•Wisdom teeth may be impacted, or unable to erupt, and can cause problems such as infection or cyst formation.

•Wisdom teeth may only partially erupt. When this happens, food gets caught in the gums and may cause an infection, swelling, growth of a tumor or cyst and pain.

•There is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth.

•A cyst (fluid-filled sac) may form near the wisdom teeth, destroying surrounding structures such as bone or tooth roots.

If wisdom teeth have erupted, the key to preserving them is maintaining good oral health by brushing twice a day and going to see a dentist regularly.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is caused by frequent and long exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. Milk, formula, fruit juices, and other sweetened liquids help to create this problem. The sugar in these liquids is used as an energy source by the bacteria in plaque.

Offering your child a bottle containing these liquids many times a day, as a pacifier, isn’t a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can cause serious harm and damage to your child’s teeth. During sleep, the flow of saliva decreases. This allows the liquids in the nursing bottle to pool around your child’s teeth for long periods of time.

There are visible signs of a cavity. Initially, it will appear as a small white spot, which in time will turn brown. As the decay continues, a hole in the tooth may become apparent. There are also warning symptoms such as sensitivity when brushing, to hot or cold foods or to breathing in air. Of course, a painful toothache is a definite sign.

The AGD strongly recommends that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. This professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives the dentist an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention.

People who regularly practice good oral hygiene at home with proper brushing and flossing techniques typically do not experience discomfort during a cleaning. However, those who have neglected their oral hygiene habits may experience some discomfort or sensitivity during a dental cleaning. The dentist can use a topical anesthetic before the cleaning to alleviate any discomfort.

During a dental cleaning, you’ll receive diagnostic and preventive services from your dentist as well as any needed educational information.

Besides helping children chew and pronounce words, the primary teeth hold a place in the jaws for the permanent teeth, which begin to push through the gums as the primary teeth are shed. The first permanent molars usually erupt between ages 6 and 7.2

Sometimes a loose baby tooth refuses to come out on its own. To help things along, try the following:

•Have your child wiggle the tooth.

•Encourage your child to eat something hard, such as an apple.

If neither of these approaches works, see your dentist.

Once the shell of the tooth is disconnected from the root, the pain in extracting a loose primary tooth is minimal.

•Tiny white or red spots

•Sores that bleed easily or do not heal

•A change in the color of tissues

•A lump

•A rough spot

•A crusted or small eroded area

•A change in how your teeth fit together

Other symptoms of oral cancer include pain, tenderness, or numbness. In addition, some people with the disease have trouble swallowing, chewing, or moving the tongue or jaw.

If you notice any of these problems, see your dental professional. Many of these symptoms can be caused by something other than oral cancer, often something less serious. If it does turn out to be oral cancer, the disease is easier to treat when it is caught in the early stages.