When the inside of the mouth gets hurt or irritated, bacteria may enter and cause an infection.. Sometimes you will see a painful swelling filled with pus (a thick, yellowish fluid). If the pus can� [..]

Is also referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), a chronic digestive disease that can erode the teeth and irritate the lining of the esophagus. GERD occurs when stomach acid flows into t [..]

A hard, glassy form of plastic often used with other materials to create custom orthodontics, fillings and dentures.

An inexpensive filling material made from silver, tin, zinc, copper and mercury. Mercury is nearly 50 percent of the mixture. This material is strong, but can tarnish or corrode over time.

A numbing agent that dulls pain in all or part of the mouth during dental work. This drug is injected in the cheek or gums and can last for hours.

A form of tooth decay caused by constant sucking on a baby bottle. When a child is allowed to sip a baby bottle throughout the day without interruption, the sugars and carbohydrates provide an unendin [..]

Baby teeth are referred to as primary teeth. These teeth begin to form between 6 months and 1 year of age. The American Dental Association recommends that children visit their dentist after the first [..]

Foul-smelling breath, usually caused by the breakdown of food. Other culprits include poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, disease, infection, tobacco use and severe dieting.

Also called premolars, these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.

The overall alignment of teeth. This includes how the upper and lower jaw fit together and spacing between teeth and lips. Most irregularities can be fixed through orthodontics for comfort or appearan [..]