You absentmindedly brush your tongue along a spot in your mouth and immediately feel a burning sensation. You know the feeling. With dread, you look in the mirror as you pull your bottom lip down and see a small, white spot. Sure enough, it’s another canker sore. Also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores are small
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The gums in your mouth exist for a reason: They provide a soft seal around your teeth. And just like any other part of the body, the health of your gums matters. When those soft tissues start to deteriorate or recede, negative consequences may follow. After all, receding gums are a form of gum (periodontal)
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As children, we all get 20 primary (deciduous) teeth. When those teeth naturally fall out and permanent teeth grow in, the typical number of teeth is 32. For some people, however, extra teeth come in. This is known as hyperdontia. Among those with hyperdontia, extra teeth can grow anywhere in the dental arches — the
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Ouch — you’ve got a bad toothache that worsens by the day. It’s throbbing and hurts even more when you drink something hot or cold. Chewing anything is brutal, and now you’ve even noticed swelling in your cheek. What’s going on? You might have a tooth abscess, which is a bacterial infection in the tooth
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You’re flossing in front of the mirror one evening when you notice strange white spots on your two front teeth. No matter how often you brush, they don’t go away. What are they, why are they there, and how can you get rid of them? These white spots aren’t usually painful and often don’t cause
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Your tooth enamel is pretty important. In fact, it’s crucial to your oral health, and if you lose it, it’s gone forever. As the hardest tissue in your body, tooth enamel protects your teeth from physical and chemical damage. Yes, your enamel is incredibly strong, but it’s not invincible. It can erode and wear down
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We’ve all felt those all-too-familiar butterflies as we sit in the waiting room of the dentist’s office. But for some people, it’s more than just butterflies, it’s full-blown fear. If you feel major anxiety when you go to the dentist, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly 36% of the population admits to having dental anxiety
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Do you have dental insurance, or are you considering getting some? Approximately 77 percent of Americans do, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. But just because the majority of people have dental insurance, it doesn’t mean they understand it. While dental insurance can help cover the cost of dental exams and procedures, it
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When you take your daily multivitamin, you’re probably thinking about how it benefits your immune system, bones, muscles, and organs. But did you ever stop to consider the impact that important vitamins and minerals have on your oral health? Your teeth and gums need those essential nutrients just as much as other parts of your
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Are you considering getting dental implants? If so, you probably have one or more missing teeth that you’re hoping to replace. If you’re an ideal candidate for dental implants, you should: Have a jawbone that’s reached full growth Have enough bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft Have healthy
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