Dental Health Blog

Quick Summary This page is a light, trivia-style roundup of surprising stories where teeth and dentistry show up in history and pop culture, from politics and relics to inventions and celebrity tooth tales. It mixes fun facts (like a famous tooth selling for about...

Quick Summary Flossing should start as soon as your child has two teeth that touch, and you'll need to help them until around age 10 or 11 when they develop enough dexterity to floss independently. Without flossing, 35 percent of tooth surfaces remain uncleaned,...

Quick Summary Dental fillings do not last forever, and their lifespan depends on filling type, size, materials used, and your oral hygiene habits. Dentists check fillings at six-month appointments for wear and decay underneath, replacing them with tooth-colored...

Quick Summary Calcium strengthens teeth, repairs enamel, and makes them more resistant to decay by coating teeth in a protective film that wards off harmful acids and bacteria. Daily calcium needs range from 500-800 mg for young children to 1,300 mg for teens and...

Quick Summary Plaque is a soft, sticky film containing millions of bacteria that builds up on your teeth daily and can be removed with brushing and flossing, while tartar is hardened plaque that can only be removed by a dental professional. Even with excellent at-home...

Quick Summary Smoking is the biggest controllable risk factor for oral cancer, with approximately 8 out of 10 oral cancer patients being smokers. Smokers are two times more likely to develop gum disease than nonsmokers because tobacco weakens the body's ability to...

Quick Summary Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and acts as a protective outer layer, but it cannot regenerate once damaged. Sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and beverages erode enamel, while calcium-rich foods like dairy, kale, and soybeans...

Quick Summary Diabetes increases your risk of gum disease and tooth loss because it decreases your ability to fight harmful bacteria in your mouth, and infected gums can allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream and cause blood sugar spikes. The relationship is...

Quick Summary Thumb sucking is normal for infants and typically stops on its own between ages two and four, but past age four it should be discouraged because prolonged sucking can push teeth and jaws out of alignment, change the roof of the mouth, and affect speech...

Quick Summary Sugar feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth that produce acids, leading to tooth decay and cavities, and excess consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Added sugars in processed foods pose greater risks than naturally occurring...