Living & Managing
Eating smart, caring for baby teeth, dental insurance, senior dental health, cosmetic dentistry: Learn what you need to know about caring for your dental health.
Living and Coping
Does dental insurance cover the cost of whitening teeth? Can you damage a tooth’s nerve with tooth whitening? Learn the answers to these and other questions about whitening your teeth.
Discover which foods and drinks are ‘mouth healthy,’ whether gum is good for your teeth, facts about sugar substitutes and more.
From predicting heart disease, diabetes, and premature birth to revealing leukemia, eating disorders, and vitamin deficiencies, your teeth and gums say a mouthful about your health.
Get tips from the American Dental Association on how to find a dentist, how to locate charitable or low-cost dental care, and what you should look for in a dental professional.
Do you know how your dental plan works? Get a brief overview of the four most common types of dental plans, their limits, and learn which key features to look for in a plan.
Is arthritis preventing you from cleaning your teeth? Can medication affect your dental treatment? These questions and others are covered in this FAQ about senior dental care.
Pam Dahlmeier needed gum surgery, but instead of conventional surgery involving scalpels and sutures, her dentist used digital laser to improve her gums. Could this treatment work for you?
If you wear dentures, it is very important you keep your mouth clean and healthy. You should also only wear dentures that fit properly.
How Do I Measure Up? Get the Facts Fast!
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Only 18.5% of Americans never floss. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Floss removes food trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria that forms there before it turns to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Try flossing just one tooth to get started.
You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for 3 more days!
You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily, but you're well on your way to making a positive impact on your teeth and gums. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for all 7 days!
Only 50.5% of Americans floss daily, and good for you that you are one of them! Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Congratulations on your good oral health habit!
SOURCES:
American Dental Association, Healthy People 2010
This tool is intended only for adults 18 and older.
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