Learn dental basics
Simple, trustworthy explanations for common dental questions.
27 articles · 6 categories
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6Kids Teeth
Baby teeth, teething, and when a child should see a dentist.
Adult Teeth Basics
Why teeth hurt, cavities, gum bleeding, sensitivity, bad breath.
Dental Treatments Explained
Cleaning, whitening, fillings, root canal, crowns, extractions, implants, veneers.
Compare Treatments
Filling vs root canal, crown vs veneer, implant vs bridge, and more.
Emergency Signs
Know when a dental problem needs urgent care.
Dental Myths
Common dental myths clarified in simple words.
Featured questions
6When do baby teeth come out?
Most babies start getting teeth between 6 and 12 months. All 20 baby teeth are usually in by age 3.
Cleaning and scaling
A professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar you cannot remove at home. Most people need it every 6 months.
Cleaning vs whitening
Cleaning removes plaque and tartar and helps gum health. Whitening only changes tooth color and does not treat disease.
When a dental problem is an emergency
Trouble breathing or swallowing, a spreading swelling, a knocked-out permanent tooth, or bleeding that will not stop are dental emergencies.
Why teeth hurt
Tooth pain usually comes from a cavity, an inflamed nerve, gum problems, or a cracked tooth.
What to do if a child breaks or moves a tooth
For a permanent tooth: try to see a dentist within 1 hour. For a baby tooth: never put it back, but see a dentist soon.
Still not sure what's going on?
Answer a few simple questions and see how urgent it may be, plus which type of dentist can help.
Educational information only — not a diagnosis.