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Though it only happens in roughly one percent of all children, supernumerary teeth, or an extra set, do sometimes occur in children.  Usually before the age of five, when many children make their first visits to the dentist’s office, the dentist will take an X-ray of the child’s oral cavity and jaw area.

In this X-ray, he or she may see something unusual, which may be an extra set of teeth between the baby and adult sets.  This most commonly occurs with the front teeth, but it can be found throughout the entire mouth.

Sensitive teeth can make your life much more difficult. They make it hard to eat certain foods, such as ice cream. Even drinking cool water may give the patient pain. Often, those who have this problem avoid the dentist all together, because they feel that the cleaning is too painful. This is never a good idea.

You have probably heard hundreds of old wives’ tales and at-home remedies for whitening teeth.  Some of them work.  Some of them do not.  Some of them can actually be harmful to your health.  Dentists are telling their patients which remedies work and which ones are dangerous.  However, all agree that professional whitening is the safest method.

Professional teeth whitening can remove years of stains from coffee, tea and cigarettes and give you a much healthier, brighter smile.  However, the chemicals that dentists use are highly concentrated and should only be handled by a medical professional.

This is why some dentists and oral specialists are voicing their concern over kiosks that are popping up in malls all over the country.  Individuals in lab coats are offering “professional” teeth whitening for a fraction of the office cost.  The kicker?  These people are not professionals.

Each year, over 34,000 American people are diagnosed with oral cancer.  Unfortunately, because it is typically not caught in time, over 25 percent of these people die.  Other patients are left horribly disfigured and suffer from a much lower quality of life due to oral cancer surgeries.  The cancer can affect the teeth, gums, bones, tongue, palate, or other soft tissues in the mouth.  They are most always typified by certain types of lesions.

For years, dentists have claimed that putting small amounts of fluoride in the public water supply will make citizens with much healthier teeth. They stated that the fluoride would help keep the spread of plaque down, which can lead to tooth decay and eventually advanced gum disease.

In recent years, teeth whitening has become extremely popular. Lasers, pastes and rinses have all been used to effectively remove yellowish stains from teeth. These unsightly stains can be caused by drinking coffee or tea, smoking or just from not brushing and flossing properly. The smile can instantly be brightened, and a person’s self-confidence will soar.

As you get older, your teeth will naturally get weaker. You may find it difficult to eat the same foods that you could enjoy when you were younger. You might experience rotting, decay or pain in certain areas of your mouth. This is extremely uncomfortable and often unsightly, so many people choose to have dead teeth removed. But then what do you do?

The acids and sugars that are found in soda pop are one of the leading causes of obesity and tooth decay in America. The acid tears away the enamel of the teeth and sugar creates a plaque buildup that can lead to severe gum disease. Most people don’t realize that they can spare their teeth much damage by removing this fizzy beverage from their diet, or by brushing immediately after consumption.

With the recent downtrend in the economy, many Americans have been forced to make difficult decisions. They simply cannot afford the same luxuries that they could a year ago. Unfortunately, in tough times, dentistry and oral care often becomes a luxury.