Taking care of your mouth includes brushing and flossing your teeth, eating healthy foods and getting regular professional dental care. When you take care of your mouth, you reduce the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease, and you are less likely to have halitosis (bad breath). After all, who wants to kiss someone who has decayed teeth and bad breath?

• Basic dental care
• Mouth problems
• Braces and Cosmetic Dentistry
• Oral piercing and health

Basic dental care

• Why and how

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Mouth problems

Mouth problems include pain or irritation of the teeth, gums, tongue, lips and even the neck. Common mouth problems include sores, tongue problems, bad breath, bad taste in the mouth and dry mouth.

• Canker sores
  
• Cold sores
  
• Gum disease
  
• Tooth decay
  
• Wisdom teeth

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Braces and Cosmetic Dentistry

In addition to basic mouth care, there are other procedures that some people choose to have done on their mouths. These include braces (orthodontics) and various other cosmetic procedures such as bleaching, veneers, caps, etc.

Braces are a common treatment for malocclusion (misalignment of teeth or jaw). Braces are a familiar sight on most high school and junior high campuses, but it's never too late to correct an uneven bite, and many adults have braces if they did not have them when they were teens.

• More information on malocclusion and orthodontics

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Oral piercing and health

No matter where on the body you put pierced jewelry, you could have an infection or sensitivity. Piercings in the mouth have some specific additional risks, according to the American Dental Association.

Metal jewelry in the mouth can cause irritation to the soft tissue in the mouth, and it can cause the gums to recede due to constant irritation. Constant contact of the jewelry against the teeth can cause chipping and cracking of the teeth, and jewelry that comes unfastened can be a choking hazard.

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