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Sometimes food that’s good for your body isn’t necessarily the best for your teeth. Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan and our team want you to know which healthy foods can harm your teeth and gums, and what steps you can take to continue enjoying these foods, even when you’re dieting.

When you begin to substitute empty calories with whole foods, make sure you also remember to focus on your dental health. The majority of people tend to switch out sugary foods in favor of fruits and vegetables when they diet.

It’s worth knowing that most fruits are highly acidic and composed of natural sugars. Some of the highly acidic fruits to watch out for include apples, grapes, strawberries, pineapples, blueberries, oranges, and grapefruit. Moderation is key here, as with all other things. Fruits can be a great source of energy to help you through your day, but try not to overdo them.

Often, people also incorporate more leafy greens into their diets, which mean plenty of salads. Salad dressing is another item you’ll want to watch out for. Many dressings are filled with vinegars and sweeteners that include harmful acids, which change the pH of your mouth. When your mouth shifts from alkaline to acidic, your smile also turns to a higher risk for erosion and decay.

Rather than get rid of these foods altogether, simply change what you do after you eat them. Rinse your mouth out with water, brush your teeth, or eat alkalizing foods after consuming these acidic foods. Healthy alkalizing foods include dairy products such as eggs and yogurt, or any type of vegetable.

If you have questions regarding your current diet and its effect on your oral health, please contact our Paramus office and speak with a member of our staff. If you’ve begun to make changes in your diet toward a healthier lifestyle, we hope these tips can help your make positive changes to your oral health. Our team at Dr. Dayna Cassandra Cosmetic Dentistry wants a healthy lifestyle to be a top priority in your life.

Earth Day began in 1970 as an event to raise awareness of our environment. What began as a single day in April is now recognized around the world to bring attention and education to global environmental issues. Conserving our natural resources, reducing water and air pollution, and developing green technologies are all ways in which we can improve the environment around us.

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

One of the easiest ways to participate in Earth Day is by simply reducing the amount of refuse that ends up in landfills. Many communities have recycling programs for paper, plastic, and metal refuse. By keeping recyclable items out of landfills, we reduce the need for new disposal space and the amount of energy needed for burning refuse. Recycling products also helps conserve the resources that are used in making new products.

You can save money by reducing your consumption of many everyday products. Single disposable water bottles can be recycled but they are costly. By using filtered faucet water, you can conserve your financial resources. Disposable paper towels can also be wasteful. Consider reusable cleaning rags for the majority of your chores.

Reusing items saves both the environment and your finances. A large number of products can be re-purposed to create a new item. Old furniture can be remade into a new piece. Old clothing can be used for craft items. If you are not able to find ways to reuse your old items, donate them to a charity. Remember to continue your positive environmental steps on a daily basis.

Other things you can do to improve the environment

Everyone, young or old, can find ways to participate in improving the environment. Some ideas include:

• Planting trees
• Picking up litter
• Reducing energy consumption
• Walking, bicycling, or carpooling to work or school
• Disposing of hazardous waste properly
• Using rain barrels to conserve water for plants

Earth Day is designed to appreciate and celebrate the health of the earth. Keeping the earth healthy is important, but keeping your mouth healthy is important, too. Healthy teeth and gums contribute to your overall health and well-being, so remember to call our team at Dr. Dayna Cassandra Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment. Have a happy and healthy Earth Day, from Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan!

If you have a hard time understanding your dental insurance plan, particularly the treatments and services it covers, you’re not alone. That’s why Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan and our team have put together a cheat sheet to help you through them.

It’s common for patients to get lost in the morass of the terms and phrases that surface when you’re dealing with a dental insurance plan. Knowing the commonly used terms can help speed up the process and enable you to get the most out of your coverage.

Common Terms

Annual Maximum: The most your policy will pay per year for care at Dr. Dayna Cassandra Cosmetic Dentistry. It is often divided into cost per individual or per family.

Co-payment: Typically, a small amount the patient has to pay at the time of service before receiving care, and before the insurance pays for any portion of it.

Covered Services: A list of all the treatments, services, and procedures the insurance policy will cover fully under your contract.

Deductible: An amount you must pay out of pocket each year before the insurance company will contribute for any treatments or procedures. The amount can vary according to your plan.

Diagnostic Services: A category of treatments or procedures that most insurance plans will cover before the deductible, which may mean services that occur during preventive appointments with Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan, including X-rays or general screenings.

Exclusions: Dental services not covered under a dental benefit program.

In-Network: An insurance company will usually cover a larger portion of the cost of the care if you see an in-network provider for treatment.

Out-of-Network: If you visit someone who is not a part of your provider’s network, the insurance company may pay for a portion of the care, but you will be responsible for a significantly larger share out of your pocket.

Lifetime Maximum: The most that an insurance plan will pay toward care for an individual or family over the entire life of the patient(s).

Limitations: A list of all the procedures the insurance policy does not cover. Coverage may limit the timing or frequency of a specific treatment or procedure, or exclude some treatments altogether.

Member/Insured/Covered Person/Beneficiary/Enrollee:  A person who is eligible to receive benefits under an insurance plan.

Premium: The regular fee charged by third-party insurers and used to fund the dental plan.

Provider: Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan or other oral-health specialist who provides treatment.

Waiting Period: A specified amount of time that the patient must be enrolled with an insurance plan before it will pay for certain treatments.

It’s essential to understand the various insurance options available to you. Knowing what your insurance covers can save you major costs in the future.

Dr. Dayna Cassandra and Dr. Erika Dean Donovan and our dental staff hope this list of terms will help you understand your dental insurance plan better. Be sure to review your plan and ask any questions you may have about your policy the next time you visit our Paramus office.

Happy April to all of our wonderful patients, family and friends!

We hope everyone is staying safe, well, and positive! As we are sure you are all aware, the mandates and regulations surrounding the national Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are changing constantly as new information emerges. Our office has currently been mandated by the governor of New Jersey to remain closed at this time for all elective and non-urgent dental care through April 30. We continue to stay up-to-date with the latest CDC, ADA, New Jersey State Dental Association, New Jersey Board of Dentistry, and Bergen County regulations and will update you as things change.

With that being said, we want you to know that we are here for you! We are still treating dental emergencies as they arise and both Dr. Cassandra and Dr. Donovan are accessible by phone/video conferencing to discuss any matters of concern. A member of our team will be checking our voicemails, texts, and emails daily in order to maintain constant contact with our patients. If a dental emergency should arise, we ask that the patient call our direct office number at 201-261-7645. Through that number, they can reach their doctor or our general voicemail. Our team is going to begin contacting you within the next 2 weeks to reschedule any canceled or missed appointments, but please do not hesitate to reach out anytime!

We hear that social distancing is turning everyone into professional chefs and we hope that everyone is keeping up their oral health! Drs. Dayna Cassandra DDS and Erika Dean Donovan DMD recommend brushing twice daily with an electric toothbrush, flossing or using dental interproximal brushes at least once daily, and rinsing with mouth rinse regularly. Try to minimize snacking and sugar intake to reduce risk of decay. Fun fact: crisp fruits and vegetables are natural oral cleansers!

While at home, Dr. Cassandra is enjoying having extra time with her newborn baby, Xane. Dr. Donovan has been spending time with her husband, reading, completing puzzles, and preparing for the arrival of their baby boy in June. Both doctors are also hard at work planning the best way we can continue to accommodate our patients' needs once the social distancing recommendation is lifted. The rest of the team is enjoying their time with their loved ones and their pets. Some activities that keep our team busy include exercising, cooking delicious meals (and a few desserts), reading, dental webinars/continuing education, and staying in touch with family and friends via video chats. We’d love to hear what you are doing during social distancing!

We know that these measures are necessary to help control the spread and to keep all of our patients and their families safe and healthy. Even though our office hours are limited at this time, please know that we are always here for you and we are just a phone call away!

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram where we are posting positive and uplifting messages to brighten the days ahead! We can’t wait to see all our patients again soon.