Including wisdom teeth adults have 32 permanent teeth. Each tooth has two main parts known as the crown and the root.  The crown is part of the tooth is is visible  and the root is the part below your gums.   There are other parts of our tooth that include, Tooth enamel – the outer coating that helps protect the crown of the tooth, Dentin – Which is the hard substance beneath the enamel that makes up the bulk of the tooth, Pulp – The soft tissue of the tooth which is in the middle  and Cementum – the hard tissue that covers the root of the tooth and attaches it to the jawbone.

Young kids can often bite the inside of their lip cheek or tongue, when that happens apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.

The protein, Transgultaminase 2 is a key component in the process of gum disease, researchers have discovered. Periodontal, or gum, disease is one of the most common infectious diseases. In its more severe forms, such as periodontitis, it causes loss of the bone that supports the teeth. Approximately 65 million adults in the United States are affected by some form of the disease. PG is the major causative agent of periodontitis, and it may also be involved in the development of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis

Primary teeth (baby teeth) play an important role in your child life. Primary teeth are needed for chewing and eating, they affect the development of speech, they hold the space needed for the permanent teeth and help guild them in the correct position.   It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. It is a good idea to have and maintain dental insurance on yourself and family in order to maintain lower dental care cost.

Patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency, or LAD, suffer from frequent bacterial infections, including the severe gum disease known as periodontitis. These patients often lose their teeth early in life. New research by a team of scientists and dentists has demonstrated a method of reversing this bone loss and inflammation.

Children should have their first dental visit with the eruption of the first baby tooth but no later than their first birthday. This is so that an assessment and record can be made of your child’s dental development and risk of getting cavities. This will give the dentist an opportunity to discuss good oral hygiene practices at home, diet, injury prevention and possible need for fluoride supplements. Also if the dentist finds any cavities or other problems, these issues can be taken care of early before they become a bigger problem.

A research group at Uppsala University, Sweden has developed a new responsive coating for implants used in surgery to improve their integration into bone and to prevent rejection. Neutron scattering experiments at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France have shown how a protein that promotes bone growth binds to this surface and can be released in a controlled way.

After your child has a tooth pulled you will want to them him or or her home.  Normally they will have to bite down on a special pad that will help stop the flow of blood. Your dentist may give you a few to take home.  Change them when they are sodden or about every thirty minutes or so for the first two hours.   Once your child’s mouth regains some sensation you can take out the pads. Make sure your child does not use a straw or chew on tough food for a few days.  Soft food such as yogurt, applesauce, and bananas are foods that are good after getting baby teeth pulled out

Over your life time you may have had a bad experience with having a tooth pulled.  However do not let your child see your anxiety.  Just be honest and calm with your child. Do not trick a child about where he or she is going and keep things light and positive.  Even if you have some dental fears you do not want to make your fears their fears. Have the dentist go over everything before starting and reminded your child that you are right their with them.

Periodontal disorders such as tooth loss and gingivitis have been identified as a potential risk marker for cardiovascular disease in a large study reported today. More than 15,000 patients with chronic coronary heart disease provided information on their dental health, with results showing that indicators of periodontal disease (fewer remaining teeth, gum bleeding) were common in this patient group and associated with numerous cardiovascular and socioeconomic risk factors.

Taking your child to see the same dentist you see, may not be the best option.  For young children you may want to think about taking them to see a pediatric dentist.  Pediatric dentists have an additional two years of schooling in which they focus on the growth and development of teeth. They also learn how to help children be comfortable and deal with their fear and anxiety. While a good general dentist will probably do a fine job, a pediatric dentist specializes in children’s teeth, has the right size equipment, and knows how to put your child at ease.

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “Rare Bone Diseases and Their Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Manifestations.

Hereditary diseases affecting the skeleton are heterogeneous in etiology and severity. Though many of these conditions are individually rare, the total number of people affected is great. These disorders often include dental-oral-craniofacial (DOC) manifestations, but the combination of the rarity and lack of in-depth reporting often limit our understanding and ability to diagnose and treat affected individuals

HMO dental plans are not always the best fit for young children. When buying a dental HMO plan for a child six and under you want to make sure that there is a dentist in the plan network that provide services for children at a younger age.

Many general dentist will not provide services to young child, or they will but only if your child is able to be well behaved. Many general dentist may not be able to provide the best care for a young children who may kick or bite or not sit still while having a dental check up. Normally when this happens more then once the dentist may advise that your child see a pediatric dentist ( a child specialist).

With a dental HMO your saving under a specialist is normally around 20-30 percent and is no longer the cost listed for a general dentist. Also since you have to go to dentist that are network providers you want to make sure the plan you are buying has pediatric specialist in case a general dentist is not the best fit for your child.

Dental researchers have found a less invasive way to extract single rare immune cells from the mouth to study how the mouth’s natural defenses ward off infection and inflammation. By isolating some specialized immune cells (white blood cells known as “leukocytes”) to study how they fight diseases in the mouth — or reject foreign tissues, such as in failed organ transplants — researchers hope to learn more about treating and preventing such health issues as oral cancers, cardiovascular disease, AIDS and other infectious diseases

A water pick device is use to help remove food particles from your teeth and it might help reduce bleeding and gum disease.  However generally it is not considered a flossing substitute.  Standard dental floss is still generally considered to be the most effective tool for cleaning the tight spaces between the teeth. You can also use dental floss to scrape up and down the sides of each tooth.

The amount of fear from a dental visit may be higher among people with frequent gagging problems. The gagging issues may also cause negative beliefs about dentists and dental treatment.

The information comes from the authors of “Gagging and Its Associations with Dental Care—Related Fear, Fear of Pain, and Beliefs About Treatment.”  The authors determined that it is important for dentists to analyze their patients’ chances of gagging while also examining their fears and anxieties. Some dentists want their patients to breath slowly through their nose. Other dentists encourage their patients to lift their legs or wiggle their toes as a way of distracting themselves.

The information appears in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. Having gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body.  Always let your dentist know before any dental services are render if you have Endocarditis

Stem cells are cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types, aiding tissue regeneration, cardiovascular disease and blood disease treatments. But now, researchers have found that stem cells from teeth grow to resemble brain cells, a discovery they say could be harnessed in the brain for stroke therapy.

The team, from the University of Adelaide in Australia, publish their results in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

Your mouth is alive with bacteria, which is not a problem since most bacteria in your mouth is harmless. Generally your body’s natural defenses along with good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, helps keep these bacteria under control.

However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, dental procedures, medications, or treatments that reduce saliva flow, disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth or breach the mouth’s normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

More studies are showing that the  health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health. Your oral health can provide clues about your overall health, as well as problems in your mouth can also affect the rest of your body. Taking proper care of your oral health will also benefit your overall health and state of mind.