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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert
• Finance and Policy

For You

• Women
• Older Adults
• Patient Handouts

Summary

It's important to take care of your mouth and teeth starting in childhood. If you don't, you could have problems with your teeth and gums - like cavities or even tooth loss.

Here's how to keep your mouth and teeth healthy:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or another type of between-the-teeth cleaner
• Snack smart - limit sugary snacks
• Don't smoke or chew tobacco
• See your dentist or oral health professional regularly

NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Start Here

• Oral Hygiene (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
• Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dental Exam (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF
• Prevention of Infective Endocarditis Wallet Card (American Heart Association) - PDF

Specifics

• Blood Thinners and Dental Care (American Academy of Oral Medicine)
• Taking on Teeth Grinding and Clenching: Halt Dental Damage and Jaw Pain (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Oral and Dental Health (National Center for Health Statistics)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dental Care (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Oral Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The effect of educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory on promoting...
• Article: A short-term evaluation of oral hygiene education methods in fixed orthodontics...
• Article: Oral health and self-perceived job readiness among socially disadvantaged and unemployed...
• Dental Health -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Find a Dentist (Academy of General Dentistry)
• HRSA: Find a Health Center (Health Resources and Services Administration)
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Also in Spanish

Finance and Policy

• Where Can I Find Low-Cost Dental Care? (Department of Health and Human Services)

Women

• Oral Health (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Older Adults and Oral Health (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Dental care - adult (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dental plaque identification at home (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF