Bottled water has become a major part of many people's lives. If you love drinking bottled or even boxed water, you may be doing a grave disservice to your oral health. Understanding this situation can ensure you make the right dental health choices in the future. Bottled Water May Contribute To Dental Problems Recently, dentists have noticed an increase in cavities and overall dental decay that reversed decades-long trends of reduced decay.

Although you may have started out your adult years with straight, white teeth, your current situation could be much different. Things like drinking coffee, tooth grinding and the harsh chemicals contained in some foods can eventually cause your teeth to become discolored, chipped and even lessen the amount of enamel on each tooth. Because your smile is such an integral part of who you are, it's vital for you to take the steps necessary to fix the situation.

If you have a young child, you might be considering the pros and cons of dental x-rays. Dental x-rays are powerful tools that can help to visualize what's going on in your child's teeth and under the surface of their gums. However, some parents hesitate to have their children x-rayed under the belief that x-rays are not needed. If you're undecided, here are three things that dental x-rays can help to catch that might help you to decide.

You may brush, floss, and visit your dentist as recommended to protect your oral health. While these are necessary tasks, they may not be enough. Most people are surprised by what their dentists tell them regarding their oral health. However, if you do not visit your dentist regularly, you are not receiving this helpful advice. Here are a few things your dentist wants you to know about your mouth, teeth, and gums.

When you visit a dentist and learn that you have a cavity, the dentist will most likely recommend fixing the problem with a tooth filling. A tooth filling is typically completed in one visit, and it involves the dentist removing the decay and then filling the hole with a composite resin material. If your cavity is somewhat large, the dentist might recommend using an indirect filling, and there are several things to know about indirect fillings:

If you have a baby at home, you might wonder when you should bring him or her to the dentist for the first time. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends taking a child to the dentist by the age of one. While this might seem early to you, there are good reasons you should do this, and here are some of the reasons you should know about. Visiting the Dentist Helps Children Become Acquainted with the Dentist's Office

When your gum disease advances to the point where you need surgery to treat it, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist. A periodontist specializes in the treatment of the structures that support your teeth such as the gums and bones. One treatment the periodontist may recommend is flap surgery. Here's how this type of surgery helps gum disease and what you can expect when you have it done.

After a couple of years of dealing with braces or trays from an orthodontist, you're now in the clear. Your teeth have finally moved into place, and you can go back to seeing just your regular dentist. Congratulations! But that's not the end of your dental journey at all, and you and your dentist now need to work together to keep your newly straightened teeth from moving around again. Here are some strategies you can use to keep that smile shining.

Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots that enable your jaw to support a replacement tooth. Also, sometimes referred to as fixtures or endosseous implants, dental implants can empower you to reap the benefits of having permanent or temporary replacement teeth fit in seamlessly in your mouth, giving you back a smile you may have hidden before. Here are simple ways that dental implants can make your life better. Reason #1: Dental Implants Can Improve Your Overall Oral Health

Your children are watching and paying attention to what you do even when you may not necessarily feel like you are in "role model" mode. If dental emergencies arise, it may be tempting to freak out and say a lot of negative things about going to the dentist or even express your anger for having to do so. However, it is important to be careful with your choice of words about both dental care and the experience of seeing the dentist.