In 2012, researchers estimated that around 91 percent of adults between 20 and 64 suffered from some level of tooth decay on their teeth. Tooth decay is an epidemic that if left untreated can lead to cavities. While a lot of information about preventing and treating cavities is out there, this information might not be accurate unless it came from your dentist.

Here are a few of the most common myths and misconceptions associated with dental cavities.

Everyone has heard the term root canal. However, many patients are confused about the what, why, and how of root canal therapy.

You may be advised to undergo root canal therapy, or you may have a family member who needs the treatment. Here are four quick facts about root canal treatment to help you understand a bit more about the procedure.

1. Root Canal Treatment Fixes Issues Inside the Tooth

Teeth have more than what you see on the surface. An intricate endodontic system is tucked inside the hollow center of each tooth, and this area is also called the root canal.

The endodontic system is made up of a material commonly called pulp. Pulp provides a cushioned pathway for nutrients and sensation to reach the tooth.

An abscess forms in the body as a response to infection. It’s designed to contain the savage battle going on between your immune system and the invading germs. The abscess keeps the infection from spreading — at least for a while.

Abscesses form in the tooth or jaw as a result of bacterial infection of the gums and/or teeth. One of the red flags signaling an abscessed tooth is the awful pain that some patients feel in the affected areas of their mouths. Here are some other facts about abscesses that you should know if you feel a throbbing, stabbing pain in your tooth or jaw.

To help your preteen do their best in sports, you might encourage them to eat healthier meals and to get plenty of sleep at night. However, one of the most important things you can for your loved one is protecting their teeth from sport-related injuries.

Some sports can require players to jump over, pursue, and tackle other players. If your loved one is struck in the mouth, then some of their teeth may be knocked out. Even if your loved one still has their baby teeth, the damage caused by the impact can trigger a chain reaction of dental problems.

As an adult, you know the signs of common dental ailments and emergencies such as infections. Unfortunately, when your children experience the same symptoms, they may not only not understand what’s happening to their teeth but also may not be able to express their discomfort to you.

This issue with identifying dental problems is particularly common with children who are nonverbal, either due to their age or to another characteristic such as autism, delayed speech development, or a behavioral issue affecting speech.

Luckily, in most cases, parents can identify the need for their child to see a pediatric dentist by watching for nonverbal clues that their child is experiencing discomfort, such as the following six.

1. Avoidance of Hard or Chewy Foods

If you’ve ever had a serious dental problem, you know that oral discomfort can worsen when you attempt to eat foods that put a lot of pressure on the affected tooth. Hard or crunchy foods ranging from apples to nuts can exacerbate the issue, as can chewy or sticky foods like sweets.

If your child usually enjoys apple slices with lunch or gummy candies as a treat but suddenly shows disinterest or even vehement disgust with these items, he or she may have a toothache rather than a new food preference.

If spring is in the air, pollen and other allergens are probably in the air as well. While the start of the spring season may bring a welcome change in the weather, it often also brings aggravation and discomfort to allergy sufferers.

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may notice that your oral health problems increase during allergy season. This may not be a coincidence. You might think of seasonal allergies as simply affecting your respiratory system, but they can also have a negative impact on your mouth and oral tissues. Take a look at some of the ways that your seasonal allergies may be having a negative impact on your oral health.

As you’re brushing your teeth, you might notice more sensitivity near your gum line. Or when you get a family picture printed for your wall, you might notice that your teeth appear longer than normal. These are the first signs of receding gums.

A number of things can contribute to gum recession, but early intervention by a dentist is important to help prevent the problem from progressing to the point of danger. Severe gum recession can sometimes require surgery to correct, and it can lead to other dental health troubles, so it’s better to find out why your gums are struggling early on and nip the problem in the bud.

With winter weather, it also seems like there’s an increase in illness. Stomach bugs, the flu, colds, coughs, and even respiratory and sinus infections can leave you feeling terrible and trying to make it through as best you can.

Your dental health is probably far from your mind when you’re suffering through a winter illness. However, illnesses can leave lasting negative effects on your teeth if you’re not careful. Here are some tips to help you care for your teeth so that your teeth don’t have to suffer the consequences when you’re sick.

Many individuals who aren’t satisfied with their smiles want to achieve a whiter, brighter look. When you decide to undergo whitening treatment, you may feel tempted to pick up an at-home kit the next time you’re in the grocery store.

However, you are more likely to be confident in and happy with your new and improved smile if you seek whitening treatment through your dentist. Here are the seven main advantages that professional tooth whitening has over at-home options.

You don’t want to get a cavity, so you brush and floss every day. But what about using mouthwash? You may wonder if it can help prevent tooth decay or bad breath, or you may wonder if it can take the place of brushing your teeth.

Many people are not sure if they should use mouthwash, but answers are available. This blog will cover what types of mouthwash you can buy, how effective they are, and how to use them.