Problems with teeth
Most of us experience problems with our teeth at some point in our lives. These guides will help you know which symptoms to look out for and what to do about them.
Tooth Decay Tooth decay and cavities affect the majority of people at some point in their lives. More than four in five adults in…
Tooth Pain Toothache is something that most of us will experience at some point in our lives, for one reason or another. There are…
Sensitive Teeth The first sign that you have sensitive teeth is usually a short, sharp pain through your teeth when drinking a cold or…
Pulpitis Having inflamed dental pulp tissue, a condition known as pulpitis, can make your teeth very painful. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to…
Tooth Abscess Are you worried you might have a tooth abscess? Perhaps someone you know has an abscess in their mouth and you want…
Loose Teeth Are you worried because you have a loose tooth? There are a few causes of loose teeth in adults which we will…
Tooth Resorption What is tooth resorption? In short, it occurs when some of the body's cells start eating away at part of the tooth…
Sensitive teeth
All kinds of things can trigger tooth sensitivity. Some are more concerning than others. Find out how to relieve sensivity with short-term remedies and long-term treatments.
Sensitive Teeth The first sign that you have sensitive teeth is usually a short, sharp pain through your teeth when…
Sensitive Teeth After Whitening If you are experiencing sensitive teeth after whitening them, it can be pretty uncomfortable. In fact, any type…
Teeth Sensitive to Heat If you have teeth sensitive to heat and feel you can't enjoy your favourite hot food or drinks…
Teeth Sensitive to Sugar Are your teeth sensitive to sugar? If you experience sharp pain or discomfort in your teeth when you…
Sensitive Teeth During Pregnancy Having sensitive teeth during pregnancy is not usually the first symptom that comes to mind with pregnancy discomforts….
Sensitive Teeth The first sign that you have sensitive teeth is usually a short, sharp pain through your teeth when…
Sensitive Teeth After Whitening If you are experiencing sensitive teeth after whitening them, it can be pretty uncomfortable. In fact, any type…
Teeth Sensitive to Heat If you have teeth sensitive to heat and feel you can't enjoy your favourite hot food or drinks…
Teeth Sensitive to Sugar Are your teeth sensitive to sugar? If you experience sharp pain or discomfort in your teeth when you…
Sensitive Teeth During Pregnancy Having sensitive teeth during pregnancy is not usually the first symptom that comes to mind with pregnancy discomforts….
Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can cause serious damage to teeth if not addressed. One of the most effective treatments is a night guard, but you may want to consider other options too.
Mouth Guard for Teeth Bruxism is a common condition in the UK that can often be treated with a mouth guard for…
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) Are you looking for ways to stop grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw? Teeth grinding, or bruxism,…
Night Guard Cost The average night guard cost depends on the type of guard, where you buy your guard, and what…
Night Guard Side Effects Night guards are a great way to help you sleep better and alleviate some of the symptoms that…
Custom Night Guard If you suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding, you might need a custom night guard for your teeth….
Hard Night Guard Looking for a hard night guard to stop teeth grinding? You may need a personalised night guard for…
Mouth Guard for Teeth Bruxism is a common condition in the UK that can often be treated with a mouth guard for…
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) Are you looking for ways to stop grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw? Teeth grinding, or bruxism,…
Night Guard Cost The average night guard cost depends on the type of guard, where you buy your guard, and what…
Night Guard Side Effects Night guards are a great way to help you sleep better and alleviate some of the symptoms that…
Custom Night Guard If you suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding, you might need a custom night guard for your teeth….
Hard Night Guard Looking for a hard night guard to stop teeth grinding? You may need a personalised night guard for…
Oral health treatments & remedies
Need information about treatments for a specific oral health concern? See if one of these articles has the answer.
Oral Probiotics Oral probiotics are strains of bacteria that are good for your oral health. These bacteria already exist in your mouth and help…
Antibiotics for Tooth Infection Are antibiotics for tooth infection always needed? Not necessarily. There are multiple ways to treat oral health problems without antibiotics, including root…
Home Remedies for Toothache Are you looking for home remedies for toothache? Dental pain is never fun to deal with, so it's understandable you want to…
Enamel Repair and Remineralisation If you've experienced enamel loss, cavities and decay, you may be wondering how to remineralise teeth and repair enamel to avoid further…
Mouth Taping Sleep disorders cause many Brits to lose out on the shut-eye that they need. Breathing with your mouth open can cause a…
Wisdom teeth
If you're experiencing wisdom tooth pain or want more information about extractions and recovery, take a look at these helpful guides.
Wisdom Teeth Do you suffer from wisdom teeth problems? Despite being a common issue, they often remain a mystery to…
Wisdom Tooth Pain Are you looking for wisdom tooth pain relief solutions or wondering how long the pain will last? Wisdom teeth…
Wisdom Teeth Recovery Have you heard horror stories about wisdom teeth removal recovery? Or are you currently recovering from wisdom tooth…
Dry Socket When you have a tooth extracted, your dentist may warn you about dry socket and tell you how…
Wisdom Teeth Do you suffer from wisdom teeth problems? Despite being a common issue, they often remain a mystery to…
Wisdom Tooth Pain Are you looking for wisdom tooth pain relief solutions or wondering how long the pain will last? Wisdom teeth…
Wisdom Teeth Recovery Have you heard horror stories about wisdom teeth removal recovery? Or are you currently recovering from wisdom tooth…
Dry Socket When you have a tooth extracted, your dentist may warn you about dry socket and tell you how…
Problems with gums
Oral health is not only about your teeth. Gums are just as important, since a problem with the gums can end up affecting the teeth.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease Gingivitis is a common but mild form of gum disease, the first sign of which is often bleeding gums. Left untreated, it…
Receding Gums Are you wondering how to stop receding gums? If you have noticed that your gums aren't in the best condition, it's great…
Bleeding Gums Have you noticed that you or your child have bleeding gums, perhaps while brushing your teeth or flossing? If so, it's great…
Mouth & tongue conditions
You should also keep an eye on your overall mouth and tongue health. Here are some of the conditions to look out for.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) When your mouth doesn't produce enough saliva, this is called dry mouth, or xerostomia. It can range from being a mild inconvenience…
Mouth Breathing Are you wondering how to stop mouth breathing? If you are, you certainly aren't alone. Many people around the world struggle with…
Oral Thrush If you're wondering about oral thrush treatment options, you're in the right place. There are various possible ways to get rid of…
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) Are you looking for ways to stop grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw? Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a condition which…
Mouth Ulcer A mouth ulcer, or canker sore, is usually nothing to worry about. They are often benign and disappear as easily as they…
Herpes on Tongue What is herpes on the tongue? What causes it? And how do you treat it? Many people are familiar with cold sores…
Smoking & vaping
Smoking and vaping can negatively impact the teeth, mouth and gums in several ways. Find out what the risks are and how to treat any problems.
Smokers' Teeth If you're a regular smoker, you may be wondering what to do about your smokers' teeth. When you…
Vaping and Teeth Is vaping bad for your teeth? Most cigarette smokers are aware of the negative effects on their general…
Does Vaping Stain Teeth? Does vaping stain your teeth? Most people are aware of the harmful consequences of smoking on their teeth…
Smoking After Tooth Extraction Smoking after a tooth extraction isn't recommended! Smoking after tooth extraction is not a good idea. If you're…
Brown Stains On Teeth Do you have brown stains on your teeth? Are you concerned about what causes brown teeth, despite your…
Smokers' Teeth If you're a regular smoker, you may be wondering what to do about your smokers' teeth. When you…
Vaping and Teeth Is vaping bad for your teeth? Most cigarette smokers are aware of the negative effects on their general…
Does Vaping Stain Teeth? Does vaping stain your teeth? Most people are aware of the harmful consequences of smoking on their teeth…
Smoking After Tooth Extraction Smoking after a tooth extraction isn't recommended! Smoking after tooth extraction is not a good idea. If you're…
Brown Stains On Teeth Do you have brown stains on your teeth? Are you concerned about what causes brown teeth, despite your…
Congenital conditions
Some oral health problems are not to do with how well we look after our teeth, but are with us from birth. Read about these congenital conditions and how they can be treated.
Hyperdontia (Extra Teeth) Having more teeth than normal is a condition known as hyperdontia, or supernumerary teeth. Children usually have 20 teeth and by adulthood the…
Tongue Tie Have you just been told your baby has tongue tie, or are you worried they might have it? This medical condition affects…
Babies & kids
Baby teeth require just as much care as adult teeth. As your child grows up, it's important to teach them good oral care habits to help prevent problems later in life.
Children's Oral Health As a parent, it's natural to want your children to be healthy – and that includes their teeth….
Baby Teeth It's exciting when your child gets their first baby teeth, but at the same time you might have…
Teething When your baby starts teething, chances are you'll know about it. A teething rash, red cheeks, excess dribbling,…
Dummy Teeth Dummies are great for calming children, but prolonged or excessive use may result in the development of a…
Dental Fluorosis Fluoride is an essential element for healthy teeth; it increases the mineralisation of enamel and protects against decay….
Children's Oral Health As a parent, it's natural to want your children to be healthy – and that includes their teeth….
Baby Teeth It's exciting when your child gets their first baby teeth, but at the same time you might have…
Teething When your baby starts teething, chances are you'll know about it. A teething rash, red cheeks, excess dribbling,…
Dummy Teeth Dummies are great for calming children, but prolonged or excessive use may result in the development of a…
Dental Fluorosis Fluoride is an essential element for healthy teeth; it increases the mineralisation of enamel and protects against decay….
What do we mean by oral health?
When we talk about oral health, we mean the general health of your teeth, gums, tongue and oral cavity (mouth). Some people are very concerned about caring for their teeth, but they don't pay so much attention to the other parts of their mouth.
Some oral health problems are easy to know about. Imagine a painful toothache, or an uncomfortable ulcer on your tongue. But other conditions are less noticeable or may seem less serious at first.
Take teeth grinding as an example. Many people who grind their teeth do so at night, and don't even realize they are doing it. They may experience frequent headaches or jaw pain, but might not have the condition diagnosed until one of their teeth fractures from the pressure and they have to visit a dentist.
Sensitive teeth can be another creeping oral health issue. A little sensitivity when you consume a cold drink may be more of an inconvenience than anything else, but it can be a sign of a damaged tooth or thinning enamel. If you regularly experience sensitive teeth then it's best to mention it at your next dental visit. In the meantime, there are special toothpastes and gels you can use to remineralize your enamel and reduce the discomfort.
Dental problems
The most common problem people experience with their teeth is dental caries, or cavities. Very few of us will get through life without having to have a filling or two. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria penetrate the protective outer enamel and reach the inner layer of dentin, or even the pulp cavity in the tooth. This can happen over time because of lack of care, but it may also be triggered by an injury or tooth fracture which exposes the dentin.
By the time a cavity starts to cause a toothache, the bacteria has reached the pulp cavity and you may need to have root canal treatment to save the tooth. In serious cases, the tooth may have to be extracted. Because of this, it's best to visit a dentist regularly even if you don't have any dental complaints. They can spot a cavity in the early stages when it is much easier to treat.
You may also experience problems with wisdom teeth at some point in your life. Sometimes our mouths are just not big enough to accommodate these third molars, and they end up impacted or infected. Although not everybody has to have their wisdom teeth removed (and in fact some people naturally have no wisdom teeth at all), if they do start to cause issues with other teeth, it's best to extract them.
Children's oral health
If you have kids, it's great to teach them good dental care habits early in life so that it becomes a natural part of their routine as they grow older. Younger children need help brushing their teeth until around seven years of age, and should still be supervised for a while longer. Older kids and teens might still need a reminder to brush every morning and evening!
But taking care of your child's teeth extends beyond just brushing them. You should also be aware of what your child is eating and drinking, since high-sugar foods and drinks can be particularly damaging to tooth enamel.
Other oral health problems
Oral health is not all about teeth – it's important to keep an eye on your gums and tongue as well. Many people experience bleeding gums at some point in their lives, and assume they must have just brushed their teeth too hard. However, this can be an early sign of gum disease and shouldn't be ignored. A specialist toothpaste might help, but you should visit your dentist if the problem persists.
Conditions like oral thrush, herpes, canker sores and cold sores are all included in the topic of oral health, too. Some are just annoying and others can become more serious, so check out our guides to each of these if you have any concerns.
Whatever the condition of your teeth and mouth, we recommend you see a dentist regularly for cleaning and preventive care. Nobody loves going to the dentist, but it's always best to catch these things earlier rather than later.
