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Oral Care

Medical Reference Related to Oral Health

  1. Dental Health: Sealants

    Sealants are a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth. Is this something you need? Learn more.

  2. Sedation Dentistry: Can You Really Relax in the Dentist's Chair?

    WebMD explains how sedation dentistry works, what it involves, and how you can sleep through your next dentist appointment.

  3. An Overview of Dry Socket

    Dry socket is a painful complication that can happen after having a tooth pulled. Find out more.

  4. Peritonsillar Abscess

    A peritonsillar abscess forms in the tissues of the throat next to one of the tonsils. Find out more.

  5. Black Hairy Tongue

    WebMD explains what black hairy tongue is, its characteristics, causes, and treatments.

  6. Oral Health Problems in Children

    Children's dental problems may arise from bottle feeding, thumb sucking, lip sucking, and tongue thrusting.

  7. Understanding Tonsillitis -- Symptoms

    Get the basics on tonsillitis symptoms from the experts at WebMD.

  8. Understanding Strep Throat -- Treatment

    Facts on strep throat treatment.

  9. Understanding Strep Throat -- The Basics

    Read basic information on strep throat.

  10. Understanding Strep Throat -- Prevention

    Read about strep throat prevention.

Displaying 11 - 20 of 374 Articles << Prev Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>

How Do I Measure Up? Get the Facts Fast!

Number of Days Per Week I Floss

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or
Answer:
Never
(0)
Good
(1-3)
Better
(4-6)
Best
(7)

You are currently

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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