As a child, did you eagerly wait for the tooth fairy to come, sometimes even wiggling a loose tooth in hopes that it would fall out sooner? For most kids, all baby teeth – also known as primary teeth – fall out by adolescence and are replaced by permanent or adult teeth. Occasionally, however, some baby teeth never fall out. In fact, some adults go decades without realizing that they have baby
It’s obvious but something we don’t always think about: not all teeth are created equal, and their location in your mouth determines their shape and function. Here, we’ll talk about premolars’ function, how they’re different from molars, when they appear, and how to care for them. Premolars, also known as bicuspids, are the permanent teeth located between the molars in the back of your mouth and your canine teeth, or
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! During the entire month of February, the American Dental Association (ADA) honors and recognizes dental professionals and all who are passionate about children’s healthcare. Take this time to increase awareness about pediatric dental hygiene – and find out how you can best support your child’s dental care. What is National Children’s Dental Health Month? The ADA’s Children’s Dental Health Day was first celebrated
Saliva makes many normal, everyday activities possible, thanks to its unique composition. Without saliva stimulating your taste buds, you’d miss out on the experience of a delicious meal. Plus, chewing and swallowing would be not only tricky—but dangerous. So, what is saliva made of, and why is it so important? Learn more about the components of your saliva and how they work together to serve your oral and bodily health.
While waiting for your baby to get their first teeth can be one of parenthood’s great joys, your little one might not enjoy this process as much. Babies usually start teething (the process of your baby’s teeth erupting through the gumline) when they’re between four and seven months old. Oftentimes teething can cause pain and discomfort for your little one. A teething ring can be helpful in such cases. Find
Tucked inside your infant’s gummy, toothless smile is a small piece of tissue under their upper lip called the labial frenulum. We all have a labial frenulum. Inside your mouth, it’s the thin tissue connecting your upper lip to your upper gums just above your front teeth. (It’s technically a superior labial frenulum in your upper mouth, which we’ll be discussing.) But so that you know, the labial frenulum is more prominent
If you look closely at the anatomy of your teeth, you can see that they are all shaped differently, with points, ridges and round or sharp edges. Some components of dental anatomy, such as the cingulum ridge on a tooth, can’t be seen too well, but you can feel it with your tongue. Though its purpose is rather obscure, the cingulum can sometimes be affected by rare dental anomalies. What
At some point and time, everyone experiences a case of “dry mouth”. Dehydration and anxiety are common and often, short term causes of dry mouth. While chemotherapy, certain medications, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and oral infections are associated with more chronic cases. If left untreated, dry mouth can affect your oral health. Thankfully, relief can be found with lozenges. If you or a loved one struggles with dry mouth issues, here
If you’re experiencing abnormal bone growth in your mouth, you have what’s called an exostosis. The term sounds a little frightening, but don’t worry – in most cases, these growths aren’t a cause for any concern at all. There are rare circumstances when exostoses have interfered with oral function or denture placement and have required surgery, but that is not the norm. Most often, by practicing good oral hygiene, your
Long before sonic toothbrushes, water flossers and fluoride toothpaste, many early civilizations turned to medicinal herbs and spices to care for their teeth and treat various ailments. Turmeric was one spice used in early Asian cultures for medicinal purposes, but is it still relevant in the modern world of oral care? Find out more about using turmeric for teeth and the role it can play in your oral health. You
Have you ever noticed a friend’s bad breath while conversing with them? It’s possible their breath wasn’t the result of too much garlic at lunch, but rather something more serious. When you have a condition called perio breath, problems with your gums may contribute to bad odors in your mouth. Here’s how gum disease and bad breath are connected and what you can do to prevent both of these oral
If you’ve recently joined the cavity club or are worried you may be a future member, know that you’re not alone. Tooth decay is so common that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that it affects nine out of ten people over the age of 20. While receiving a cavity diagnosis is never the ideal experience, it’s important to learn about the common causes, treatments and prevention tactics that can help