When people think about overall health status, they generally don't take into account their dental health. When times get hard and money gets low, dental treatment is often the first thing to go. Every professional would tell you it's better to find some way to have continuous dental care.

The primary contributor of oral cancer is the use of tobacco. Just becuase it is the most common cause doesn't mean it is the only one. This disease tends to strike people who are over 40. The prognosis for oral cancer is generally not very good; only half of the people suffering from it survive more than five years, but dentists say there is still hope. Diets that include plenty of vegetables and fruits can help prevent cancerous lesions in the first place, their effects can be reversed if they are detected early, and there are new treatments for oral cancer. There is new technology available to enhance visualization of cancerous or pre-cancerous cells that help the doctor identify oral lesions at their earliest stage of development.

An infection present in the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth, is known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has two primary stages, gingivitis and periodontitis, of which gingivitis is less severe and may be corrected. There are many factors that can contribute to periodontal disease, among them smoking, defective fillings and medications. Symptoms of this disease are bleeding gums, front teeth spreading out, foul breath and increasing gaps between each tooth. The best prevention of dental problems begins with solid home care including daily brushing, flossing and use of antiseptic mouthwash and consistent use of the services of dental professionals.

Cavities are another concern of dental health, and if you are careless about dental hygiene and eat foods with a lot of sugar, you will probably develop cavities, which are infections. Dental amalgam, an alloy which contains a mixture of mercury with other metals such as silver, copper, or tin, has been used by dentists for over a hundred years to fill cavities. Because of its mercury content, safety concerns have been raised over the years. It is the consensus of several health organizations, including the U.S. Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization, that this alloy is safe to use. The National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Public Health service promise the safety of them. The low production cost, long term durability and overall strength of the alloy give it a continued reputation as a good choice for dental fillings, but if you want o explore other options they do exist. Another option available instead of amalgam fillings are white composite fillings. This is an aesthetic option for your fillings to make sure the teeth look normal.

In order to maintain the integrity and overall health of the bone and soft tissues in your mouth cleaning of teeth by a professional care provider is essential. Since a 48 year old didn't see the dentist for almost 10 years, he had to have a root canal, followed by a crown, then a deep cleaning. Deep pockets are formed when someone has periodontal disease. You cannot get to the problem areas with regular brushing alone. Scaling, to remove plaque and bacteria and infected tissue below the gum line, and root planing, to smooth the root surface making it more difficult for plaque to accumulate there, allow the gums to heal and the pockets to close. It costs far less to maintain regular oral health checkups than it does to ignore these issues and face an expensive dental repair job in the future.

No one wants bad breath or unsightly teeth and gums. This is no surprise given the fact the causes for halitosis are varied and easily triggered. Something as simple as the onions or garlic you've had on your lunch can cause halitosis to rear its head. Halitosis can also happen when you smoke, when your mouth becomes dry, or if you don't maintain proper dental hygiene. There are also medical conditions that can lead to halitosis, like liver or kidney problems. Avoiding odor causing foods can help eliminate bad breath because the food and bacteria gets trapped in our taste buds of our tongue-producing fowl odors. Another thing that can help is to remember to clean your tongue with a tongue scraper and mouth wash. The advances in technology we enjoy have certainly brought us a long way from the primitive chewing sticks of the early Babylonians we've traced back to 3500 BCE. With all the amazing technology that surrounds us, the simple toothbrush is still one of the most valuable tools you can own to keep your teeth optimal.