Patient guides
Everyday questions people ask about their teeth, answered in plain language and based on trusted public health sources. The guides do not replace an examination by a dentist.
- Everyday care
Cleaning your teeth properly
Brushing, toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth: daily habits that protect teeth and gums. - Prevention
Tooth decay
How decay starts, how it progresses, and what stops it. - Gum health
Gum disease
From bleeding gums to periodontitis, and the daily care that helps prevent it. - Common symptoms
Sensitive teeth
Why teeth hurt with cold or sweet things, and what helps. - Inside the tooth
Root canal treatment
What happens inside a tooth when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. - Repairing teeth
Crowns and bridges
How a weakened tooth is covered with a crown, and how a bridge fills the gap left by a missing tooth. - Urgent problems
Dental emergencies
What to do if a tooth is knocked out or broken, or the face swells, and when to call 998. - Urgent problems
Dental abscess
What a dental abscess is, why it needs prompt treatment, and when swelling is urgent. - Diagnosis
Dental X-rays and 3D scans
Why X-rays are taken, and what each kind of image shows. - Family health
Children's teeth
From a baby's first tooth to a first dental visit: teething, sugar and help with brushing. - Common symptoms
Bad breath
Where bad breath usually comes from, what helps, and when it needs a dentist. - Jaw and habits
Teeth grinding
Grinding and clenching, often at night: the signs, the causes and what can help. - Inside the mouth
Mouth ulcers
Why mouth ulcers appear, how to ease them, and when one needs checking.
How these guides are written
Each guide is written for a general reader and rests on public health sources listed at the end of the page, such as the NHS, the World Health Organization and the International Association of Dental Traumatology.
Pages are reviewed, and their review date updated, when the guidance they rest on changes. In a life-threatening emergency, call an ambulance on 998.
General health information, not a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation for any individual.