Today we wanted to let everyone know that we will be out of the office this Thursday and Friday, April 19-20. Dr. Carstensen and the team will be attending a conference in Phoenix, AZ to better serve our wonderful patients. We will respond to all messages as soon as we can when we return. Please give a couple of days for a response to any questions or concerns.

If you have a dental emergency or an urgent dental need, please call Dr. Coluccio at (425) 827-5345. He will be glad to assist you.

Have a great end of the week and weekend!

You may recognize Jen from working alongside Dr. Carstensen as his dental assistant. She is new to the office and started with us in February. Jen takes care of the dental side of the office. If you need anything fixed in your mouth, she's your girl!

Jen has been working in the dental field since 2006, and she loves working with people. Making sure that she finds out what you need is her number one priority. When asked why she loves working with our office, she said: "I love working here because Dr. Carstensen is so clear and makes sure he has time for every one of his patients. He keeps updated in the dental field, and his staff does as well."

In her free time, Jen enjoys playing all kinds of sports; hiking, mountain biking, boating, snowshoeing in the winter. She also loves playing with her kids and helping out in their activities.

Make sure to say hello to Jen the next time you're at the office!

Have you had a chance to meet Heidi at Dr. Carstensen's office? She began working in the dental field in 1996, and joined Dr. Carstensen and our team as a Dental Hygienist in 2011. We're pleased to share that Heidi has gone through extensive periodontal training, including full mouth deep scaling along with routine recall cleanings. She is licensed to administer anesthetic and Nitrous Oxide. If you've met Heidi, she has most likely evaluated your oral health and spoken with you about the importance of good oral hygiene. She also works behind the scenes to perform all of the necessary records that Dr. Carstensen needs to diagnose you properly.

When asked about what she most enjoys about her job, Heidi says, "I receive great satisfaction in educating patients on the importance of good oral hygiene." She also finds that it is very rewarding to see the improvement in patients' oral health that results from good home care and treatment done in our office. She also says that she loves working with Dr. Carstensen because she "admires that he is always striving to further his education so he can give his patients the best care possible. He motivates his employees strive to do their best at all times."

Heidi was born in Vancouver, Washington. She is married to her husband, Nat, and they have a 4 yr. old son, named Austin. When Heidi isn't a the office, she enjoy spending time with family and friends. She also stays active through running, yoga, cycling AND retail therapy!

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to our team. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.

There are many reasons for bad breath:
• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits with our office for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!