Summer is winding down and families are gearing up for a new school year. It’s an exciting time – and it’s a perfect opportunity for employers to support health and wellness!

By implementing a few simple, thoughtful workplace initiatives, employers can help their team manage the challenges of the busy back-to-school season while promoting healthy habits for their families.

Here are five ways to support healthy smiles in the workplace.

1. Host voluntary lunch-and-learns

Organizing lunch-and-learn events focused on oral health and overall wellness can be a great way to engage employees. Topics could include:

• Smile-friendly lunchboxes with lean protein options, fresh produce, and other healthy choices.
• The importance of preventive care, including regular check-ups as well as proper brushing and flossing techniques.
• Tips for mindfulness and stress management, which can have unexpected benefits on oral health – such as reduced tooth grinding.

2. Encourage use of dental benefits

Many employees may not realize that most dental plans – including those from TruAssure – cover preventive services at no cost. Remind your employees to schedule routine preventive checkups before school starts, so their children can begin the year with healthy smiles.

3. Provide wellness and benefits tips

Sending a monthly wellness newsletter – or simply including a benefits callout on regular employee updates – keeps your benefits offering top of mind. This will help remind your team to seek preventive care or address oral health issues before they worsen and require time away from work.

Here are a few ideas and printable resources your newsletter could provide:

• A back-to-school checklist with reminders to schedule regular oral health checkups.
• Ideas for nutritious lunchbox meals that support oral and overall health.
• Tips for healthy bedtime and morning routines, including brushing twice a day and flossing daily.

4. Offer flexible scheduling for health appointments

Allowing employees to adjust their schedules for dental and medical appointments will make it easier for families to prioritize preventive care. That’s why supporting preventive care can lead to fewer missed work hours. Healthy smiles help keep employees at work and productive!

5. Promote additional perks and rewards

Does your benefits provider offer additional perks, such as discounts on top products? If so, make sure your team knows about them!

With TruAssure, your employees will appreciate dental coverage they can count on – but they’ll also get access to a wide range of exclusive deals for members, including:

• LifeMart member discount program: Deals on flights, gifts, groceries, electronics, entertainment, and much more.
• Philips Sonicare member discount program: Employees can save on Sonicare toothbrushes and flossers, products from Norelco and Avent, and more.

Healthy families, happy employees

It isn’t always easy for your team to balance work and family responsibilities, especially during the transition back to school. With the right resources and support, you can promote a healthier workforce – keeping your team on the job and productive.