Dr. Toni Engram

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

Moms are often the ones scheduling everyone else’s appointments while quietly postponing their own. You ignore the bleeding gums, the tooth sensitivity, the headaches, the exhaustion—because someone else always seems to need you more. But taking care of yourself is not selfish, and waiting until something becomes painful rarely makes life easier. Your oral health affects how you eat, sleep, speak, and care for the people you love. You deserve the same attention you so freely give everyone else.

flourish.dental

10/03/2026

Why do some people choose to remove their amalgam fillings?

Dental amalgam contains mercury, and small amounts of mercury v***r can be released over time—especially with chewing, grinding, and during removal. That does not necessarily mean every intact amalgam automatically needs to come out immediately.
I usually think the better question is: What condition is this filling in, and what are the risks of leaving it versus removing it right now?
Removal may make more sense when there is decay, leakage, cracking, structural weakness, or the restoration already needs to be replaced. Some patients also choose removal because they want to reduce mercury-containing materials or prefer non-metal restorations.
If removal is done, technique matters. We want to minimize exposure and protect the tooth as much as possible during the process.

Ideally, you’re consulting with a functional provider to determine if you’re body is prepared for the removal of the “silver fillings”, as the removal process can be a load on your system if it’s depleted or dealing with other things.

This should be a tooth-by-tooth, patient-by-patient decision—not a blanket rule.

Flourish.dental

10/01/2026

Long before “root-cause dentistry” became a buzzword, Weston A. Price was already asking the questions I wish we asked more often today.

Why did some traditional communities have broad arches, strong teeth, and very little decay? And what changed when refined sugar, flour, and processed foods entered their diets?
I don’t think we should blindly accept every conclusion from research done nearly a century ago. But Price’s work highlighted something we still cannot afford to ignore: the health of your mouth depends on more than what happens in your bathroom twice a day.

Brushing and flossing matter. But your teeth, gums, saliva, bones, and developing jaws also depend on the raw materials your body is given.
Nutrition matters. Minerals matter. How we nourish growing children matters.
Your mouth is part of your body. We have to stop treating it like it isn’t.

Flourish.dental

09/23/2026

Our first priority is always your child’s safety.

Every situation is different, which is why we carefully weigh the benefits and risks of treating now, waiting, or using sedation to complete the necessary care safely.

Ultimately, the parent makes the decision. Our role is to explain the options clearly, answer every question, and help you make an informed choice without pressure.

Find a provider you trust, and ask all the questions. You deserve to understand exactly what is being recommended for your child and why.

Watch our clip from last week to learn the difference between general anesthesia and IV sedation.

Flourish.dental

09/20/2026

A frenectomy may happen in the mouth—but the tongue doesn’t function in isolation.

When the tongue is restricted, the body may compensate through the jaw, neck, shoulders, breathing patterns, and even posture. That’s why we often say the tongue is connected from the mouth all the way down to the toes: changing one part of the system can affect far more than that one small piece of tissue.

Here, our team is providing supportive bodywork alongside the procedure. We’re grateful to collaborate with myofunctional therapists and bodywork professionals, including our friends at Ke Kino, who help us care for the whole person—not just the tongue-tie.

For older kiddos, bodywork isn’t required for a frenectomy, but it is highly encouraged. Releasing the tissue is one step; helping the body adapt to that new freedom is another.

We may not require bodywork—but your body may tell you it needs it.

Flourish.dental

09/18/2026

Bleeding gums may be common, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored.

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, it can be a sign that the tissue is irritated or inflamed. At Flourish, we don’t just want to make the symptom disappear—we want to understand what may be contributing to it in the first place.

Your oral health is influenced by more than brushing alone. Bacteria, saliva, dry mouth, nutrition, daily habits, and your overall oral environment can all play a role.
Because when something becomes common, it’s easy to start assuming it’s normal.

But common doesn’t always mean healthy.

Save this post for later, and send it to someone who thinks bleeding gums are just part of flossing.

For our fluoride-free guide comment 'Guide'

09/16/2026

When a child keeps getting cavities, parents are often told they need to brush better or cut out sugar—but the full story may be more complicated. Cavities can also be influenced by saliva quality, mineral balance, mouth breathing, diet frequency, medications, and changes within the oral microbiome.

Brushing and flossing still matter, of course, but recurring decay is a signal worth investigating—not a reason to shame the parent or child.

We need to stop asking only, “How do we fix this tooth?” and start asking, “Why does this mouth keep developing cavities?

flourish.dental

09/13/2026

Guilty 😅☕

Who else can relate?

(Btw, that particular patient was my child. I don’t typically touch patients with bare hands while sipping coffee.)

IB: