What is malocclusion? Malocclusion means having crooked teeth or a “poor bite.” Orthodontic treatment can correct the way teeth and jaws line up. Dentists who are specially trained to correct malocclusion are called orthodontists. They use a variety of treatment tools and techniques (including braces ) to move teeth, and sometimes the jaw, into the […]
Bad Breath Changing Bad Breath Bad breath is often caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odors or gases that smell like sulfur — or worse. Bad Breath (Halitosis) Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign […]
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids — formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth — attack the […]
Stomatitis, a general term for an inflamed and sore mouth, can disrupt a person’s ability to eat, talk, and sleep. Stomatitis can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the inside of the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, and palate. Types of Stomatitis Types of stomatitis include: Canker sore: A canker sore, also known as an aphthous […]
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are often incorrectly called TMJ, which stands for temporomandibular joint. What Is the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)? The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower […]
Softly brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended. ”Three times a day is best,” says Sesemann. With too much time between brushings, he says, bacterial plaque will build up, boosting the risk of gum inflammation and other problems. Brushing should last at least two minutes, says Sesemann. Three minutes is even better, […]
Brushing Too Often or Too Hard While brushing your teeth three times a day is ideal, more may not be, says Sesemann. “More than four toothbrushings a day would begin to seem compulsive.” Excessive brushing could expose the root of the tooth to irritation, and that could in turn irritate the gums. Brushing vigorously can […]
Consider the size of your mouth when picking a toothbrush, says Richard H. Price, DMD, the consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. “If you are straining to open wide enough to let the brush in, the brush is probably too big,” he says. ”The handle has to be comfortable,” he says. It should feel […]
Some toothbrushes have angled bristles, others straight. So is one type better? Dentists say no. ”It’s more related to technique than the way the bristles come out,” says Sesemann. What is important when buying a toothbrush? Bristles that are too stiff can aggravate the gums. The ADA recommends a soft-bristle brush. ”Bristles should be sturdy […]
1. Sugar Is the Prime Cause of Cavities Myth, but it’s almost a fact. The truth is, acid produced by bacteria in your mouth is the cause of cavities, says Kimberly A. Harms, DDS, an American Dental Association consumer advisor and former president of the Minnesota Dental Association. However, these bacteria are triggered to make […]