A diseased dental pulp within a tooth can cause a severe toothache and result in an abscessed tooth. Plaque accumulating outside the tooth can cause a gum abscess with pain and swelling. At one time, a diseased tooth required extraction, according...
The early stages of gum disease are characterized by redness and inflammation of the gingiva. It is important to arrest the problem at this time because, if not, the inflammation will extend to the bone surrounding the tooth. This can lead to...
Oral herpes, according to the American Social Health Association, is a mild and usually recurrent infection of the mouth and surrounding skin caused by the herpes simplex virus. The infection is, in fact, so mild that many of the estimated 50 to...
An abscess located anywhere in the body can create pain and swelling. A dental abscess is no exception, and symptoms can be severe. According to Dorland's Medical Dictionary, an abscess is a collection of pus within a cavity. The culprits are...
Healthy gums are important to overall health. Gum disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), is related to diabetes, heart disease and respiratory problems. Gum disease is easy to identify, even in its mildest forms. Blood...
Regular oral care is important to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily and visiting a dentist regularly are all important aspects of oral hygiene. Some people acquire gum infections because they are unable to...
The teeth are made up of calcified tissue that surrounds the tooth pulp, made up of nerves, blood vessels and cells. Each tooth is surrounded by a periodontal ligaments and gums that help support the tooth, and each tooth is embedded into the...
Cinnamon, a fragrant spice with a reputation as an aid to gastrointestinal upset, makes a tea that many pregnant women enjoy. Cinnamon tea is safe in pregnancy when taken in normal amounts, according to the American Pregnancy Association, but do...
Regular care of the teeth and gums is important for health. A gum infection can produce symptoms that are difficult to manage and may result in permanent damage if left untreated. Periodontal disease, another name for gum infection, is treated...
Gums, medically referred to as gingiva, consist of mucosal tissue that covers the teeth. In a healthy individual, gums are light to reddish pink in color and have a smooth, soft structure. Gums should not be a source of pain or soreness. Diseases...
Maintaining your oral health has aesthetic as well as health benefits, helping you keep a pleasant-looking and healthy smile. Infection or decay of your gums and teeth can cause halitosis or an abscess or even lead to a potentially deadly...
Each tooth contains an inner nerve layer, called the pulp, surrounded by hard, mineralized tissue similar to bone. The enamel, the outermost layer of mineralized tissue, represents the hardest substance in your body, and protects your teeth from...
Gums are a reflection of the overall health of the body, and gum infections point to lifestyle choices that are unhealthy. Strong gums protect the teeth and underlying bone of the jaw. Also called gingiva, the gums may be weakened by inflammation,...
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the herpes simplex virus causes lesions around the mouth, genitals, nose, buttocks and almost anywhere on the skin. Oral herpes outbreaks usually follow one to three weeks after infection. Signs...
The art of breathing through the mouth during strenuous exercises and workouts comes as a natural instinct to gulp in all the air within the shortest time possible. Breathing with your mouth open has many implications for your health including...
Most people know that smoking is bad for health, causing heart disease and high blood pressure; but smoking can be bad for the mouth as well. The structures of the mouth together are called the periodontium, which include the teeth and gums....
According to the American Social Health Association, between 50 and 80 percent of American adults are infected with oral or mouth herpes. Signs of mouth herpes first appear one to three weeks after exposure to the virus and intermittently...
Sore gums and bad breath are not only an annoying combination, but can signify a sign of potential trouble. Sore gums can be a temporary pain, and bad breath odor is offensive to others, but some mouth illnesses harbor these two symptoms,...
The teeth and gums are known as the periodontium. These structures may develop pain and soreness due to infection or injury. Each tooth is surrounded by gum tissue called gingiva that covers the underlying jaw bone holding the teeth. Because the...
The herb cilantro comes from the coriander plant. Similar in appearance to parsley, cilantro is used in cuisines around the world. A cilantro tincture is essentially a concentrated liquid form of cilantro that has been preserved using a solvent...
When you take a swig of soda, the liquid may go down your throat, but there is a thin, sugary film remaining on your teeth. If you neglect brushing away this film, you increase the likelihood that sugar-loving bacteria will enter your mouth. Over...
According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), oral herpes affects between 50 and 80 percent of the adult population in the United States. One-third of those people experience periodic recurrences of about one to six episodes per...
The virus family called herpesvirus includes several viruses that cause common infections in humans. Herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 are just two of these viruses. Although they are members of the same family and share...
Cancer that starts in the gingiva, or gums, is grouped with other cancers of the oral cavity. Oral cancers typically start in instances of leukoplakia, which are areas of white patches of cells that are persistent and do not go away, and in cells...
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is a bacterial infection in the sulcus, the gap between the gum and the tooth. It affects the periodontium, which consists of the gums, the periodontal ligament and the supporting alveolar bone....
Nicotine gum is a temporary smoking cessation aid. It acts as an oral substitute, and provides a measured dose of nicotine to alleviate physical and psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal which people experience when adapting a nonsmoking...
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a serious bacterial infection that affects the supporting structures of the teeth, including gingivae or gum, periodontal ligament and supporting alveolar bone. If the infection is left untreated, the...
Nicotine gum is used as a temporary aid to stop smoking. It contains a small dose of nicotine in a safe form that enters into the bloodstream through the mucosal lining of the mouth. It acts in the same way nicotine acts in the brain and helps...
Nicotine gum is a smokeless substitute for tobacco used to help people quit cigarettes. It delivers small, measured doses of nicotine absorbed through the mucous membranes lining of the mouth. Nicotine gum can help to reduce cravings and nicotine...