Oral Health

 

Think you know everything about brushing and flossing?

Regular dental care is an important part of oral health. Having healthy teeth and gums isn't a given, though. If you think you're too tired to brush your teeth or too busy to floss, remember that your smile depends on these simple dental care habits. Brush up on daily dental care tips, and know which signs and symptoms deserve a dentist's attention.

Also consider common dental care questions. Should you use an electric toothbrush or a regular toothbrush? Does whitening toothpaste really work? Should your dental care include fluoride treatments or dental sealants? How often should you visit the dentist for professional dental cleanings? What can you do about bad breath?

Dental care counts. Take charge of your dental care today!


Oral health: What's behind your smile

You use your mouth to speak, eat, kiss and smile, among other tasks. The key to keeping everything working well is good oral health. Having healthy teeth and gums isn't a given, though. Preventing tooth decay and other oral health problems takes effort. Promote good oral health by understanding what's behind your smile — your teeth, gums, tongue and salivary glands.


Teeth: From crown to root

Adults have 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth. Each tooth has two main parts — the crown and the root. The crown is the part of the tooth you can see, and the root is hidden below your gums.

Other parts of the tooth include:

* Enamel. This hard outer coating protects the crown of the tooth.
* Dentin. This hard substance beneath the enamel makes up the bulk of the tooth.
* Pulp. This soft tissue is located in the middle of the tooth.
* Cementum. This hard tissue covers the root of the tooth and attaches it to the jawbone.

 

Gums: Pink means healthy

Your gums (gingivae) surround your teeth to help hold them in place. To keep your gums healthy, practice good oral hygiene — brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss your teeth once a day and schedule regular dental visits. If your gums become red and swollen or bleed easily, they could be infected. This is known as gingivitis. Prompt treatment can help restore good oral health. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress to severe gum disease (periodontitis) and possible tooth loss.


Tongue: From talking to tasting

Your tongue is a muscular organ that helps you speak and move food for chewing and swallowing. Small bumps called papillae (puh-PIL-e) cover your tongue's upper surface. Your taste buds are located in the papillae. Taste buds allow you to enjoy specific tastes, such as bitter, sour, salty and sweet. Your tongue also plays a role in oral health. Food particles can stick to your tongue, causing bad breath and promoting tooth decay. To take good care of your tongue, simply brush your tongue whenever you brush your teeth.

 

Salivary glands: Aiding digestion, preventing decay

Your mouth has three major pairs of salivary glands — the parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands — as well as many smaller glands. Salivary glands produce and secrete saliva. In addition to helping you swallow and digest food, saliva promotes oral health by:

* Flushing food away from your mouth
* Stopping acids that can attack tooth enamel
* Replenishing minerals in tooth enamel
* Killing or reducing disease-causing organisms


 

Protect your oral health

Content provided by the Mayo Clinic

Brush up on basics

Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health.

Oral Hygiene and Overall Health

Your oral health is more important than you may realize. The health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health. Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.

Regular Dental Exams

Regular dental exams are an important part of preventive health care. During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and identify gum inflammation or bone loss.