There are a number of problems that affect the oral health of children, including tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and early tooth loss. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced with permanent teeth, keeping baby teeth healthy is important to a child’s overall health and well-being. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Baby bottle tooth decay (also called early childhood caries, nursing caries, and nursing bottle syndrome) happens when

What Is Plaque? Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, both above and below your gumline. If you run your tongue over your teeth and they feel fuzzy, what you’re feeling is the plaque film. You normally have bacteria in your mouth because you need them to help you digest and absorb the food you eat. When you eat, the bacteria in your mouth start

Your dentist says it’s time to remove your wisdom teeth. They may refer you to an oral surgeon, who will do the procedure in their office. It should only take a few days for you to heal and get back to normal. What Are Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located at the top and bottom back corners of your mouth. They are the last four

If you pass on hot or cold drinks because you know they’ll make your teeth hurt, it may be time to talk to your dentist about the possibility that you have sensitive teeth. Sometimes other things can aggravate them, too, like sweet and sour foods or even cold air. To be able to treat these tooth twinges, it helps to know what might be behind them. Once you’ve nailed down

There are several reasons why some people’s teeth grow in crooked, overlapping, or twisted. Some people’s mouths are too small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift. In other cases, a person’s upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size or are malformed, resulting in either an overbite, when there is excessive protrusion of the upper jaw, or an underbite, when the lower jaw protrudes

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on. Here’s a quick summary of what to do for some common dental problems. Toothaches. First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to

Just the number of options you have when you buy a tube of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control? Fluoride? Both? And don’t forget to think about whitening toothpastes or formulas with all-natural ingredients. When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it’s important to think about your unique oral health needs. Toothpaste Basics Toothpaste is available in paste or gel. Despite the many

You can’t overestimate the importance of good oral hygiene — not only for dental health, but for your overall well being. In fact, gum disease is a major risk factor for the development of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. From the time we’re young, we’re taught that using a toothbrush regularly is one of the best ways to keep our teeth and gums healthy. But which toothbrush

Baby Teeth A child’s mouth has 20 initial teeth, also called primary teeth, baby teeth, or deciduous teeth: Four second molars Four first molars Four cuspids (also called canine teeth or eye teeth) Four lateral incisors Four central incisors For each set of four teeth, two teeth are in the upper arch (one on each side of the mouth) and two are in the lower arch (one on each side

Avoiding tooth loss may be partly within your control, research suggests. In the Journal of Periodontology, dental experts list nine risk factors for tooth loss due to periodontal disease. Here’s the list: Being older than 35 Being male Never getting professional dental care Never using a toothbrush Smoking (current or past) Having diabetes Having high blood pressure Having rheumatoid arthritis The ninth finding was that front (anterior) teeth were more

Many different types of oral health care providers could become involved in the care of your teeth, gums, and mouth. A brief description of these various health care providers is as follows: General Dentist A general dentist is your primary care dental provider. This dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education. All practicing general

Smoking leads to dental problems, including: Bad breath Tooth discoloration Inflammation of the salivary gland openings on the roof of the mouth Increased buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth Increased loss of bone within the jaw Increased risk of leukoplakia, white patches inside the mouth Increased risk of developing gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss Delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery