For a healthy mouth, you need healthy gums. Your gums protect the bones and tissues that support your teeth. But bad oral hygiene opens your gums to an infection we call "gum disease." And this leads to serious dental problems.
For many people, the thought of going to the dentist causes worry and stress. Maybe you've had a painful experience in the past. Maybe you're scared of what it will take to fix a cavity or other problem. But it's not good to avoid the dentist. Delaying or skipping visits lets small problems turn into big ones. So use these tips to control your fear.
If you sometimes feel sharp pain in your teeth, you may have sensitive teeth. It's a problem for many people. You may have pain when you brush or floss. Your pain may be triggered by things like soda, hot drinks, citrus and acidic foods. Tooth sensitivity can keep you from having the foods and drinks you enjoy.
We all know how annoying mouth sores can be. Your lips and gums are sensitive, and the sores make it hard for you to eat and talk. They can also be slow to heal. Let's learn about common types of mouth sores and what they mean for you.
If your jaw is often sore or painful and you don't know why, you need to see your dentist. There are many reasons for this type of pain, and your dentist can help find what's wrong and correct it.
If your gums bleed, don't ignore it. Bleeding gums can be a sign of major problems with your teeth and gums. It can also be a sign of a serious medical issue.
This is a form of hardened plaque that builds up on your teeth. You can't brush it away. It can be embarrassing, and it's bad for your teeth and gums.
This is a mild form of gum disease. Without treatment, it can lead to serious dental problems.
Your teeth are protected by a hard outer layer we call "enamel." If you don't practice good oral hygiene, this enamel can break down. Harmful bacteria gets through the weak enamel and begins to destroy your teeth. This is tooth decay.
Bad breath that doesn't go away is a problem for many people. It can be embarrassing and frustrating. You may not understand why it happens, or how to control it. But there are ways to deal with bad breath successfully.
This is a painful ulcer you get in your mouth. It can form inside your lip, on or under your tongue, on your gum, on your cheek or on the roof of your mouth.
A very small crack in your tooth can be painful. It can be above or below the gum line. The crack can be so small you don't see it. Sometimes your dentist has trouble seeing it, even with X-rays. This can be frustrating. We call this problem "cracked tooth syndrome."
This is a problem that can happen after a permanent tooth is removed. Normally, when you have a tooth removed, a blood clot forms in the empty socket. This blood clot protects the underlying bone and nerves. But if a clot doesn't form, or if it forms but then dissolves or becomes dislodged, the nerves are exposed. This is a "dry socket." It can be very painful.
Good oral hygiene involves more than just keeping plaque away. You need to be aware of other dangers, too. One of the biggest is HPV. That's human papillomavirus. There are more than a hundred HPV viruses. Many affect the mouth and throat and genitals.
This is an unconscious grinding or clenching of your teeth. We call it "bruxism." For many people, it happens during sleep. For others, it happens when they're awake. It can damage your teeth and cause other problems.
If you have pain in your jaw, or if you have problems opening or closing your mouth, you may have a TMJ disorder. That's a problem with one or both of your temporomandibular joints. These joints connect your jaw to your skull. They act as hinges. They also allow your jaw to slide forward and back.
This is an infection near the root of a tooth. It's a pocket of pus that can be next to a root, or below the tip of the root. An abscess is painful. If it's not treated, it can lead to serious complications. It can even be life-threatening.
A filling is a simple repair for a cavity in a tooth. It fills the hole. It keeps bacteria from entering your tooth and causing more decay. Let's look at a few types of dental fillings.
This procedure treats an infection deep inside your tooth, in the soft tissue called "pulp." A root canal can save even a badly damaged tooth. Your root canal may be done by your general dentist, but more complicated cases are often done by a specialist. And you may need to schedule more than one visit.
If you have a tooth that's badly damaged, decayed or that is crowding your other teeth, your dentist may recommend removing it. We call this "extraction." It's a common dental procedure.
This treatment for gum disease removes plaque above and below the gum line. It cleans out pockets of plaque that you can't reach with brushing and flossing. It helps your gums heal, and may prevent tooth loss.
If you aren't happy with with the color of your teeth, you may want to have your dentist whiten them. Teeth whitening (we also call it "bleaching") is safe and effective. It can give you a much more brilliant smile.
If you've lost a tooth, or even a few teeth next to each other, a dental bridge can fill in the gap. A bridge is a device that is permanently implanted in your mouth. It replaces the teeth you've lost. And it keeps your other teeth from moving out of position.
If your smile isn't quite what it could be, your dentist may recommend braces. Braces use constant pressure to slowly change the position of your teeth. Braces can correct a wide range of problems. They can straighten crooked teeth. They can move teeth to prevent crowding. And, they can correct the alignment of your bite.
If you want a more beautiful smile but you don't like the look of traditional braces, invisible braces may be right for you. They straighten your teeth without being so noticeable. Here are a few options.
This is a cap that is permanently placed over your tooth. It's designed to cover and protect it. A crown can strengthen a tooth that's weak or damaged. It restores a decayed tooth's appearance. It can be used to attach a bridge, or to cover a dental implant or a tooth that has been treated with a root canal.
This procedure prepares your tooth for a dental crown. It's helpful for a tooth that has lost so much of its natural crown that it can't support a dental crown. Most often, it's done on a tooth that has already had a root canal.
This is a type of artificial tooth. It's held in place by a metal post that's surgically embedded in your jawbone. A dental implant can look and perform just like a real tooth.
If your dentist needs to adjust your teeth, create a dental implant or fit you for dentures, you may need to have a dental impression made. That's a mold of your teeth and gums. Your dentist may take an impression of just a few of your teeth, or all of them.
If you've lost one or more teeth, or if you need to have a tooth pulled, you should learn about the options for restoring your smile. Here are a few common ways to replace missing teeth.
Losing your teeth makes it hard to eat and talk. Your face may sag, which makes you look older than you are. Dentures can help. They replace your natural teeth. You'll be able to chew foods again. And, they give you back your smile.
If you've lost a tooth, or even a few teeth next to each other, a removable partial denture can fill in the gap. It's a prosthetic device that's made to fit comfortably in your mouth. And you can take it out at night and for cleaning.
This is a full denture that attaches to implants in your jaw. It's most commonly used for the lower jaw, but it's used for the upper jaw, too.
This is a treatment for people who have many damaged or missing teeth. With All-on-4, the teeth in your upper or lower jaw are replaced with a prosthesis. It's held in place with four permanent implants. All-on-4 gives you a new smile in one day.
Dental sealant is a protective coating that keeps harmful plaque from touching your teeth. When sealant is put on several of your teeth, we say you have "sealants." Sealants help slow down or prevent tooth decay.
This bone grafting procedure is done immediately after you have a tooth pulled. It helps keep your jaw from losing bone mass. This is important, because as your jaw loses bone, your teeth can shift out of place. This can make future corrective work more difficult.
These are false fronts for your teeth. They're bonded to your teeth, so they don't come off. If you have teeth that are poorly shaped, misaligned, damaged, stained or decayed, veneers can give you a beautiful smile.
If you have one or more wisdom teeth that are causing problems in your mouth, you may need to have them removed. We call it "extraction." Sometimes extraction can be done by a dentist, but sometimes you may need to go to an oral surgeon.
This procedure creates healthy new bone in your jaw. It fills an area of lost bone, or it makes a weak part of your jaw stronger. It's also used to create a solid base for dental implants.
