If you have an autoimmune disease, you’re probably used to making several doctor appointments a year. It’s worth it to stay on top of your symptoms, but the costs can add up. Thinking about affording good dental care in addition to your general health checkups might seem overwhelming!

Fortunately, there’s a way you can take care of your smile for next to nothing. Here’s how dental insurance makes essential dental care more accessible for patients with autoimmune diseases.

Although the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends you visit the dentist every six months for your regular checkup and cleaning appointments, many patients avoid going out of fear, anxiety, or even embarrassment about their smile. Here’s why there’s no excuse for avoiding caring for your oral health, and one safe, effective treatment that could make it a whole lot easier!

Between family, work, social activities, and educational responsibilities, it’s a pretty safe bet that you lead a stressful life. But unfortunately, stress doesn’t just affect your mental health. It can often have a variety of negative side effects on your oral and overall health, too. Here are a few ways it can manifest itself in your mouth, and what you can do to protect your smile.

The idea of secondhand smoke isn’t exactly new. Since the 1970’s, scientists have been confident that simply inhaling the vapor produced by nearby smokers can have negative effects on someone’s health. But research is never truly complete, and recent studies have linked secondhand inhalation to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in kids between the ages of 3 and 18.

Needless to say, this discovery has brought an age-old topic back to life! To learn more about what the research says, keep reading.