August 24, 2016     

Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation: Improving Smiles in Your Community


Teresa . Brenda . Kevin . Those are just three out of  more than 164,000  smiles that have been helped through the grants awarded by the  Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation

Our annual grant application period is now open. We've invited organizations across the Commonwealth to join us in our mission to improve Virginia's oral health and help us provide your community with one more reason to smile.  Eligible organizations  can apply now through September 30. 

The Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation is here to help create healthy smiles and improve the lives of the uninsured and underserved members of your community. Funds will be awarded for use in 2017 toward programs that promote oral health research, education and access to care for the underserved. Because a healthy smile can change a life.
New Version of the Delta Dental Mobile App Now Available!

The Delta Dental mobile app has been refreshed and the new version is now available in Apple and Google Play stores. In addition to a complete refresh of the look and feel of the app, here are the new features you can expect to see:

Before Login:
  • TouchID: removes the barrier of remembering your password each time you log in (requires logging in with user name and password to set it up and is available on devices that offer TouchID/fingerprint authentication)
  • Updated toothbrush timer: now includes a video to guide you through brushing each section of your mouth during the two minute timer (available both before and after login)
  • About Us: company information
After Login:  
  • Enhanced functionality
  • New welcome dashboard: includes the ability to save a preferred dentist and your dependents
  • LifeSmile Score: dental risk assessment tool
  • Save your ID card to Google Wallet/Apple Passbook
For complete details about the features available on the Delta Dental mobile app, view our Delta Dental mobile app flyer for group administrators and brokers or download the subscriber flyer for employees. If you have any questions about the mobile app or want to request a few hard copy flyers, please contact your account representative.
Yes, You Should Still Floss Your Teeth.

Flossing has been making a big splash over the past few weeks. The U.S. Department of Health's latest updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans publication excluding the recommendation to floss coupled with the Associated Press' review of several existing studies on flossing are causing quite the stir. T he published evidence to support the effectiveness of flossing to prevent gum disease or tooth decay is weak at best, which is pretty well known in the industry. However, a lack of evidence doesn't necessarily mean lack of effectiveness. 

Here's what we do know: flossing is an affordable and easy way to remove plaque, a major cause of both tooth decay and gum disease, if done well and regularly. Even in the absence of solid evidence to support flossing, if you follow this simple practice each day, along with basic good oral health habits like daily brushing, healthy diet, not smoking and getting regular dental check-ups, you are making strides toward preventing gum disease and tooth decay. 

Here's the bottom line: having last night's dinner in between your teeth is neither good for your oral health nor appealing to those with whom you interact. Our simple advice: keep flossing.
Fall 2016 Issue of grin! Magazine now Available!

The fall 2016 issue of grin! magazine is now available at ddva.grinmag.com and on the grin magazine mobile app, available in Apple and Google Play stores. The new issue includes our regular features, such as On Topic with Dr. Kohn (this issue: vaping), Reader Q&A and the history of oral health, plus:
  • Benefits of stamping out your smoking habit
  • A mouth-friendly pumpkin recipe for fall
  • 5 items your hygienist recommends keeping handy
  • Smile-friendly substitutes for sweet homemade treats


Delta Dental of Virginia