Dr. Katie knows Katy

Hey Everyone,

Our mouths provide the perfect environment for bacteria growth.  In fact, 800 - 1,000 different types of bacteria can be found in just your mouth alone!

Bacteria is responsible for the formation of plaque - a sticky, colorless film of bacteria which feeds on sugar and starch to produce acids.  These acids break down tooth enamel and can cause tooth decay.

Every time we eat or drink, we are feeding the bacteria in our mouth and increasing the amount of plaque on our teeth.  Plaque can be removed in most cases by brushing and flossing; however, plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which can't be removed by brushing and ...

Whether you’re headed out for a staycation or spending a holiday with family, road trips are a great way to travel! 

Unfortunately, more often than not, road trips go hand-in-hand with unhealthy drive-through foods and sore muscles. 

You’ve probably spent some time planning out your route and considering what to pack. Why not go one step further and plan out healthy meals and snacks? Having a plan doesn’t take much time or effort. 

Fill a cooler with pre-cut fruits and veggies for snacking. Bananas, oranges, apples, and grapes make great travel snacks. So do carrot sticks and celery. For healthy fats and proteins bring along hummus, peanut butter, and your favorite nut mix. ...

One of the most destructive diseases to the gum and bone that supports the teeth is gum disease.  Gum disease is initiated by bacteria, yeast, and viruses that live in the mouth, or are acquired through saliva from someone else.  From multiple scientific studies, it is widely understood that about 10 to 15 bacteria, along with other yeast and viruses (pathogens), are mainly responsible for gum disease.  Often the pathogen types, and even the combination of pathogens causing the disease, are different for different people.  What makes this disease even more unique is that everybody has their own personalized reaction to the pathogens.  This personalized response is based on individual ...

There is nothing that feels better than getting a good night's sleep.  Many people do not know what it feels like to have a good night's sleep due to snoring.  They may snore, or perhaps they lay next to someone that has a chronic snoring problem.  Someone sharing a bed with a snorer loses on average 1.5 hours per night of sleep lying awake.  There is another way!

Anyone that snores should have a home sleep study and be evaluated for sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is a condition where an obstruction, or a signal from the brain, is preventing you from taking in air and the body experiences brief periods where ...

Your teeth are one of the most unique substances in your body.  They are one of the hardest natural materials known to man and are resistant to penetration by most substances and are resistant to many diseases.  However, they can come under attack by acids and by extreme friction from the chewing services of the teeth they meet during chewing.  This is especially true if they don't come together properly.  When the teeth don't fit together, we have inefficient use of the chewing muscles and abnormal forces on the teeth cause premature tooth loss.  We call this situation Bite Disease.  If you were a dentist, we would refer to it ...

A very common condition that many people have is notching or tooth structure loss right above the gum line on some upper and lower teeth.  This notching can leave the gum tooth interface unsightly due to discoloration, it can produce sensitivity to hot and cold, and can ultimately compromise the integrity of the tooth structure.  This notching is a result of prior gum recession exposing the root surface to the oral environment.  Root surfaces do not have the hard enamel covering protecting the tops of the teeth rendering them vulnerable to environmental conditions.  Once exposed this surface can be compromised from a combination of chewing forces, acids from the stomach, ...

A very popular, and often "accepted" oral infection caused by bacteria is known as caries.  A damaging result of the caries infection process are holes in the teeth commonly known as cavities.  Many parents expect their children to acquire cavities as they grow, and often act surprised, when children leave the dental office without the need for "fillings".  A reality about cavities is that the bacteria that cause cavities are transmissible and are often introduced to a child at a very early age from a primary caregiver.  This happens by kissing, sharing utensils, drinks, or other forms of saliva exchange.  Once the cavity causing bacteria are introduced to the mouth ...