Young child flexing tongue over upper gum. Photo credit: Chayene Rafaela on Unsplash

With your supervision and good example, your child can begin the path to a lifetime of good oral health during the earliest stages of childhood. All oral habits—including tooth brushing and flossing, thumb-sucking, biting and chewing, nutrition, protection during sports, and even breathing—affect the way young children’s faces, jaws, teeth, and overall health develop. And as children become teens, good oral habits and care expand to include avoiding smoking, vaping, and oral piercings. Here are answers to the most common questions you may have about your children’s oral health habits at various points in their lives.

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Sweet or sour candy can introduce acid to your mouth and promote tooth decay.

Did you know that tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic health condition in children? For adults, only the common cold occurs more frequently than tooth decay. However, unlike a common cold, which quickly produces noticeable symptoms, tooth decay often begins and develops unnoticed. By the time you realize there’s a problem, your teeth are already breaking down—and worse, you’re in pain. Here’s what to know so you can protect your teeth.

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Is it a canker sore or a cold sore? Symptoms can be similar.

At one time or another, many of us have experienced a painful canker sore or cold sore. Sometimes, the appearance and symptoms of each are similar, making it difficult to know how to treat the symptoms most effectively. If you develop a sore in or on your mouth, here’s how to tell what’s happening.

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Kelly Richardson, DDS has recently completed a year-long fellowship on dental implants.

As part of her commitment to continuing education, Kelly Richardson, DDS has recently completed a year-long implant fellowship with the NYU School of Dentistry and online dental education site Dental XP. “I don’t want patients to be scared when they hear the word implants,” she says. “Implant placement is certainly a process, but if you have missing teeth, it’s the best way to replace your teeth for proper function and good quality of oral health afterwards.”

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Coconut oil contains anti-microbial agents that are an important part of oil pulling.

Oil pulling is a traditional oral health practice with origins in ancient India. In recent years, this practice has received significant media coverage regarding its reported health benefits—among them, removal of harmful bacteria from the mouth. Are the health claims true? Just what does oil pulling involve? Should you try it? Here’s what you’ll want to know.

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A colorful vegan feast including potato casserole with broccoli and carrot, fresh tomato, tofu, onion, and mushrooms.

Whether your diet is vegan, vegetarian, or includes meat, science shows that eating plenty of plant-based foods is necessary for optimal health. But if you follow a vegan diet (or are considering doing so), which nutrients could you be missing? What do you need for a healthy mouth and teeth? Here’s what to know—and do.

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Vaping is bad for health. Illustration of an electronic cigarette behind a red "prohibited" symbol.

While vaping was once believed to be an acceptable alternative to smoking regular tobacco cigarettes, there is new evidence that this practice presents its own serious health risks. Moreover, in August 2019, the CDC confirmed the first-ever death caused by vaping.

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Chewing ice can harm your teeth, and may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

If you love chewing ice, you’re not alone. Many people find that chewing ice helps them to deal with stress, ease the effects of dry mouth, lose weight, or stop smoking. Chewing ice might seem to be an acceptable coping method, but it can harm your teeth in other ways, and ice cravings may also be a symptom of a more serious health issue.

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