Northstar Family Dentistry Blog


Safely store toothbrushes in separate cups

How to Safely Store Your Toothbrush

We all know that brushing your teeth is essential, but did you know that how you store your toothbrush can affect your oral health?

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Close Up Portrait of Cheerful Woman

How Much Are Your Teeth Worth?

It’s easy to take your teeth for granted. But if you neglect them, they can end up costing a lot. Let’s take a look at what teeth might be worth from a couple different perspectives & you might just see that there’s immense value in taking the time to care for them regularly.

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Two women chewing gum with good oral health habits

Everyday Habits You Can Adjust to Improve Your Oral Health

Some of the most important things you can do to maintain your oral health are to brush & floss your teeth & visit the dentist twice a year. But there are lots of ways you can change your everyday habits that will also improve your oral health!

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Girl smiling with invisible and metal braces

Straightening Out the History of Braces

Whether you’ve already had braces or are considering getting them, you might be wondering when people started using them. Luckily, we’re here to go over the interesting history of braces!

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Smiling assistant after sterilizing equipment

What Is an Autoclave & How Does It Work?

Sterilization is one of the most important aspects of a dental office. Dental professionals use a variety of methods to ensure their office & equipment are safe & clean, & one of the most common ways they sterilize equipment is with an autoclave. 

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Clean Mouthguards

Cleaning Your Mouthguard

Whether you have a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth while you play sports or a night guard to prevent you from grinding your teeth at night, you probably have a few questions about how you should take care of your mouthguard. That’s why we’re here to explain some of the best practices when it comes to your mouthguard.

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Cheese, food that is good for your teeth

Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth

We hear a lot about what foods are bad for our teeth, but there are actually lots of foods that contain minerals & vitamins that are good for your teeth. Unsurprisingly, foods that are good for your teeth are also good for your overall health!

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Patient holding retainer

How Long Should You Keep Wearing Your Retainer?

More and more people are getting braces to straighten their smiles, but there’s more to improving your teeth than just braces—you’ll need to wear a retainer afterward. Your orthodontist gives you instructions to wear it for a few months, but what about after that?

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Dental hygienist smiling in a dental office

What Does It Mean to Be a Dental Hygienist?

When you go to the dentist, you interact with a lot of different people in the office, but you’ll probably end up spending the most time with a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist is the person who cleans & polishes your teeth, applies fluoride treatments, takes x-rays & updates the dentist on your mouth’s condition. Most of us have an idea of the requirements to become a dentist, but what about a hygienist?

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Woman holding electric and manual toothbrushes.

How to Choose an Electric Toothbrush

We all know that brushing your teeth is essential for good oral hygiene, but there are so many different kinds of toothbrushes out there, it can be hard to choose one! While manual toothbrushes work just fine, many people are choosing to use electric or powered toothbrushes because they can help maximize the effectiveness of daily brushing.

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