News on Delta Dental’s new "Water’s Cool @ School!" grant program, easy instructions to make hand soap when stores sell out, and the Continuing Education article “Mental Floss: Oral Health and Dementia, Part 2, by Maria L. Geisinger, DDS, MS and Hussein S. Basma, DDS, DESS, MS.

I’m Tiffany Stark and you’re watching IDH Weekly on Aegis TV. To commemorate its 55th anniversary, Delta Dental of Tennessee announced a new "Water’s Cool @ School!" grant program to replace existing water fountains at 55 elementary schools across the state with Elkay bottle-filling stations. Providing access to drinking water throughout the school day gives students a healthy alternative to sugary beverages like soda and sports or juice drinks. Drinking plenty of water can help combat obesity, increase energy levels and may improve students’ cognitive functions. Further, if fluoridated, drinking water also plays an important role in preventing cavities. All Tennessee elementary schools are encouraged to apply prior to the April 17 deadline. For more information click the link or scan the QR code below. As concerns over the Coronavirus global health crisis continue, many stores are selling out of handwashing and sanitizing products. There are a number of recipes available online to make your own hand soap should a shortage arise in your area. Here is an example of an easy way to make moisturizing hand soap with a few simple ingredients. Add 1/2 cup castile soap liquid, 1/2 cup distilled water 1 tablespoon of vitamin E oil, and 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil or olive oil. For aroma, add 15 drops tea tree essential oil and/or 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil – such as lavender or add the juice from a few lemons or oranges for a nice citrus smell. Featured on the Inside Dental Hygiene website is the article Mental Floss: Oral Health and Dementia, Part 2, by Maria L. Geisinger, DDS, MS and Hussein S. Basma, DDS, DESS, MS, Part I of this article covered the classification of dementia, and proposed mechanisms of interaction between periodontal disease and dementia. Part II addresses oral hygiene in patients with dementia, including delivery of oral home care and therapies to improve oral health. To read the full article and take the quiz for CE credit, visit the link or click the QR code below. We hope you’ve enjoyed our updates on the latest in dental hygiene news, trends, and continuing education. I’m Tiffany Stark. Thank you for watching IDH Weekly. See you next week!