Oral Health offers guidance on brushing, flossing, and preventing dental issues to help maintain healthy teeth and gums for a brighter smile.

(Getty Images/RuslanDashinsky) Each year, Americans spend more than $120 billion on dental care nationwide. A significant share of that money goes toward repairing or replacing damaged teeth. Procedures such as fillings for cavities, dental crowns, and tooth-replacement options like dentures or bridges can be expensive. The good news: those interventions might not always be necessary going forward. Emerging research indicates that regenerating teeth could be feasible. While additional studies and…

Enameloplasty is a cosmetic dental technique that involves removing a small portion of tooth enamel to alter a tooth’s size, shape, length, or surface texture. Enameloplasty is frequently referred to by other names, including: odontoplasty tooth recontouring tooth reshaping tooth stripping tooth shaving The treatment is most commonly carried out on the front teeth for aesthetic reasons, such as repairing a chipped tooth or creating a more consistent tooth length.…

Overview Your tongue is a strong muscle covered by pink tissue known as mucosa and tiny projections called papillae, which contain thousands of taste buds. Although many people rarely examine it closely, the color and texture of your tongue can offer meaningful clues about your overall health. If you’ve ever wondered, Are dark veins under tongue normal, you’re not alone. In many cases, visible veins beneath the tongue are harmless…

Braces are dental devices that apply controlled pressure to shift the position of your teeth and jaw. They help reduce risks such as gum inflammation, cavities, and jaw-related issues. When braces are placed, small brackets are bonded to the teeth. An archwire is threaded through those brackets and anchored to the molars. That wire is periodically tightened to gradually guide teeth and the jaw into improved alignment. If you’re thinking…

(IBEX.MEDIA/Stocksy) Feeling anxious about getting a cavity filled is very common. One of the most frequent concerns patients share is not just the procedure itself, but How long does dental injection site pain last afterward. While dental fillings can occasionally cause discomfort, most are completed with minimal to no pain thanks to modern anesthetics and techniques. If you’ve been postponing a dental visit because you’re worried about injection soreness or…

Trigger point injections are commonly used to manage certain types of chronic muscle pain. Following your injection, you might notice mild soreness or tenderness at the treatment area, but most people are able to resume normal activities right away. A trigger point injection is a straightforward procedure designed to release tight bands of muscle located beneath the skin, referred to as trigger points. This brief treatment is usually carried out…

Experiencing an allergic response while anesthesia is being administered is possible, although it is relatively uncommon. Research estimates that approximately 1 out of every 10,000 individuals who receive anesthesia develop an allergic reaction during the perioperative period. This reaction may be triggered by a variety of medications used around the time of surgery, not solely the anesthetic drugs themselves. Alongside true allergic reactions, nonallergic responses and medication-related side effects can…

In many cases, a Painful lump after dental injection or following another dental procedure may actually be related to a small bone fragment known as a bone spicule. Generally speaking, bone spicules are bony projections or ridges that develop along the edges or surface of bones. (img by Pocket Dentistry) Bone spurs can form after bone injury or as a result of bone deterioration such as that seen in osteoarthritis.…

Managing a cut in your mouth involves stopping the bleeding, preventing infection, and easing pain and swelling. Some injuries may require professional medical attention. It’s simple to sustain a cut in the mouth. Oral injuries often occur during everyday activities. Sports, gardening, accidentally biting your cheek while chewing, falling, or even gnawing on a pencil can all cause a cut inside the mouth. Although the mouth is a relatively small…

Best anti-cavity remineralizing toothpaste: 3M Clinpro 5000 Best remineralizing toothpaste for sensitive teeth: Sensodyne Pronamel Best overall remineralizing toothpaste: Crest Pro-Health Advanced You may already be aware that once enamel is lost it cannot be regrown. What you might not realize is that using a remineralizing toothpaste can boost the mineral levels in existing enamel. Remineralization aims to fortify the whole tooth. It helps mend fragile areas and reduces tooth…