Gum health definition and facts Readers Comments 3 Share Your Story When periodontal (gum) disease develops, bacteria in plaque accumulate along the gum line. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The gums or gingiva, is an important barrier to protect our teeth and their surrounding support structures. Periodontology is the dental...
What is gum disease (gingivitis)? Gums that bleed easily during flossing or brushing is a sign of gum disease (gingivitis). Gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and is most commonly a result of poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis is a very common condition and varies...
What are bumps on the back of your tongue? You can get rid of bumps on the back of your tongue with medications, home care, and surgery. The tongue is covered with small bumps called papillae, which contain your taste buds. They give the tongue its rough texture, and sometimes they become inflamed. When they...
What is a tooth filling? Picture of cavities To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then "fill" the area on the tooth where the decayed material once lived. Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse...
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...
What Is Dental Sealants? Sealants are a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth — usually the back teeth (the premolars, and molars) — to prevent tooth decay. The painted on liquid sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each...
A number of conditions may require oral surgery, including: Impacted Teeth Wisdom teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but most of the time, this is not the case....
Baby teeth are important because they allow an infant to eat a good diet, allow for proper jaw growth, give the face its form and appearance, assist in the formation of proper speech, and most important, act as “space savers” for adult teeth. Tooth decay in babies can lead to pain, infection, malnutrition, poor weight...
An abscessed tooth can occur when infection spreads beyond the root of a tooth.Source: MedicineNet What is an abscessed tooth? When a tooth persistently throbs and keeps you up at night with pain, it could be something more worrisome than a simple toothache. An abscessed tooth is an infection within a tooth that has spread...
Introduction Lasers have been used in dentistry since 1994 to treat a number of dental problems. But, despite FDA approval, no laser system has received the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. That seal assures dentists that the product or device meets ADA standards of safety and efficacy, among other things. The ADA, however, states...