KANSAS CITY, Missouri--Assurant Employee Benefits celebrates National Children's Dental Health Month by announcing an agreement with Epic Industries to increase preventive oral health product offerings to all dental plan members.
Assurant Employee Benefits will offer discounts on dental products containing xylitol in order to make the product more accessible to its customers and help promote better oral health.
Millions of Americans are affected by poor oral health, and many of those are children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, tooth decay is one of the most common infectious diseases known to mankind.
Although largely preventable, it is the most common chronic disease of children ages 5 to 17 years. Some of the problems associated with poor oral health in children may include pain, absence from school, and poor appearance of their teeth.
"National Children's Dental Health Month is a time to focus on preventive oral health education for our children and parents," said James Gimarelli, DMD, vice president of dental at Assurant Employee Benefits. "Healthy teeth and gums are among the foundation for lifelong health and wellness--setting the stage for a positive dental care routine early in life helps children today and tomorrow."
Assurant Employee Benefits believes that making xylitol products more accessible to participants will aid in the fight against poor oral health in America's youth. Xylitol, a natural sweetener, has been proven to prevent tooth decay by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth.
Data from recent studies indicate that xylitol can reduce the occurrence of dental cavities in young children, schoolchildren, and mothers, and in children via their mothers, as bacteria that cause cavities have been proven to be transmissible through saliva.
"Oral health habits are formed at a young age, and we are committed to providing dental products that encourage life-long oral health, at every stage in life," said Gimarelli. "The addition of xylitol products to our dental plan offering increases the opportunity to further protect the overall health of all participants--children and parents."
The xylitol product line offered by Epic, a leading provider of dental care products, includes mouthwash, toothpaste, mints, and gum. First-time orders receive a 50 percent discount. All subsequent orders are eligible for a 25 percent discount.
To take advantage of this opportunity, dental plan members can visit the Assurant Employee Benefits Web site at www.assurantemployeebenefits.com and click For Members. Discounts are currently unavailable with New York policies and plans.
The agreement with Epic is Assurant Employee Benefits' latest effort to lead the industry in preventive oral health offerings. Last October, Assurant Employee Benefits launched its "Lifetime of Smiles" program, which impacts most new dental plans effective Jan. 1 or later.
The program focuses on the company's commitment to oral health, and includes the following as standard benefits:
*four cleanings per year - two routine and two periodontal;
* tooth-colored fillings for posterior teeth; and
* brush biopsy procedures.
