On this page
Basics
Learn More
See, Play and Learn
Resources
For You
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 every 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
- Daily Tips for Good Oral Hygiene (Academy of General Dentistry)
- How Does What I Eat Affect My Oral Health? (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Mouth and Teeth: How To Keep Them Healthy (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Oral Health: Brush Up on Dental Care Basics (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums
(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
-
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth
(National Institute on Aging)
Also in Spanish
Latest News
- Antibiotic 'Report Card' Drills Guidelines into Dentists (08/30/2016, HealthDay)
Diagnosis and Tests
- Panoramic Dental X-Ray (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Dentist Should Advise Vegetarians on Good Oral Health (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Mouth Rinses (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Should I Floss? (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Why Is Brushing with Toothpaste Important? (Academy of General Dentistry)
Treatments and Therapies
- Minimally Invasive Dentistry (Academy of General Dentistry)
-
Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
- Prevention of Infective (Bacterial) Endocarditis: Wallet Card (American Heart Association) - PDF
Related Issues
- Administration of Anesthesia (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons)
-
Finding Dental Care (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- General Dentist (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Infection Control: The Use and Handling of Toothbrushes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Soaking up the Sun While Getting a Cavity Filled? (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Types of Allergic Reactions (Academy of General Dentistry)
Specifics
- Blood Thinners and Dental Care (American Academy of Oral Medicine)
-
Dental Care Every Day: A Caregiver's Guide (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
-
Diabetes: Dental Tips (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Also in Spanish
- Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body (American Dental Association) - PDF
-
Oral Health and Bone Disease (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Oral Health: A Window to Your Overall Health (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Three Good Reasons to See a Dentist Before Cancer Treatment (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
-
Life of a Tooth: A Visual Timeline
(Academy of General Dentistry)
Statistics and Research
- FastStats: Oral and Dental Health (National Center for Health Statistics)
- National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Oral Health Disparities as Determined by Selected Healthy People 2020 Oral Health Objectives for the United States, 2009-2010 (National Center for Health Statistics)
- Percentage of People Who Used the Oral Care System in the Last 12 Months (Department of Health and Human Services)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Dental Care (National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Oral Health (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Glossary of Dental Terms (Academy of General Dentistry)
- Oral Health Glossary (Academy of General Dentistry)
Find an Expert
- American Dental Association
- 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
Men
- Why Is Oral Health Important for Men? (Academy of General Dentistry)
Women
- Dental Care in Pregnancy (American College of Nurse-Midwives) - PDF
- Oral Health (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
- Tips for Good Oral Health during Pregnancy (National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center) - PDF
Seniors
- Eldercare at Home: Dental Problems (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
-
Keep Your Mouth Healthy: Oral Care for Older Adults
-
Older Adults (and Oral Health) (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Also in Spanish
-
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth (National Institute on Aging)
Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Dental care - adult Also in Spanish
- Dental plaque identification at home Also in Spanish
-
Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
