Oral Health Medical Reference
- Remedies for a Cold Sore
Learn home remedies and medical treatments to help ease your cold sore symptoms and speed up your recovery.
- Remedies for Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a white rash that appears in the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Learn more about oral thrush, remedies to manage this condition, and when to see a doctor.
- Remedies for Toothache
A toothache is a pain that occurs in or around your tooth. Learn more about tooth pain, remedies to manage this condition, and when to see a dentist.
- Remedies for Canker Sores
Learn home remedies and medical treatments to help ease your canker sore symptoms and speed up your recovery.
- Teeth and Gum Care When You Can’t Go to Your Dentist
Can’t get to the dentist because of health issues or other reasons? Here’s how to take care of your teeth and gums in the meantime.
- What Is a Waterpik?
Learn about the dental health role of a Waterpik, also called a water flosser or oral irrigator. Find out how it compares to traditional flossing.
- What Causes a Swollen Uvula?
Learn what happens when the uvula in your throat swells up, what might be causing it, and what you can do to ease symptoms.
- What to Know About Mouth Breathing
Many people sleep with their mouths open due to structural issues or conditions developed later in life. Find out why mouth breathing could be harmful, why it happens, and how to solve it.
- Metallic Taste in Your Mouth: Common Causes
There are lots of reasons you may have a lingering metallic taste in your mouth, from medication to poor toothbrushing habits. Once you figure out why it's happening, there are often easy steps you can take to get rid of the problem.
- What to Expect at the Dentist
A visit to the dentist doesn't have to be something to dread. Find out what usually happens, what you can expect at that first visit, what care you may need, and how to make it easier on yourself.
- Jaw Pain
Ouch! The most common reasons why your jaw might be in pain. Common causes of jaw pain include injuries to your jaw or mouth, dental problems like gum disease, infections like mumps and tetanus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Why Might My Sense of Taste Change?
Your sense of taste can be affected by your age, an infection, medicine you’re taking, or other things. Something that affects your sense of smell can also affect your taste.
- Can Probiotics Help With Gum Disease?
Good bacteria and bad bacteria live side by side in your mouth, just like in your gut. If they get out of balance, you can get gum disease.
- Waking Up With Dry Mouth: What to Know
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is the sticky sensation you may feel when you don’t have enough saliva or spit in your mouth. WebMD looks at what can cause it.
- What to Know About Effects of Thumb Sucking on Teeth
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for babies, but may lead to dental problems. Learn about how your teeth are affected by thumb sucking today.
- What is Malocclusion?
Malocclusion is when your teeth are crooked or misaligned. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this condition today.
- How To Clean Clear Retainers
Learn about cleaning, caring for, and tips on maintenance of your clear retainers today.
- Tooth Infection Treatment
When bacteria gets into the root of a tooth, it can cause an infection. Find out what to do if you have an abscessed tooth.
- What to Know About Eating With Braces
Find out what you need to know about eating with braces and discover the pros, cons, and potential health risks.
- What is a Temporary Partial Denture?
Find out more about how a temporary denture works, whether it might be a good dental option, and more.
- Adult Tonsillectomy
Adults have their tonsils taken out, too. Learn why you might need a tonsillectomy and how the recovery differs between kids and adults.
- Bleeding Gums and Your Health
Find out why your bleeding gums may be signs of conditions like gingivitis, diabetes, or leukemia.
- What Is Strawberry Tongue?
A swollen, bumpy tongue can be caused by many different conditions or disorders.
- What Is Laryngoscopy?
Sometimes, your doctor needs to use a special tool to look deep into your throat to diagnose a problem. That’s called a laryngoscopy.
- What Problems Can Strep Throat Cause?
Sometimes, strep throat can lead to other complications, including ear and skin infections. Very rarely, it can lead to life-threatening infections. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria that cause strep.
- Strep Throat Treatment
Strep throat is caused by bacteria, which means you or your child have antibiotics you can take to treat it. And there are things you can do at home to feel better, too.
- How Do You Know if You Have Strep Throat?
Strep throat is easily confused with other causes of sore throats. How can you tell if it's strep? You look at the symptoms.
- Strep Throat
Sore throat or strep throat? Find out how to tell the difference, and if you can give yourself strep throat (or get it from others).
- What Is a Throat Culture? When Do I Need One?
A throat culture helps your doctor find out why you have a sore throat. Learn when and how this test is used to identify germs.
- How to Treat Gum Pain
Many things can cause gum pain, and not all of them require a trip to the dentist. Find out why your gums may hurt and what you can do about it.
- Oral Thrush: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
You can get thrush if you have too much yeast in your body. You can also get it if you have poor oral hygiene.
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome refers to a burning pain in your mouth that seems to have no known cause.
- How Drug Abuse Affects Your Mouth
Learn how recreational drug use and abuse can harm your teeth and mouth.
- What to Know About Oral Piercing
Learn about mouth and tongue piercings and signs of problems.
- Angular Cheilitis
Learn more about these sores at the corners of your mouth called angular cheilitis.
- What to Know About Reversing Tooth Decay
Find out what you need to know about reversing tooth decay and how it may affect health.
- Are Sports Drinks Bad for Your Mouth?
Sports drinks can harm your teeth as much or more than drinking soda. WebMD explains the impact sports drinks can have on your mouth.
- Find the Right Oral Surgeon for You
Choosing an oral surgeon can be a daunting task. But there are steps you can take to find the right one for you.
- 6 Ways to Prepare for Oral Surgery
Learn what to do before you have oral surgery, including important tips to make yours go better.
- 9 Tips to Recover From Oral Surgery
Everyone wants a smooth recovery after oral surgery. Here’s how you can make sure you have one.
- Do You Need Oral Surgery?
Do you need an oral surgeon? How to figure out when it’s time to go to a specialist.
- Oral Lichen Planus
Oral lichen planus is a chronic disease that causes painful patches inside the mouth. WebMD explains other symptoms, causes, and treatment.
- How Teeth Change With Age
Everyday wear and tear, along with a poor bite and grinding, can take a toll on your teeth and gums. WebMD explains how to prevent oral problems as you age.
- Toothache Relief and Home Remedies
You’ve called your dentist, but now what? Here’s how you can relieve your toothache until your appointment.
- What to Know About Antistreptolysin O Titer
Antistreptolysin O Titer is a blood test used to determine if you have an infection caused by a group A streptococcus bacteria. Learn more about this test, when it's needed, and what the results mean.
- What Are Dentigerous Cysts?
Dentigerous cysts occur when a tooth that has not erupted is covered by a fluid-filled sac. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment.
- What Is Herpangina?
Herpangina is when you get mouth sores caused by a Coxsackie virus. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this condition today.
- What to Know About Lingual Braces
Find out what you need to know about lingual braces, and discover the pros and cons.
- What Is Actinic Cheilitis?
What is actinic cheilitis and will it lead to skin cancer?
- What to Know About Snap-in Dentures
Find out about snap-in dentures: what they do, what makes them different from other dentures, and if they’re right for you.