If there is one type of tooth that needs removal more often than any other, it’s wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth often emerge much later than the rest of your teeth, and because many people’s mouths are too small to accommodate a third row of molars, complications can ensue. Here is an overview of the signs that you may need your wisdom teeth removed.

1. Crowding or Impacted Teeth

Wisdom teeth are prone to growing in at an angle, and there are several reasons for this. For starters, these teeth can simply form at an angle. Wisdom teeth can also get lodged under the tooth in front of them and grow at an angle. In many cases, wisdom teeth are aligned crooked enough that they don’t emerge from the gums at all.

While there is not definitive research stating that angled wisdom teeth can lead to whole-mouth crowding, these teeth can certainly crowd the second molars adjacent to them. This can cause the wisdom tooth or second molar to crack, and it also promotes the formation of gum pockets behind the second molar that can trap bacteria and lead to infection.

Approximately 25 percent of all men and women suffer from bad breath, also called halitosis. While gum and mints can mask the smell of bad breath temporarily, bad breath may return after you spit your gum out or your mint dissolves in your mouth. Instead of simply masking your bad breath when needed, take steps to find the root cause of your halitosis so you can then conquer your bad breath permanently.

Read on to learn about three common causes of chronic halitosis and how you can combat the bad breath they cause.

Do your New Year’s resolutions include changes in your dental health habits? If you’re not sure what to put on your resolution list or how to change your oral care habits, take a look at what you need to know about a new year, a new you, and a new healthy mouth.

Your Brushing Routine

How can you change your brushing routine for the new year? If this oral health step tops your resolution list, make a positive impact on your mouth and:

• Buy a new toothbrush. The old brush you’ve used for the last year needs to go. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a brush replacement every three to four months. If the bristles fray or mat sooner, replace your brush more often.
• Set a timer. Do you brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day? Set a timer as part of your New Year’s resolution.
• Change your methods. The ADA suggests using a 45-degree angle approach to brushing. If your current technique is subpar, change your methods in the new year. Along with a new angle, make sure to get the backs, fronts, tops, and all sides of your teeth.

If your child is complaining of tooth pain, and you also notice bad breath, tooth discoloration, or gum inflammation, he or she could have a root canal infection. Get your child in to see a dentist right away to see if they need endodontic treatment. Endodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on the treatment of tooth pulp, or the living tissue and nerves inside of a tooth.

See why children need endodontic treatment, how they are diagnosed, and how the issue can be resolved.

Why Do Children Need Endodontic Treatment?

If your child has a pulp infection in a baby tooth, it may seem like a hassle to have it treated since the tooth will eventually fall out regardless. However, even though baby teeth will fall out, it’s still important for your child to have healthy teeth to eat with and to speak properly.

After a tooth extraction, dentists will give patients gauze to bite down on immediately. The extraction site may continue to bleed a bit and then ooze for a day or so afterward. This is normal, but it’s not something that people want to deal with. A solution that is often more efficient than stuffing gauze in your mouth is to use a tea bag.

Tannins and Bleeding

Green and black tea contain tannins. These are compounds that contribute to the bitter taste of tea that’s been left to steep for too long. They also promote your body’s ability to create clots, which is exactly what you need to have happen after an extraction.

When you take a wet tea bag that has cooled — never use a hot tea bag, of course — and bite down on it, the tea that seeps from the bag delivers those tannins to the extraction site. A 2014 study found that green tea extract placed on gauze may help as well, but for many people, simply steep a regular bag of tea leaves.

A dry mouth from reduced salivary flow affects patients in a wide range of ways. Some people with dry mouth only have mild symptoms and light discomfort. However, dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) causes serious health issues for other patients. Here are four fast facts about dry mouth.

1. A Range of Issues May Cause Xerostomia

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, xerostomia is triggered by over 400 known medications. Some commonly prescribed drugs interfere with saliva production, but medicines aren’t the only causes of xerostomia.

Other possible causes of dry mouth include the following:

Are you ready to take your child to their first dentist appointment? You’ll need to schedule this vital appointment sometime after your child’s first tooth erupts and before (or just after) their first birthday to make the most of your child’s dental care. Consult a pediatric dentist as well because they can give your child more specialized treatment.

To prepare for a first appointment, you should know what to expect from a child’s first dentist visit. Here are a few of the things you and your child will do during an initial visit.

Sit Through a Short Oral Exam

Fortunately, your child’s first dental appointment goes by pretty quickly. You’ll sit in a patient’s chair with your baby in your lap. Depending on your child’s level of comfort, they may either face you or face the dentist.

As you get older, you experience many changes to your body, and your teeth are no exception to the rule. Teeth have amazing longevity — when other parts of your body fail, they remain constant, especially if they are properly cared for. But seniors need to have proper dental care in order to maintain good oral health.
If you want to protect your teeth as you get older, consider the following guidelines for optimal senior dental care.

Talk to Your Dentist About Changes to Your Physical Health

Every part of your body affects the other parts. Your dentist needs to know about any medications and health concerns because they can affect your teeth.

Dental fillings are often the treatment of choice for patients who have teeth that are decayed from cavities or other damage. When you choose to manage your cavities with fillings, your dentist will ask you what type of filling you prefer for your tooth. This short guide explains the types of materials available for dental patients today.

Dental care can be a challenge for parents of kids with special needs. Children with cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome are also at a higher risk of having issues with tooth decay, dental pain, and dental misalignment.

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a child with special needs, make dental hygiene an everyday, familiar part of your child’s life. The following four tips will set you and your child on the path to good oral health.

1. Establish Positive Oral Hygiene Habits in Infancy

Children look to adults for validation of what’s normal and what’s not. When you establish oral care routines starting on the day your baby comes home from the hospital, your child becomes accustomed to the routine of having the mouth cleaned twice a day.

You don’t need a toothbrush to start a baby off on a lifetime of responsible dental hygiene. A clean, soft washcloth is all you need. Don’t use washcloths tumbled dry with dryer sheets or laundered with scented detergents, as the perfume-tainted cloth may make your baby gag.