Despite being a fairly common disease, caries can, in most cases, be prevented. In that sense, it is important to have a good dental hygiene, as well as to have a healthy diet.

Fundamentally, dental hygiene should include teeth brushing at least twice a day.

This should be accompanied by flossing, since the brush doesn’t have the ability to clean the spaces between each and every tooth.

Regarding food, one should avoid food which may cause caries, such as candy, cookies and sugary drinks.

In addition to these recommendations, while brushing, to use a toothpaste containing fluorine is equally important. This element helps with the remineralisation of the teeth, thus being essential in the prevention of caries.

Lastly, but not less importantly, in order to have a good dental health one should visit the dentist regularly. That way, any potential problem can be detected at an early stage.

The wisdom teeth are the four third molars, both on the right and left upper part of the dental arch. These are the last teeth to “grow”, usually around the ages of 18 to 20.

It happens very frequently that the jaw doesn’t have enough space to accommodate the late eruption of these teeth. This is one of the reasons why they are more problematic than other teeth.

What is an embedded tooth?
An embedded tooth is a tooth that, despite being fully developed, hasn’t erupted, thus being totally or partially covered by bone and gum tissue.

Removing or keeping the wisdom teeth?
The healthy and normally placed wisdom teeth shouldn’t cause any problems. But, if they’re in an abnormal position, the doctor should evaluate the potential damage. Furthermore, there are other reasons which may lead to the extraction of the wisdom teeth:

Caries
Partially erupted teeth, as well as the adjoining ones, can develop caries. These go unnoticed and usually show themselves through a deceiving and painful situation. Later, they can lead to infection.

Orthodontic reasons
In some cases, the wisdom teeth can cause the adjoining teeth to move.

Fragile mandible
The presence of a tooth in an area which should have trabecular and flexible bone weakens the jaw, namely in athletes which practice contact sports and thus more prone to facial trauma.

Paediatric dentistry is the field of medicine dedicated to children’s dental health, since their birth and all through adolescence. Among the most common pathologies in young people are trauma, caries and changes in eruption or other problems which can jeopardize a child’s dental health.

The first dentist appointment should be scheduled around the age of one. At this first appointment the dentist will carry out a summary oral examination, giving advices on dental hygiene and diet.

The main goal of this appointment is to establish a preventive plan (and, if necessary, therapeutic) in order to have a correct development of the deciduous and permanent dentition.

Daily brushing and flossing is absolutely fundamental for the long term success of dental implants. Furthermore, there are several products which can be prescribed by the health care provider responsible for the placement of the dental implants.

Here are some advices on the proper hygiene of the dental implant:
a)    Brushing: the dentist or dental hygienist can recommend the use of a normal or an electric toothbrush and, in each case, they will teach the appropriate way to clean the areas of the implants;

b)    Dental floss: the daily use of dental floss is essential. Its correct use will allow you to remove any existing plaque around the implants. The dentist can recommend a specific type of dental floss.

c)    Appointments: it is recommended that the patient go to the dentist every three months, although each patient can have a specific plan.

1. Brush your teeth two to three times a day, preferably after meals and before going to bed.

2. Use a toothbrush of the appropriate size, soft and with a small head, to avoid tooth or gum lesions.

3. Try to use a toothpaste containing fluorine.

4. Avoid brushing your teeth horizontally. The toothbrush should be leaned aslant in order to prevent abrasion.

5. Floss daily, before brushing, to remove any food or bacteria from the spaces between teeth and between teeth and gums.

6. Use a mouthwash, if your dental care provider advised you to do so.

7. Try to keep your teeth clean, thus avoiding plaque and tartar.

8. Go to the dentist regularly, preferably every 6 months.

9. Keep a healthy diet and replace candies for more nutritious food, such as cheese, fruits and fresh vegetables.

10. If you suffer from dentin sensitivity go to the dentist because it could be a sign of caries or a fractured tooth.