You consider yourself to be a “flosser.” You’ve heard that it not only improves the health of your teeth and gums, but it can improve your heart health as well. You floss in the morning, after meals, and before you go to bed. When someone tells you that they haven’t flossed in weeks, you control the urge to lecture them. In fact, you have an array of floss flavors and types; waxed and un-waxed, thin floss and thick tape, mint and cinnamon; even the floss sticks for the times when you’re on the go. Read more

Some people are afraid to go to the dentist. They avoid going until they have a dental emergency; a cracked tooth or an intense amount of pain is often what leads people into the dentist’s chair. What most people don’t understand is: if they just got regular cleanings, they wouldn’t end up in so much pain to begin with. Read more

Ever had an elderly neighbor or grandparent tell you how much they had wished they could go back and take better care of their teeth? Sadly, even in this modern age it can be all too easy to neglect our oral care between working long days and making sure others are taken care of. Sometimes you may even feel lucky if you are able to get a little brushing in at all. Read more

Sometimes, mouth pain goes beyond a toothache. One day you’re feeling fine, watching TV or driving in your car, when you suddenly notice a sore spot on your tongue or cheek. You try to ignore it, but once you notice it, you can’t forget about it. If it’s on your tongue, you touch it to your tooth; if it’s in your cheek, you touch it with your tongue. You can’t stop trying to figure out what’s going on and the more you touch it, the more sensitive it gets. Finally it’s in full-blown irritation mode and the sensitivity can be enough to drive you mad! Welcome to the world of the canker sore. Read more

When it comes to dental hygiene at home, the most comprehensive protection you can give your teeth, as any good dentist will tell you, is a combination of brushing and flossing. You need to brush your teeth in order to remove the layer of plaque that builds up on the surface of your enamel, and you need to use dental floss to achieve the same thing in the hard to reach spaces between your teeth and gums and a toothbrush can’t reach.

But in recent years, the water floss—which has actually been around for decades—has become more and more popular. But does it actually work? Read more