Oral Health Basics

By Ava Erickson
Expert Reviewed
Person in white bathrobe holding sesame oil in a bottle to oil pull for healthier teeth
What Really Happens to Your Body When You Oil Pull
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
close view of a person with short black hair and a big white smile
8 Resolutions Dentists Want You to Make This Year (Beyond Brushing and Flossing)
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
a person with shoulder-length light brown hair wearing a grey sweater lying on a couch with their back to the camera and holding their head because they have a headache after dental work
Headache After the Dentist? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You
Health
By Jessica Migala
A dentist with short brown hair and glasses talking to an unrecognizable patient about their X-rays
7 Things Dentists Wish You'd Stop Doing at Your Checkups
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
a person with long curly brown hair wearing an orange towel and brushing their teeth with an electric toothbrush, as a way to stop receding gums
7 Causes of Receding Gums and How to Fix Them, According to a Dentist
Health
By Hallie Levine
Expert Reviewed
a person wearing a grey t-shirt with brown hair in a ponytail swishing mouthwash at the bathroom sink
7 Ways to Keep Your Mouth Healthy When You Have Sjögren's Syndrome
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person scraping tartar off their teeth with a dental cleaning instrument on a dark pink background
How Bad Is It Really to Scrape Tartar Off Your Teeth?
Health
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a bathroom counter with a toothbrush in a cup with cobwebs next to a tube of toothpaste
How Bad Is It Really to Only Brush Your Teeth Once a Day?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of the top half of a person in the shower brushing their teeth
How Bad Is It Really to Brush Your Teeth in the Shower?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
a person with dark hair and beard sitting on the couch and holding their face because they have a popping jaw
Jaw Popping? Here's What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person handing a toothbrush to someone else
How Bad Is It Really to Share a Toothbrush?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Portrait of a woman at the dentist
Here's How Often You Really Need to Go to the Dentist
Health
By Maria Masters
Expert Reviewed
Portrait of happy family black African American father and son child boy brushing teeth in the bathroom. Morning routine with toothbrushes, father’s day concept
How Much Do Your Genetics Affect Your Oral Health?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
Person pouring mouthwash, which can help ease dry mouth
The 14 Best Home Remedies for Dry Mouth
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of someone squeezing a tube of toothpaste labeled as expired onto a toothbrush
How Bad Is It Really to Use Expired Toothpaste?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
A dentist wearing a pink cap and blue scrubs using an overhead light to check a patient's teeth at the dentist's office.
5 Health Issues Your Dentist Can Spot (That Have Nothing to Do With Teeth)
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
a woman eating an ice cream cone and having tooth pain from tooth sensitivity to cold
8 Reasons Your Teeth Hurt All of a Sudden
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Laughing woman hanging out with friends during backyard dinner party
Why Your Oral Health Declines as You Age, and What You Can Do About It
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
person drinking water in bed after waking up with dry mouth
Waking Up With Dry Mouth? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
close view of a woman taking out her night guard
Here's Exactly How to Clean Your Night Guard
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
close view of a person measuring mouthwash in a small cup
5 Mouthwash Mistakes to Avoid for Better Oral Health
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
A woman in her 40s flossing her teeth
The One Mistake You’re Probably Making When You Floss Your Teeth
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
A person's hand writing on a sticky note on a desk
6 Things Dentists Do Every Day to Protect Their Teeth
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
woman pouring a green fruit smoothie into a glass
7 Healthy Habits That Are Actually Terrible for Your Teeth
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
a hand holding a cup of blue mouthwash over a bathroom sink
Do You Really Need to Use Mouthwash?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
couple brushing their teeth in the bathroom mirror
The One Mistake You’re Probably Making When You Brush Your Teeth
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
man in the bathroom flossing before brushing his teeth
If You're Flossing After You Brush, You're Doing It Wrong
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
girl brushing her teeth in the morning after breakfast
Should You Brush Your Teeth Before or After Breakfast?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
woman wearing pajamas and brushing her teeth in front of the bathroom mirror
7 Brushing Mistakes That Are Bad for Your Oral Health
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a calendar and a toothbrush to represent how often to change your toothbrush
How Bad Is It Really to Use the Same Toothbrush Forever?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
Side portrait of a woman holding an apple, one of the fruits that are good for your teeth
The 3 Best Fruits for Your Teeth, According to a Dentist
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
A woman at home eating salad with salad dressing, which is one of the foods bad for teeth
7 Foods That Are Bad for Your Teeth, According to a Dentist
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a toothbrush with a checkmark and a container of floss with an X depicting skipping flossing
How Bad Is It Really to Not Floss?
Health
By Madeleine Burry
Expert Reviewed
mixed media image of molding of teeth grinding on a green background
What Really Happens to Your Body When You Grind Your Teeth
Health
By Hallie Levine
Expert Reviewed
Woman with jaw pain from teeth grinding
Grinding Your Teeth? Try These 3 Ways to Relax Your Jaw
Health
By Hallie Levine
Expert Reviewed
woman with bad breath wearing a mask
How to Get Your Bad Mask Breath Under Control
Health
By Siddhi Camila Lama and Allison Forsyth and Mayoni Ranasinghe, MBBS, MPH
Expert Reviewed
dietary supplement tablet and Vitamin tablet Medicine (pharmacy) and bottle on white background
5 Vitamin Deficiencies That Can Cause Dry Mouth
Health