Ask a Hygienist: Lie Bumps on the Tongue

In this segment of Ask a Hygienist, I’ll be talking about one of the most important body parts we have. The tongue is responsible for assisting us with speech, digestion, and protecting our airway while we swallow.  It helps us pick out all of the wonderful flavors in our foods and has near 5,000 taste buds! Read More

A Bloody Sink

(No, that’s not real blood) Do your gums bleed when you brush?  How about only when you floss?  No matter how much you try to rationalize that bit of blood in your sink , this is a symptom of a much bigger problem. Bleeding is NOT normal If the skin on your leg is healthy, it will Read More

That cold sore needs to stay home

Cold sore, fever blister, or herpes.  Whatever name you want to give this common viral outbreak, it should be taken seriously… especially at the dental office. What is it? The herpes simplex 1 virus affects more than 3 million US people every year. It is considered a sexually transmitted disease. (Not to be confused with Read More