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A recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that women who lived in areas with fluoride in their water supply made more money than women who lived in areas without.

A city water supply with fluoride has been proven to have big effects on the health of its residents’ teeth. Citizens have stronger enamel and whiter smiles. Researchers have long suspected that women are hired based on their personal appearances now have proof.

Approximately one in three adults over the age of 30 suffers from periodontal, or gum, disease. It is caused by a build-up of plaque and over time wears away at the bones that hold the teeth in the mouth. What most people do not realize, however, is that gum disease may be a warning sign for even more severe diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Good oral care starts even before a patient’s first tooth pops out. Parents should make sure that their children learn healthy habits early. Infants’ gums should be brushed every day and toddlers should be instructed in how to care for their teeth.

Brushing twice a day and flossing can be a hassle, but it will bring great results. Children will have to spend less time in the dentist’s chair, and will learn habits that will stick with them for life.

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.

Studies have shown that most parents do not take their children to the dentist until they reach the age of three or four.  Dentists recommend that they see children before their first birthdays.  There are many problems, such as tooth and gum decay, that can occur years before the child ever sees a dentist.

With the costs of medical procedures rising, many Americans are heading north and south of the border for alternatives. Breast augmentation procedures abroad have long been popular, but the most recent trend has been dental work in Mexico.

With morning sickness, bizarre cravings, back pain and the general nervousness associated with pregnancy, many women are unconcerned with the health of their teeth and gums. The upcoming birth of a child can overshadow any other concerns. However, recent studies have shown that increased hormone levels can cause damage to teeth and gums.

A recent trend has been the adoption of “green” practices in the home, at work and at school. Americans have been striving to become much more eco-friendly and do less damage to the environment. However, it may surprise you to find that the latest group to undertake the green revolution is dentists!

Dentures and false teeth replacements have always been associated with older people who have experienced the tooth and gum decay that accompanies the aging process. Full or partial dentures can allow people to chew their food comfortably and smile with confidence. However, long-term wear can affect the jawbones and cause the wearer to lose their sense of taste. Therefore, extended use of these replacements is not recommended by dentists.

The latest craze in cosmetic care in the past few years has been teeth whitening. This can be seen in the popularity of toothpastes and rinses containing whitening ingredients. Also, the numerous types of whitening strips and special bleaches that are out on the market. No one wants to be embarrassed about their smile. It is often their first thing that someone notices when they see you.

Millions of Americans do not even know that they have periodontal, better known as gum, disease. It can cause devastating effects to your mouth and to your overall health. So, there are several things that you need to know to determine if you have gum disease, how you can prevent it and how to precede if you have it.