Oral Care

Feature

• Get Healthy at Home, Virtually

  Sick of waiting around in your doctor’s office, surrounded by sick patients? Here’s how to phone it in instead

• The Secret to Instant Attraction: A Beautiful Smile

  It's easy to eat your way to a better smile. Just serve up some of these delicious dental-health boosters.

• Teeth-Whitening Blunders to Avoid

  Spruce up your smile safely by avoiding these common whitening mistakes

• What’s Giving Away Your Age?

  From yellowing teeth to age-spotted hands, learn how you can keep the signs of aging from creeping up

• Lip Colors That Brighten Your Teeth

  Choose the right lipstick color to instantly whiten your teeth.

• The Truth About Blood Types

  Does your blood type determine what you should eat or what diseases you'll get? We distinguish the myths from the facts

• Do Less, Be Healthier

  More isn't always better -- and it doesn't necessarily make you healthier. Here's why.

• 18 Healthy Holiday Gifts for Everyone in Your Life!

  After a year of reviewing the best and healthiest products daily, we’ve pared down the list to just the top 3 in various categories. Here’s what made the cut.

• Everyday Superfoods: 4 Easy & Healthy Quinoa Recipes

  This gluten-free whole grain cooks more quickly than rice and tastes even better. Just try our delicious recipes.

• I Was a Brace Face … at 30

  How flight attendant Angeliki Karamberi found out that her adult braces did much more than improve her smile.

• 4 Effortless Steps to Whiter Teeth

  Want whiter teeth and healthier gums in five minutes a day? Follow our simple plan.

• Are You Grinding Your Teeth -- in Your Sleep?

  Got sensitive teeth or unexplained jaw pain? You could be grinding your teeth without knowing it. Here’s how to find out for sure -- and how to fix it.

• Healthy Foods That Make Your Teeth Rot

  Here’s a shocker: Some healthy foods are just as bad for your teeth as sweets.

• 5 Biggest Flossing Mistakes [INFOGRAPHIC]

  To help prevent gum disease and other health woes, the Rx is simple: Floss often. Floss properly. And -- unlike with voting -- floss late.

• 4 Surprising Habits That Fight Cancer

  These anti-cancer strategies are so easy, there's no excuse not to use them.

• Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

  By 2050, one in three Americans will be diabetic. Here's how to lower your chances of being one of them.

• Are You Mosquito Bait? [Infographic]

  Why is it that some people never get bitten by mosquitoes, but you have them lining up on your limbs buffet-style, ready to dig in? Mystery solved.

• 5 Things You Should Always Carry With You

  Be ready when a beauty or fashion disaster strikes with these must-have items.

• The Tiny Guide to Creating the Flossing Habit

  Hate flossing? You’re not alone. Guest blogger Leo Babauta shows you how to make the dreaded chore a painless habit.

• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Smiling

  In a recent study, 69 percent of men found women who wear a smile instead of makeup younger and more attractive. Here are other surprising truths about smiling.

• How Your Meds Can Affect Your Mouth

  Certain common drugs can wreak havoc on your oral health and impact body health. Here's what you need to know.

• The Surprising Benefits of Mouthwash

  Mouthwash can do much more for you than fix bad breath. Here, the ingredients you should look for to achieve a variety of results.

• The Surprising Way You’re Making Yourself Fat

  Researchers have discovered a strong link between gum disease and obesity. Here's what you need to know now.

• Quiz: Are You Brushing Your Teeth Wrong?

  You know you should brush your teeth and floss daily, but are you sure you're doing it right? Here's what you might not know but should.

• Your Worst Bad Breath Situations -- Solved

  Stressing out about how your breath smells will be a thing of the past once you read these dentist-recommended tips.

• Best Supplements for Strong Teeth

  Sure, you brush and floss. But how strong are your teeth? Our dentist reviews the nutrients you need.

• Beat Canker Sores Now

  End your canker sore suffering with these research-backed tips.

• Brush Your Way to Better Sex

  Learn how good dental health can help you have a better time in bed.

• Get Healthier, Whiter Teeth -- the Safe Way

  A former cosmetic dentist exposes a flawed procedure that can sabotage your oral health ... and offers up better alternatives for whiter, healthier teeth.

• Bad Breath Be Gone!

  Bad breath may be embarrassing, but it's easily fixed.

• Oral Cancer: A Dangerous Disease on the Rise

  Oral cancer kills one American every hour. Here's how to prevent it.

• Give Your Bathroom a Healthy Makeover

  With so many germs in so little space, your bathroom can be the unhealthiest room in your house. Here’s how to change that for good.

• 5 Fast Breakfasts That Boost Your Health

  Try these delicious and fast breakfasts to start your day.

• Healthy Teeth at Any Age

  Here's how to best keep your teeth healthy, decade by decade.

• “Best Advice I Ever Got”: Health Secrets Experts Swear By

  Listen to the precious bits of health wisdom our favorite experts got from others -- and now swear by.

• 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin

  The gorgeous pumpkin is more than just tasty. Discover all the ways it's good for your health too.

• What Your Smile Says About Your Life

  Experts are finding that the secret to healthier, happier and longer living might just be the size of your smile.

Blog

• Overcome Your Fears by Facing Them

  Avoiding the things that scare you may be doing more harm than you think

• Should I Whiten My Teeth at Home?

  Dos and don'ts for brightening your pearly whites

• Are Dental Sealants and Fillings Safe?

  A dentist opens wide about the BPA controversy.

• How to Pull off Dramatic Makeup

  The real rules for wearing dramatic makeup. (Hint: It's easier to pull off than you think.)

• Getting Braces: How to Find an Orthodontist You Can Trust

  Brace yourself: A growing number of kids are getting metal in their mouth as early as age 7. Here's how to find an orthodontist you can trust.

• A New Case for Weight Loss

  Gum disease can lead to a host of serious diseases. To protect yourself, brush and floss twice a day ... and take weight loss seriously.

• Why You Should Know What’s in Your Beauty Products

  Some ingredients are safer than others. Here's how to find out what's really in the products you use everyday.

• Fish Oil: The One Benefit You Haven’t Considered

  If you're not taking fish oil already, here's why you should.

• When Should Your Kid Start Seeing the Dentist?

  A new study shows that more than a quarter of 2- to 5-year-olds already have a cavity. Brush up on when to start your child's dental visits.

• Get Whiter Teeth -- Safely and Naturally

  Try these smart, safe strategies for a brighter smile

• Do Your Kids Drink Too Much Soda?

  If your attempt to get your kids to cut back on soda has fizzled, try these strategies from a new study.

• Do Dental X-rays Cause Cancer?

  Heads up: A new study has linked teeth X-rays to brain tumors. Should you be worried?

ExpertQA

• My gums seem to be receding, and I’m only 35! Is there anything I can do?

  My gums seem to be receding, and I’m only 35! Is there anything I can do?

• Can you straighten your own teeth by pushing them with your fingers?

• If I don’t have time to brush, is it OK to use mouthwash instead?

  If I don’t have time to brush, is it OK to use mouthwash instead?

• I want to eat healthier, but I find reading nutrition labels on food packaging very confusing. Help!

• Help! Gum tissue is growing on the surface of my tooth. What should I do?

  Help! Gum tissue is growing on the surface of my tooth. What should I do?

• I’m worried about bacteria on my toothbrush. Can I disinfect it in the dishwasher?

• Can mercury leech from my fillings and put me at risk?

• Does chewing gum after you eat really help prevent cavities?

• I floss before I brush, but my husband flosses afterward. Who’s right?

  I floss before I brush, but my husband flosses afterward. Who’s right?

• My boyfriend says the Valentine’s Day chocolate he got me is actually good for my teeth. Could this be true?

  My boyfriend says the Valentine’s Day chocolate he got me is actually good for my teeth. Could this be true?

• My teen just confessed she hardly ever brushes her teeth. How long does it take for that kind of neglect to translate into a cavity?

  My teen just confessed she hardly ever brushes her teeth. How long does it take for that kind of neglect to translate into a cavity?

• Are honey and agave syrup just as bad for my teeth as regular sugar?

  Are honey and agave syrup just as bad for my teeth as regular sugar?

• My friend brushes her teeth with a dry toothbrush before brushing with toothpaste. She says it helps the toothpaste work better -- is she right?

SelfCheckup

• How often do you use mouthwash?

• How often do you drink?

• What do you usually eat for breakfast?

• How do you freshen up your breath?

• On average, how many hours do you sleep per night?

• Do you ever get painful twinges in your teeth?

• How often do you replace your toothbrush?

• What type of toothbrush do you use?

• How often do you get a dental cleaning?

• How much coffee do you drink every day?