Author: Kimberly

The holidays are quickly on their way and if you are anything like me I can easily find myself in a bind when it comes to having holiday guests. In addition to keeping your pearly whites clean for those holiday photo smiles, did you know that floss can be handy for other holiday preparations? Have a holiday sign and no way to hang it? Use floss on the back to hang on a nail! Can’t find your ornament hangers? Tie floss on your ornaments to hang them on the tree! Do you like to have a string of popcorn garland Read More →

Maintaining a regular brushing routine can be difficult no matter what age we are. The recommended two times a day for two minutes can be easily overlooked in our busy lives. Our hygienist, Erin, is here to tell you how you can be sure you are achieving your daily goals and that you’re having fun doing it with new technology!   For teens and adults there are multiple phone apps to aid in daily brushing. Brush DJ is a free app that is available for all types of devices and plays your favorite songs right from your phone or tablet Read More →

For many patients, the highlight of their dental cleaning appointment is taking home their brand new toothbrush. Before you throw away the old one, consider the many alternative uses for this handy gadget. Before re-using, you should first clean the brush by soaking in bleach for 3 minutes then rinsing thoroughly and air drying. Now you’re ready to start cleaning lots of things around the house and garage. Easily remove crayon marks from walls when used with a small amount of non-gel toothpaste. Get the grime from around faucets and other fixtures using white vinegar. The toothbrush can reach the Read More →

It’s that time of year again – back to school! We know choosing your children’s lunches can be hard so we asked our assistant, Ann, what she does! As a parent of three school aged children that love bringing their own lunch to school, it can be difficult to know what items to pack that are health for both their teeth and their bodies. There are of course many foods to avoid, including:  Sugary foods and drinks such as candy, pop and juice.  Sticky or chewy foods such as raisins, granola bars, caramel, honey, and bananas. Carbohydrates and starches such as cake, cookies, pretzels, chips, saltine Read More →

We all know which foods we to avoid that can be harmful to your teeth, but do you know what foods are healthy for your teeth and why? Samantha, a licensed and certified dental assistant, and administrative assistant at Family Dentist Tree is here to help you out! First up on the list is milk. Yep! Your mom was right! Milk is a great source of calcium which is a key ingredient in strengthening tooth enamel. Cheese is another great source of calcium. It can also aid in neutralizing the acid levels in your mouth and promoting saliva flow, a natural defense against cavities, gum disease, Read More →

Are you one of the estimated 90 million people that snore?  Does snoring keep you or your partner awake at night?  Did you know that a dentist can help? During sleep, soft tissues and muscles in the mouth and throat relax, moving the lower jaw further back. The result is a smaller airway and reduced air flow as you breath at your normal rate. Your soft palate and uvula along with other soft tissues vibrate in the smaller airway and cause an increased “sound” associated with our breathing. A snore guard is an appliance which aides in bringing the lower jaw forward Read More →

Have you ever wondered why your dentist asks for your current medication list at each visit? We checked with Dr. Roger Bisbey, D.D.S. to get the answer to our question. Many medications, prescribed by your physician and obtained over-the-counter, can affect your oral health.  One of the most common side effects of many medications is dry mouth.  Natural saliva helps keep food from collecting around your teeth and neutralizes acids given off by bacterial plaque, which is continuously growing on the surface of the teeth.  These acids damage the hard surfaces of your teeth which greatly increases your risk for Read More →

Fluoride, what is the purpose of having it and why is it so important? Fluoride is a mineral that is necessary to aid in preventing tooth decay by increasing the tooth’s resistance to acid, bacteria and sugar, especially while permanent teeth are still developing. It is also necessary to aid in remineralization and reversing early tooth decay in both children and adults. Fluoride can be found in many products, but perhaps the most well known is in a foam that is applied at your dentist office. Although fluoride is generally recommended for most patients every six months, patients with dry mouth, gum disease, frequent Read More →

We asked our licensed dental assistants to tell us about the signs and symptoms of cavities and what we can do to prevent them. A cavity (known as tooth decay or caries) often begin with no symptoms at all. Early signs of a cavity may include discoloration (typically brown, black, or chalky white) and sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, or sweets. Enamel is the first layer of our teeth, it is white in color, and is the hardest substance in our bodies. It is the outer protective shell for many layers within the tooth. Bacteria, food particles, and saliva work together to form plaque and Read More →

Have you ever noticed after a red popsicle or a blue sucker that your teeth or tongue are stained? There are many foods and beverages we consume each day that can stain our teeth over time. We asked our assistant, Jamie, to list a few below: Although known as healthy beverages, black tea and red wine’s high tannin content (a compound found in plants that reacts with the proteins in your teeth) can stain your teeth even more than coffee! Another healthy item, deep colored fruits (i.e. blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and pomegranates) that have long been used for dyes in many Read More →