Just because cavities are so common doesn’t mean you can properly treat them at home. Only your dentist can do that! No one wants a cavity, but chances are high that you will have one during your lifetime. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out, 90 percent of people age 20 or…
Cavities and gum disease are connected — learn how to prevent each condition. Cavities and gum disease are the top two oral health problems in the U.S., with 90 percent of adults having at least one cavity and four in 10 people aged 30 or older having gum disease (periodontitis). But could these two common…
Gum disease is more common among children than you think. But it can be treated if caught early. Unfortunately, cavities are a rite of passage for most young children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than half of children aged six to eight have had a cavity in their primary…
Root canals and extractions are performed routinely. Either one will improve your oral health by removing decay. Learn the difference between the two below. Your natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, teeth sometimes become so decayed or damaged that advanced dental treatment is needed. But the good news is your dentist has…
It’s never too late to treat periodontal disease. In fact, gum disease will only worsen the longer you delay treatment. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. over 30 exhibit some form of periodontal disease or periodontitis. But the percentage skyrockets to 70 percent for those 65 and older. Is it too late to…
Cavities don’t always need a filling if you catch decay early. Almost everyone gets a cavity at least once during their lifetime. In fact, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, 90 percent of the population will have one tooth treated for tooth decay by age 20. The standard treatment for cavities, or…
Root canal treatment has a high success rate and will keep your tooth healthy for a very long time. A simple filling cures a cavity. But if the decay spreads into the tooth’s inner pulp, you’ll need a root canal. Although most people may fear a root canal, the procedure isn’t painful and can restore…
Dry socket is a rare complication that may occur after a tooth extraction. Here’s what you need to know. Suppose you just had a tooth pulled, but the pain isn’t going away. You contact your dentist, who says you have a dry socket. What is this strange-sounding condition, and why did it happen? Following a…
What foods you eat after a tooth extraction matters. In general, the softer the food is, the better. About 5 million wisdom teeth are removed yearly, making it one of the most frequently performed dental procedures. Yet, an extraction can be done for other reasons than pulling an impacted wisdom tooth. Severely decayed or broken…
Food may get stuck in your tooth extraction hole when you eat. So what should you do? Wisdom tooth extraction is a straightforward and common dental procedure. In fact, one study estimates 10 million third molars or wisdom teeth are removed from roughly 5 million people each year. Yet once the tooth is pulled, you’ll…