Northstar Family Dentistry Blog


teeth grinding dentist

Stop Teeth Grinding With These Techniques

Grinding your teeth, or Bruxism, can lead to increased wear on your teeth and, if bad enough, can result in the need for restorative care if wear results in chipped teeth or a misaligned bite. There are several techniques that you and your dentist can do to stop grinding.

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enamel tooth wear dentistry

Baby, That Enamel Is Never Growing Back

Your teeth’s enamel is formed when you are still a baby — even younger, actually — and that’s what your teeth use for the rest of your life.

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teeth whitening dentist

Know the Difference a Dentist Makes in Whitening Teeth

Throughout our lives our teeth can tarnish & yellow for a host of reasons, from smoking & coffee to less obvious items we ingest like sports drinks & wine. For many of us, there comes a time when we’d like to reverse course & get a whiter, brighter smile. So why go to the dentist for a whitening treatment when there are so many at-home options?

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Woman holding mouthwash

Alcohol-Based vs. Alcohol-Free Mouthwash

When modern mouthwash was first invented, it contained alcohol that stabilized the mixture & helped fight germs & bacteria. Today, some mouthwashes use alternative ingredients in place of alcohol. So what’s the difference?

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Woman using mouthwash

The History of Mouthwash

Mouthwash can be a useful addition to your oral health routine & can help prevent bad breath. Although the kind of mouthwash we use today wasn’t invented until the 1800s, people have been cleaning their mouths by rinsing for thousands of years!

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Young girl smiling with toothbrush

The History of Toothbrushes

Although the modern toothbrush has only been around for about 90 years, it is just the latest in a long line of tools used to fight tooth decay. People have been using a wide variety of materials to clean their teeth for thousands of years!

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Man smiling and thinking

Why You Should Get a Filling Even if Your Cavity Doesn’t Hurt

You may be wondering why it’s necessary to get a cavity filled if it isn’t causing you pain. But even if they don’t hurt, cavities can cause further damage to your teeth. Dental fillings help prevent that future damage, as well as the discomfort it could bring!

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Woman Sleeping Well

What Does Sleep Have to Do With Dentistry?

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. But there are many things that can prevent you from getting the high-quality sleep that will leave you feeling refreshed in the morning. 

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Smiling Woman Holding Out Floss

The Endless Uses of Dental Floss

Floss is very durable—it has to be to slide between teeth without breaking. That also makes it useful in other situations, making floss an extremely versatile tool to have around the house. Keep reading for some creative ways to use floss in your day-to-day life.

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Strong, Smiling Woman

Introducing Enamel, Protector of Teeth

There are many layers to teeth, but the most visible & potentially most important—at least when it comes to preventing dental issues—is the outer layer, called enamel. Here’s what you need to know about enamel.

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