Protect your teeth with the latest oral care tips!

Up to 70 million adults in the US don’t have dental insurance. Among those who do, full oral care coverage isn’t guaranteed. So cost is why most of us forgo a routine checkup + end up at the ER when something inside our mouth goes bad.

This week, we’ll look at new preventative care tools + lesser-known triggers of major issues. First, let’s brush our way into…

• The Checkup: summer eats, sleeps + moves
• Open Wide! breath + fluoride + depression
• Healthcare: listeria + West Nile + HIV vaccines

The Checkup: 

• Can’t sleep? Try moving like a drunk monkey
• The WNBA’s Lexie Brown faces Crohn’s disease 
• Yes, dental insurance is annoyingly complicated 
• It’s sweet corn season! But how healthy is corn?!
• How to identify 3 common types of skin cancer
• Olympian parents on how to raise good humans
• Are cold showers healthy? What the science says
• How a Harris presidency could affect healthcare
• Cool off with these healthy-ish frozen desserts
• Have 5 minutes? You can do this arm workout 

A safer fluoride?

Most people in the US learn about the importance of fluoride, a mineral found in water. The American Dental Association only approves toothpaste that contains it, and most community water programs increase its levels to promote oral hygiene.

But according to The Atlantic, health committees in Europe, Canada, and Japan have long approved another option.

Hydroxyapatite is a combo of calcium and phosphate—the primary mineral in our teeth and 96% of our tooth enamel. In clinical trials, it proved as protective against cavities as fluoride. Further, it reduced tooth sensitivity + the amount of bacteria stuck to teeth!

You can find toothpaste made with hydroxyapatite online. Read the article to learn why it can't replace fluoride in our drinking water, which may alleviate fluoride concerns for parents.

Bad breath?

Halitosis isn’t the funk that meets you in the morning. Or the waft from your mouth after a divine, garlic-laden pasta dish. It’s the emanating funk that a good brushing or piece of gum won’t tame.

Stuck food or poor oral hygiene habits can encourage the growth of bacteria, fungus or yeast growth. But as experts share in Pop Sugar, lesser-known sources can trigger issues, too.

Here are a few to note.

• Dry mouth. Caused by certain medications, smoking, stress, alcohol and dehydration, xerostomia causes decreased saliva, so the mouth can’t clean itself + bacteria abound. To increase saliva, up your H2O intake, chew sugar-free gum or try a saliva substitute like Biotene. 
• Respiratory infections. Bacteria can feed off of the mucus and phlegm that come with sinus infections or respiratory illnesses—and then multiply. So take extra care of your mouth while sick or check in with a doctor if the problem persists. 
• GI issues. Heartburn or acid reflux can trigger bad breath. Increasing fiber intake may help. But if you have regular symptoms, talk to your primary care provider.
• Gum disease + tooth decay. If you have red, swollen or bleeding gums or sensitive teeth, you may have an infection or cavity. Antiseptic mouthwashes may help, as can quitting smoking. But see your dentist ASAP.

Depression + dental hygiene

If anxiety or depression makes brushing feel impossible, you’re not alone.

As reported in Time, oral hygiene routines commonly fall down the energy priority list when we're struggling with our mental health. Teeth grinding is also common—which can cause headaches and other symptoms. And anti-anxiety + antidepressant meds can cause dry mouth. (See above.)

A few tricks make oral care more accessible.

Rinse with mouthwash or use teeth wipes to rub plaque away. Chew gum with xylitol—it kills bacteria, which can help prevent cavities. Keep disposable toothbrushes or flossers within reach, like by your bed, couch or in the car. And if you’re ready to head to the hygienist, remember they’re there to help—not shame you.

Healthcare 411

What to do with deli meat amid listeria outbreak (Inc.). Listeria linked to deli meat is responsible for two deaths + 28 hospitalizations across 28 states. The CDC hasn’t issued a recall because they haven’t tracked the specific source. For now, older adults, those with compromised immune systems + pregnant people should toss their deli meat or reheat it at high temperatures. Read the article for symptoms + other risk details.

States across US are seeing seasonal increase in mosquitoes with West Nile virus (ABC). 25 cases of West Nile have been reported in the US this year—lower than in 2023. But states testing mosquitoes report increasing numbers. There’s no vaccine or cure for West Nile. Most people who get infected have no symptoms or develop a flu-like fever, headache, and body aches. If OTC medicines don’t help, severe cases require hospitalization + intravenous fluids. So avoid bites with screens, repellants and by limiting standing water.

A twice-yearly injection offers 100% protection against HIV, study suggests (NBC). A study published Wednesday showed that twice-yearly shots of Sunlenca (a current HIV treatment) were 100% effective at preventing HIV in the 5,000 young women + girls given it in South Africa and Uganda. The pharmaceutical company that makes it is waiting for the results of a similar study in men before seeking approval for its use as a preventative tool.