Preventing Painful Cavities

Many parents think gum disease is something their kids don't have to worry about until they are adults. However, children and teens are as equally prone to getting gingivitis and periodontal disease as people in other age groups. According to a study conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, about 42 percent of children examined had gingivitis. Here are the different types of gum disease that can affect kids and some of the treatment options available.

If you suffer from swollen gums or notice blood when you brush your teeth or floss, then you may have gum disease. If left untreated, the consequences of gum disease can be severe. Fortunately, most cases of early gum disease can be treated at home and the full progression of disease stopped in its tracks. Below is more information on the seriousness of gum disease and how you can treat it using some strategies you may not have considered:

Everybody wants a beautiful smile and for good reason. A great smile can have an amazing effect on your social life. According to a survey conducted by a popular dating site, both men and women rank teeth at the top of the list of things that make an impression when considering a potential date. For both sexes, teeth rank well above things like what type of car you drive or what kind of clothes you wear.

One of the most fulfilling parts of being the parent of a baby is watching them explore the world around them. Unfortunately, this natural curiosity is what usually leads to any number of scrapes and bruises. If your inquisitive little baby suffers from a chipped tooth, you might not know what to do first. From making sure no further damage is caused to working with your dentist to find a solution that won't impact your little one's dental health, here are a few tips to help you survive your baby's first chipped tooth:

Diastemas are gaps between your teeth. The term is usually used to refer to a gap between the two front teeth. If your highly visible diastema makes you feel uncomfortable about your smile, you can get it fixed. Here are three treatments that dentists offer for diastemas. Dental Bonding If the gap between your front teeth is small, your dentist may be able to conceal it with dental bonding. Dental bonding is a type of tooth-colored resin.

Fixing an open bite is like taming a wild horse – you have to take time and multiple approaches before you notice any positive changes. And there is always an aspect of wildness left that you have to acknowledge and respect when you're through. An open bite doesn't have a miracle cure or even a single approach; and when you've gotten the bite to where you want it, you still have to anticipate a wild card popping up in the future to give you some trouble.

If you want white teeth, you have to take care of your tooth enamel. A hard, transparent covering that protects your teeth against stains and the environment, your tooth enamel is responsible for making your teeth look pearly white. Unfortunately, it isn't all that difficult to ruin your enamel or scratch it, and once it's gone, it's gone. In advanced stages of abrasion and erosion, more dentin - the porous inner layer that's responsible for giving teeth color - is exposed.

Even if you are vigilant about brushing and flossing after every meal, as you age your teeth will become discolored. The amount of discoloration will vary depending on the amount of heavily pigmented drinks and food you consume such as coffee, red wine and colas. Other factors such as tobacco use, genetics and certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy can also affect the color of your teeth. Luckily, you can obtain gleaming teeth with the help of dental treatments that are more effective than trendy over-the-counter products.