Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of having a crown come loose or a filling fall out. Needless to say there would never be a convenient time for this to happen. What do you do when you aren’t where you can get to the dentist right away? Read on to find ways to preserve your tooth and your dignity until you can make an appointment with us.

Babies can’t verbally tell you that their budding teeth and gums hurt, but they can surely let you know in other ways that they are uncomfortable. If you’ve ever had a toothache, you can understand why your sweet baby has turned into a tearful, whining, drooling mess. How can you comfort him or her to get through this difficult phase?

In the recent past, dentures for aging adults were a foregone conclusion. Today, three-quarters of geriatrics over 65 retain at least some of their natural teeth. Older people, however, still suffer higher rates of gum disease, dental decay, oral cancer, mouth infections, and tooth loss. How can you counteract these problems that come with aging as you get older?

Do you have a headache from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed?

Your headache may be the result of grinding your teeth while you sleep. Teeth grinding is sometimes associated with stress, but it can also be from an abnormal bite or crooked and missing teeth.

There are bacteria and disease-causing germs feeding on the sugar we consume. The acid released in this process can cause damage to the tooth enamel, a hard protective coating on the tooth. This exposes underlying dentin and causes cavities. The back teeth (molars) in our mouth have fissures on their surfaces. This is where tooth decay starts and grows. Food stuck in these tiny grooves is not easy to remove. Tooth decay is the most common dental problem among American children. In the state of Washington, 40% of kindergarteners and 58% of third graders are suffering from cavities.

A sealant is a thin coat that a dentist paints over the chewing surface of our back teeth. These teeth are responsible for most of the chewing. Thus, whenever we eat sugar, the acids can hurt our natural teeth enamel causing tooth decay and cavities. As long as you don’t have any dental fillings, sealants get into the valleys and peaks of these back teeth and help protect them for longer.

Because a toothache is already too late to visit your dentist, here are some bad habits you can fix from a young age. Good dental health is not about fixing what’s wrong, but preventing it from happening with a series of lifelong good habits.