Oral Health Tips

Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, happens when your salivary glands do not make enough saliva to keep your mouth comfortably wet. The most common causes are medications, aging, health conditions, dehydration, and everyday habits like smoking or mouth breathing.

The early signs of gum disease are red, swollen, or tender gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, persistent bad breath, and gums that look like they are pulling away from your teeth. These changes are easy to miss because they rarely hurt at first.

Teeth become sensitive to cold when the softer layer beneath your enamel, called dentin, gets exposed. Dentin has tiny channels that lead to the nerve, so cold can trigger a quick, sharp ache. Worn enamel, gum recession, and exposed roots are the usual reasons.

Most bad breath starts in your mouth, where bacteria break down trapped food, plaque, and dead cells and release the smells we notice. The usual sources are a coated tongue, gum disease, cavities, and dry mouth.

The most common signs of a cavity are sensitivity to sweet, hot, or cold foods, a lingering toothache, visible holes or pits in a tooth, and white, brown, or black staining. Some teeth also hurt when you bite down. Early cavities often cause no symptoms at all.

Professional teeth whitening uses higher-strength gel in the dentist's chair or custom take-home trays to lift stains store kits miss. Results are usually faster, more even, and gentler on your enamel and gums.

Yes, yellow teeth can often be white again. Surface stains from coffee, tea, and smoking respond well to whitening, while deeper or age-related colour may need a little extra help to brighten.