Basic dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products.

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1. Prevents tooth decay
2. Prevents gum (periodontal) disease, which can damage gum tissue and the bones that support teeth, and in the long term can lead to the loss of teeth.
3. Shortens time with the dentist and dental hygienist and makes the trip more pleasant.
4. Saves money. By preventing tooth decay and gum disease, you can reduce the need for fillings and other costly procedures.
5. Helps prevent bad breath. Brushing and flossing rid your mouth of the bacteria that cause bad breath.
6. Helps keep teeth white by preventing staining from food, drinks, and tobacco.
7. Improves overall health.
8. Makes it possible for your teeth to last a lifetime.

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Keeping your teeth and gums healthy requires good nutrition and regular brushing and flossing.

1. Floss at least once a day, and brush your teeth after meals, snacks, and before bed. This removes plaque, which can lead to damaged teeth, gums, and surrounding bone.
2. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. Ask your dentist if you need a mouthwash that contains fluoride or one with ingredients that fight plaque. Look for toothpastes that have been approved by the American Dental Association.
3. Avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar. Sugar helps plaque grow.
4. Avoid using tobacco products, which can cause gum disease and oral cancer. Exposure to tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke) also may cause gum disease, as well as other health problems.1
5. Practice tongue cleaning. You can use a tongue cleaner or a soft-bristle toothbrush, stroking in a back-to-front direction. Tongue cleaning is particularly important for people who smoke or whose tongues are coated or deeply grooved.
6. Schedule regular trips to the dentist based on how often you need exams and cleaning.

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There are many factors to consider when selecting the proper toothbrush. The brush should be able to remove plaque from all tooth surfaces without damage to the tissue or tooth. The brush should fit properly in the hand. The brush should be soft nylon to prevent scratching the teeth or gums.

When brushing, apply medium pressure at a 45-degree angle. Too much pressure can bend bristles and damage your teeth and gums. A toothbrush should be soft enough to massage and stimulate the gums and clean the teeth.
Electric toothbrushes are great, especially for children, disabled adults, and anyone with braces. A water pick can also help with dental care. Keep in mind water picks do not replace toothbrushes or floss. They are designed to produce a direct pulsating stream of water to wash food particles from between teeth.
The following tips can make your toothbrush selection easier:

• Your dentist or dental hygienist may suggest a particular brush that would be most effective for you.
  
• Select products that display the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance.
  
• A toothbrush with soft bristles is less likely to injure gum tissue.
  The size and shape of the brush should allow you to reach the surface of every tooth. Smaller brushes work better for smaller children.
  Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Worn or frayed brushes may injure the gum tissue.
  
• Electric toothbrushes are just as good as manual brushes. People with handicaps and young children may find an electric toothbrush easier to use.
  

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By the time your child is 6 months of age, your doctor should assess the likelihood of your child having future dental problems.2 If he or she thinks your child will have dental problems, be sure your child sees a dentist before his or her first birthday or 6 months after the first primary teeth appear whichever comes first. After your first visit, schedule regular visits every 6 months or as your dentist recommends.

Experts recommend that your child's dental care start at 12 months of age.2 If your baby has dental problems caused by injury, disease, or a developmental problem, see your pediatric dentist right away.

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Treatment Overview

A filling is a material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after he or she removes any tooth decay.

To fill a tooth, your dentist will:

1. Perhaps numb your teeth, gums, tongue, and surrounding skin. Your dentist will first put a jelly substance directly on the area to start the numbing process and then inject an anesthetic to complete it. Many dentists will give you nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas, which is not allowed in China yet.) to reduce your pain and help you relax.

2. Perhaps use a small sheet of rubber on a metal frame (rubber dam) to target the decayed tooth and to stop liquid and tooth chips from entering your mouth and throat.

3. Drill out all the decay and replace it with a filling.
Fillings can be made from many types of material. Talk to your dentist about

which type would be best for you.

1. Amalgam is the easiest material for a dentist to use. It is the fastest and least costly choice. Amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, or other metals.

2. Composite resins are tooth-colored fillings. Your dentist may use them on your front teeth, where appearance is important. Composite resin is easier than gold for a dentist to work with and generally is less expensive than gold.

3. Ionomers are tooth-colored materials that dentists often use for small cavities or cavities between teeth. Some ionomers release small amounts of fluoride, which may help you if you often have cavities.

4. Gold is costly and is hard for your dentist to work with. This makes the procedure take longer and cost more.

5. Ceramics are costly tooth-colored fillings. They require special equipment and may require dental lab support. You may need several appointments.
What To Expect After Treatment

After your dentist has filled the cavity, your lips and gums may remain numb for a few hours until the numbing medicine wears off. Avoid chewing on your numb lip or cheek to avoid injuring your mouth.

Why It Is Done

You need a filling when tooth decay has caused a hole (cavity) to form on a tooth surface. If you don't get a filling, the cavity will get worse and lead to more severe problems, such as bone loss.

How Well It Works

A filling repairs the tooth and stops tooth decay. Over a long period of time, you may need to replace a worn-out filling.

Your filled tooth may be sensitive to heat and cold for days to weeks after you get the filling. Talk to your dentist about toothpastes that may help you with this discomfort. Tell your dentist if your teeth are too sensitive after you get a filling, because you can usually treat this problem.

Risks

There is almost no risk involved in having a cavity filled.

Some dental work can cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream. These bacteria can cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have difficulty fighting infections may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such people include those who:

• Have heart valve problems, such as endocarditis.
  
• Were born with heart defects.
  
• Have an impaired immune system.
  
• Have liver disease (cirrhosis).
  
• Have artificial joints, such as a hip that has been replaced.
  

What To Think About

It is important to start treatment before tooth decay becomes worse. More severe decay may cause pain and tooth loss and may require a costly crown, a root canal, or tooth removal (extraction).

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Teeth whitening is not a medical procedure-it does not result in healthier teeth-but it can result in whiter teeth and a brighter smile. This in turn can make people feel better about themselves.

There are two types of teeth whitening:

1. Bleaching your teeth changes the color of the tooth enamel and removes both surface stains and those deeper in the teeth. Your dentist can bleach your teeth at his or her office, or you can do it yourself with a kit your dentist gives you or with a kit you buy over the counter (OTC). The chemical used to bleach teeth is generally carbamide peroxide. Different products use different concentrations of this chemical.

2. Whitening toothpastes use a rough (abrasive) material that "scrapes" off surface stains and polishes the teeth.

Bleaching

For in-office bleaching, the dentist often combines bleach with a laser or light to speed up the process. A visit usually takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour, and you may need more than one treatment. Your dentist will protect your gums with a gel or shield and then put the bleaching agent on your teeth. The bleach concentrate used for the in-office process is generally stronger than that used in other methods, because the dentist can watch how it is used.

Your dentist may also give you a kit with a mouthpiece and gel containing the bleach. Your dentist may make a custom mouthpiece to fit your teeth. These kits usually use a lower concentration of bleach than an in-office process. Your dentist will tell you how often to wear the mouthpiece and for how long.

An over-the-counter kit is similar to what your dentist gives you. The bleach concentration, how you use it, and how long you use it varies between products. For example, some products use a mouthpiece and others use strips you lay across your teeth.

All of these methods have different costs, and your insurance will usually not pay for them. You choose the method that works best for you and that you can afford.

Talk to your dentist before whitening your teeth. It does not work for everyone. Using a bleach product for:

1. Yellowish teeth usually works well.
2. Brownish teeth will work, but not as well as for yellowish teeth.
3. Grayish-hued teeth may not work well at all.

Bleaching also may not work if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings in your front teeth. The bleach will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out if you whiten the rest of your teeth. Always talk with your dentist before you use tooth whitening, especially if you have many fillings, crowns, or very dark stains.

Bleaching your teeth may have side effects. Teeth can become sensitive when you are using the bleaching solution, but this usually goes away when you finish your treatment. A mouthpiece that does not fit well may hurt your gums.
Remember that whitening is not permanent; your teeth will slowly become discolored again. Some lifestyle choices, such as drinking coffee or using tobacco, will speed up how fast your teeth lose their new whiteness.

Children and teens

Children and teens with discolored teeth may have a negative self-image that can result in unhealthy behavior. Teeth whitening may help them with their self-image.

In children and teens, stained or discolored teeth may be the result of:

1. An injury or infection.

2. Fluorosis, which is using too much fluoride. This can change the color of the teeth.

3. The antibiotic tetracycline. Using this antibiotic can result in stains on the teeth.

It is important to discuss teeth whitening with your dentist. If your child still has a mix of primary and permanent teeth, whitening all teeth may result in teeth being different shades of white. This is because the thickness of the tooth enamel is different in these two types of teeth. Colors may also change when the permanent teeth replace the primary teeth.

Dentures are "false teeth." They can replace all the teeth in your mouth (complete denture) or only some of them (partial denture). If you need dentures, your dentist will measure your mouth and take impressions to create them.

You should care for your dentures as you would your teeth. It's also important to continue to care for your gums. Brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth (palate) every day with a soft-bristled brush before you put in your dentures. Continue to see your dentist on a regular basis.

To care for your dentures:

1. When you take your dentures out, stand over a folded towel or bowl of water. This way if you drop them, they will not break.

2. Store dentures in lukewarm water or denture-cleaning liquid overnight. Do not put them in hot water, and do not let them dry out.

3. Replace your dentures about every 5 years. Using your dentures daily "wears them out," and you will need to replace them.

4. Clean your dentures every day. Cleaning helps prevent dentures from becoming stained and helps your mouth stay healthy.

o Rinse your dentures to remove loose food particles.
o Wet the brush, and brush your dentures with a denture cleanser such as
Polident or Efferdent. You may be able to use hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid. Do not use household cleansers, which may be too rough, or bleach.
o Brush every surface, scrubbing gently to avoid damage. Use a brush designed for cleaning dentures or a toothbrush with soft bristles. Do not use hard-bristled brushes, because they can damage the dentures.

To care for your teeth and gums:

1. Examine your gums daily before you put in your dentures. Let red, swollen gums heal before you wear your dentures again. If the redness does not go away in a few days, call your dentist. White patches on the inside of your cheeks could also indicate poorly fitting dentures.

2. Give your mouth at least 6 hours of rest from your dentures every day. Your mouth heals more slowly as you age and needs time to recover from the friction of wearing dentures.

3. Don't put up with dentures that are too big, click when you eat, or don't feel good. It takes time to get used to dentures, but if they are still giving you trouble after the first few weeks, talk to your dentist about fitting them again. Don't try to "fix" your dentures yourself.

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Many people require removal of their third molars also known as wisdom teeth. As with any surgical procedure, there are some possible risks and complications. The decision on third morlar removal should be decided by a patient and their dentist.

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Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. When the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted (unable to come in or misaligned) Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way through the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone.

Extraction of third molars is generally recommended:

• When wisdom teeth only partially erupt;
  
• When there is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth;
  
• When a cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone tooth roots.
  

Fluoride is naturally occurring element found in rock, soil, air and all vegetation because fluoride is a naturally abundance substance in the earth's crust. Fluoride is nature's answer to tooth decay.The most critical time for fluoride is in the second to third year of life when tooth enamel is being formed.
Fluoride helps prevent cavities in these ways:

• Fluoride will make the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay. Fluoride will combine into the tooth structure to make enamel more resistant to acid attack.
  
  
• Fluoride is toxic to bacteria stops the bacterial from producing acids that cause tooth decay
  
  
• Fluoride use can also encourage remineralization or replace minerals in the tooth surfaces that have been demineralized or broken down by bacterially produced acids which can help in repairing early decay or damage before it causes a cavity.
  
  
• Fluoride aids development of enamel on "baby" teeth before they erupt.
  
  
• Fluoride reduces enamel solubility.
  

Thus, Fluoride offers additional help when present at the tooth surface by providing its own ions, which inhibit demineralization (enamel breakdown) and promotes remineralization (reinforces structure of the outside surface of the tooth), as opposed to rebuilding the tooth structure itself.

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