist within 24 hours. If you cannot make it to a dentist immediately, head to a local drugstore for dental cement. It can be used as a quick fix until you seek medical attention. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with the discomfort. A broken tooth will be extremely sensitive, and you’ll want to see a dentist or endodontist immediately. The suggestion will most likely result in the dentist wanting to cover the tooth with a crown. These days, porcelain or resin crowns can look just as natural as a real tooth. If the tooth is completely broken, but the root is still intact, you may need root canal surgery. The dentist will build enough of a structure to place a pin or post so that a crown can be placed later. What to do about a tooth avulsion (completely removed) Completely losing a tooth is a dental emergency and will need immediate attention. If the tooth was fully removed, make sure to handle the removed tooth by the crown. DO NOT grab the tooth by the root. A tooth that was completely knocked out could cause severe nerve damage. Don’t worry, replacing the tooth in the socket is possible, but treatment is most successful if done right away. Tips to avoid breaking or chipping teeth Now that you know what to do if a tooth breaks, you may wonder how to avoid these problems. A broken, chipped or cracked tooth can be caused by quite a laundry list of items. To help prevent any of these things from happening to you or your child, it’s important to take precautionary measures, including: Don't bite down on hard candy or ice Avoid opening items with your teeth Wear protective mouth gear when taking part in physical activities Eat a proper diet and take care of your teeth Frequently asked questions about chipped and broken teeth If you're wondering what to do when your tooth breaks or is chipped, we have answers for you. We've gathered some of the most common questions we get about chipped and broken teeth and answered them for you below. If you have further questions, please read our FAQ page for more information. Does dental insurance cover broken teeth? Yes, Spirit Dental can help you find dental insurance if you have a broken tooth. And we know you can't always wait for coverage, especially in an emergency dental situation, so we offer dental insurance with no waiting period. As soon as your application is approved, your coverage begins. Can a dentist fix a chipped tooth? Yes, various options are available, depending on the level of damage to your tooth, including bonding, filling, crowns and veneers. How much does it cost to fix a chipped tooth? You probably already assumed that the cost of fixing a chipped tooth will really depend on how much damage your tooth has incurred, and what treatment will be needed to repair it. You’re right. But, beyond that, costs can also vary widely from one dentist to another. Generally, you might expect to pay the following prices for the different treatments that can fix chipped teeth: Bonding a tooth might cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, and the total cost might depend on how much work needs to be done on a tooth. A filling might cost anywhere from $90 to $500. A dental veneer might set you back $500 to $1,500. A crown might cost as low as $250 or as high as $3,200, and the price might depend on the type of crown that you get and the location in the mouth where it’s placed. A root canal might be priced anywhere from $500 to $1,000, and it might also depend on the extent of the damage and the location in the mouth where the tooth is located. Your dentist can let you know which treatments would work to fix your chipped tooth, and he or she can also discuss pricing with you to help you make the best decision for your oral health and your wallet. Spirit Dental can help you find affordable dental insurance to make these services more affordable. Trust Spirit Dental for all your dental insurance needs For the times that there is a tooth or mouth emergency, make sure you have your dentist’s number readily available. After all, we think they might even be speed-dial-worthy! Another important contact to have ready is Spirit Dental. We offer major services dental insurance so you can rest easy knowing we have you covered. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help. 

Updated Sept 2021 Flossing probably isn’t on your list of favorite things to do, but there are plenty of solid reasons why you should add it to your daily routine. Plus, when you consider the benefits, and the fact that it really only takes a couple of minutes, flossing isn’t such a hassle after all.  What are some of the many reasons why dentists and dental hygienists are always interested in whether or not you’re flossing regularly? Check out the info below to discover why brushing alone isn’t enough.  1. Brushing Can Only Do So Much Sure, brushing is absolutely necessary if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums, but did you know that it likely won’t do a good enough job at removing plaque? According to experts, 40% of the work of getting rid of plaque is attributed to flossing. This means it plays an important role in preventing tartar, cavities, and gum disease.  How is this possible? Well, brushing can hit most surfaces of your chompers, but the bristles won’t be able to get in between your teeth like floss can. It’s that simple! 2. Flossing Helps Remove Plaque Before It Turns to Tartar You’ve heard of plaque and tartar, but you might now know the difference between them. Basically, if plaque isn’t removed from your pearly whites by thoroughly brushing and flossing to clean every surface of every tooth, it can harden into tartar. And it doesn’t take long either—plaque might start to harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours! This is why dentists recommend flossing at least once a day.    What’s the big deal about tartar? Because it sticks to your teeth and gums, it may increase your risk of cavities, gum disease, and gum recession. Plus, even though you can brush and floss away plaque, tarter isn’t something that you can easily remove at home; instead, you’ll need the help of your dentist to do that.  3. It Helps You Keep Your Gums Healthy Having healthy gums can help ensure you won’t experience other problems, such as tooth loss. Again, floss can reach areas that your toothbrush misses, removing food particles and plaque so they won’t remain on your teeth and gums.  Note: Your gums may bleed a bit when you floss, and that might deter you from flossing regularly. But if you keep at it, within a short span of time, your gums likely won’t bleed anymore. That’s because the act of flossing can help promote healthier gums.  4. Your Smile Might Become Brighter As mentioned above, if you leave plaque on your teeth, it will end up hardening into tartar, which is yellow or brown in color. So, when you’re able to remove plaque before it turns into unsightly tartar, you can take a step toward maintaining a brighter, whiter smile. And who doesn’t want that? Not Flossing? It’s Time to Start! As you can see, there are several great reasons why flossing should be an integral part of your at-home oral hygiene routine, rather than something you do only when food gets stuck between your teeth.  With so many different products out there, from string floss and water flossers to floss designed for sensitive gums, tight teeth, and braces, you can select the one that’s just right for you. Whichever type of floss you choose, the key is to do it consistently, such as once a day—it doesn’t even really matter what time of day you floss! Bottom line: once you include flossing in your routine, you should find that your mouth feels fresher, and your dentist might even be impressed by how much cleaner your teeth look when you go in for your next professional cleaning.      Sources: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-should https://crest.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/tartar-plaque/plaque-tartar-causes-prevention-removal https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tartar-dental-calculus-overview https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/solutions/floss/the-benefits-of-flossing-your-teeth/ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing