There are bacteria and disease-causing germs feeding on the sugar we consume. The acid released in this process can cause damage to the tooth enamel, a hard protective coating on the tooth. This exposes underlying dentin and causes cavities. The back teeth (molars) in our mouth have fissures on their surfaces. This is where tooth decay starts and grows. Food stuck in these tiny grooves is not easy to remove. Tooth decay is the most common dental problem among American children. In the state of Washington, 40% of kindergarteners and 58% of third graders are suffering from cavities.

A sealant is a thin coat that a dentist paints over the chewing surface of our back teeth. These teeth are responsible for most of the chewing. Thus, whenever we eat sugar, the acids can hurt our natural teeth enamel causing tooth decay and cavities. As long as you don’t have any dental fillings, sealants get into the valleys and peaks of these back teeth and help protect them for longer.

Because a toothache is already too late to visit your dentist, here are some bad habits you can fix from a young age. Good dental health is not about fixing what’s wrong, but preventing it from happening with a series of lifelong good habits.

Root canal therapy, also called endodontics, is used to save teeth that are fractured or have very deep decay. During the procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.

Recent guidelines published by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) have underlined the importance of educational interventions. It’s critical to explain to patients how gingivitis progresses into more severe forms of periodontitis, causing a greater degree of inflammation, irreversible damage to the supporting structures of the teeth, and a more severe array of oral health concerns. Most patients with mild to severe gum disease know there is a problem, but again, equate it to their teeth. They often experience symptoms like loose or misaligned teeth caused by alveolar bone loss , or experience pain when chewing and attribute it to tooth sensitivity. Compromised gum health doesn’t always occur to them.

Woman using ADA-accepted Waterpik water flosser.
Water flossing is a way to clean between and around your teeth. A water flosser is a handheld device that sprays streams of water in steady pulses. The water, like traditional floss, removes food from between teeth.

Does the word “dentist” give you goose bumps and make you immediately want to call your mom? These are the top five treatments that make you scared but really shouldn’t.