A healthy mouth is an important part of your overall well-being; gums and teeth can indicate disease long before you're aware that anything is wrong. The following article by Henderson orthodontics will offer expert advice on keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top shape. Read on for useful information that will keep your smile beautiful.

Many prescription medicines can cause dry mouth. This problem is beyond bad breath, however, as you need saliva to protect you from rapid tooth decay. Make time to discuss your concerns with your physician, who can advise you on the probable cause of the problem. If so, you may be able to switch medications. If you cannot do this, perhaps your doctor has a dry mouth treatment.

A good dentist can help protect your beautiful smile. When searching for a dentist, there are several good resources available to help you. Ask your primary-care doctor for a referral to a good dentist in your area. You may also want to ask your insurance carrier for recommendations of a dentist.

Your tongue's health is as important as your gums and teeth. Using a tongue scraper every time you brush is a must. This will keep excess bacteria off of your tongue, and they are fairly inexpensive. If you do not have access to a tongue scraper, you can clean your tongue using your toothbrush to remove excess bacteria.

When purchasing some toothpaste, whether it's from the store or natural, you have to see if it contains fluoride. Fluoride strengthens your teeth and prevents cavities. Healthy teeth are strong teeth.

If you are deathly afraid of spending time in the dentist's chair, you might be tempted to skip cleanings or procedures altogether. This is a bad idea, especially since poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease or even diabetes. Consider sedation dentistry, in which the patient is not awake during the appointment. Furthermore, some dentists will prescribe sedatives prior to the appointment. If you use either option, you must have someone who can drive you to and from the appointment.

Does your dentist just make you uncomfortable? If so, you may want to consider trying out another dentist. Dental hygiene is important, so get a new dentist. Sooner is better than later.

If your teeth are particularly sensitive and you haven't been able to find relief with a specialty toothpaste, visit your dentist. There are actually prescription-strength toothpastes formulated for extra sensitive teeth. They may cost you a little more but in the end, it will be well worth being able to brush comfortably without sensitivity issues.

If you have a serious fear of the dentist and conventional methods won't work, you might want to consider taking some sort of medication. Your dentist can give you anti-anxiety medication or nitrous oxide which will make the entire dentist visit a whole lot easier. Just make sure that you don't have any adverse reactions to the medications.

Teeth and gums say a lot about a person's health. Of course you want to have the best looking set of teeth possible but it's important to go beyond that and understand the implications of oral problems and what you can do about them. Keep your smile bright and healthy for a long time to come!