Oral Health Center

News and Features Related to Oral Health

Brushing Too Hard Causes Sensitive Teeth

Nov. 10, 2009 -- Brushing your teeth too hard and consumption of acidic food and beverages are the leading contributors of sensitive teeth, according to a nationwide survey of dentists. One-third of 700 dentists surveyed by the Academy of General Dentistry say acidic foods and beverages are the most
Read Full Article
Gum Disease Raises Arthritis Risk

Oct. 20, 2009 (Philadelphia) -- Brush and floss! Gum disease may raise your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study shows. “We’ve known for a while that there is an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. But our new work suggests periodontal disease is causal,” says s
Read Full Article
Healthy Teeth, Healthy Heart?

Paying attention to your dental hygiene and health -- especially your gums -- may pay you back with more than a gleaming, healthy smile and manageable dental bills. It may keep your heart healthy too. However, experts emphasize that the keyword is may. Cardiologists and periodontists, the dentists w
Read Full Article
Electric Toothbrushes: Are They for You?

Elizabeth Turkenkopf has been using an electric toothbrush for more than seven years, and has been impressed with the results -- cleaner teeth and minimal plaque build-up, which translates into less scraping at her regular dental check-ups. She hasn’t had a cavity since she made the switch from a ha
Read Full Article
Advanced Gum Disease May Raise Cancer Risk

Sept. 8, 2009 -- Taking care of your teeth and gums may not only save your smile, it could save your life. A new study suggests a common form of gum disease may significantly raise the risk of head and neck cancer. Researchers found that people diagnosed with head and neck cancers were much more lik
Read Full Article
FDA: Mercury Fillings Not Harmful

July 28, 2009 -- The mercury used in dental amalgam fillings is not at a level high enough to cause harm in patients, according to the FDA, which today issued its final regulation on the controversial tooth filling material. However, the agency tightened its controls on mercury fillings, classifying
Read Full Article
5 Habits That Lead to Plaque on Your Teeth

Plaque. Since childhood, we’ve been trained to resist that dreaded enemy of teeth. Regular brushing and flossing are sure bets for dental health. What else could you be doing -- or avoiding -- to keep plaque off your knockout smile? “Keeping plaque off your teeth isn’t complicated, but consistency i
Read Full Article
10 Toothbrushing Mistakes

Toothbrushing is such an ingrained habit, few people think twice about it. But as with any habit, you can get sloppy, and that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Here, dentists and oral health experts point out 10 common toothbrushing mistakes and how to fix them. Consider the size of your mouth
Read Full Article
15 Myths and Facts About Cavities

Only one of the following is true. Do you know which? Eating acidic things like lemons causes cavities. If you have a cavity, you’ll definitely know it. Once you treat a cavity, the tooth decay stops. To separate dental health myth from fact, WebMD talked with Kimberly A. Harms, DDS, an American Den
Read Full Article
Tonsillectomy Helps Children Breathe, Sleep

July 20, 2009 - A simple surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoid glands may help children with sleep-disordered breathing sleep and even behave better. A new study shows that children with sleep-disordered breathing who received an adenotonsillectomy slept and behaved better than before they had t
Read Full Article