Dental Care

> ⚠️ Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.

Good oral health involves preventing and managing tooth decay, gum disease, and other conditions affecting the teeth, gums, and mouth.

Common issues

Tooth decay (cavities), gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), tooth sensitivity, bad breath, and tooth pain.

General self-care measures

• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily (floss or interdental brushes).
• Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
• Attend regular dental checkups, even without symptoms — many dental problems progress silently.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol, both of which increase oral health risks.

When to seek dental attention

• Persistent tooth pain, especially if severe or worsening.
• Swelling of the face, gums, or jaw — can indicate a spreading infection.
• Bleeding gums that don't improve with better oral hygiene.
• A knocked-out or broken tooth — timing matters for a knocked-out tooth; seek dental care immediately.
• See Urgent Emergency Care for facial swelling with fever or difficulty breathing/swallowing.

Common pitfalls

• Only seeing a dentist when something hurts — many dental conditions (early decay, gum disease) are painless until advanced; regular checkups catch problems earlier and more cheaply.
• Brushing harder rather than more consistently to improve oral health — excessive brushing force can damage enamel and gums; gentle, consistent, thorough brushing matters more than pressure.
• Ignoring a knocked-out tooth's time-sensitivity — re-implantation chances drop quickly; treat it as a dental emergency requiring immediate attention.

Learn more

• Dental Assessment for how oral health is clinically assessed.
• Toothache Care for a related, symptom-specific skill.
• Health Care for general navigation of health systems.