There are a lot of people who will not fly because they have an extreme anxiety or fear of flying. Let's face it, a lot of people do not get needed dental care because they too, have anxiety about the dental chair. It is estimated that 10 to 12 million people won't go to the dentist for necessary dental work strictly because of this anxiety. When you think about it, the concept is ludicrous. Dental care in today's modern dental office is virtually without real pain. If you want some REAL pain, experience a toothache from a tooth abscess and DON'T go to a dentist for relief. That's not anxiety, that's pain.

If you wear dentures, you want to make the best possible use of them in chewing food and maintaining the shape of your face. When you chew food, for example, chew straight up and down and place equal weight on both sides of your jaw. If you chew sideways or only on one side of your mouth, this can cause your dentures to slip. It can also injure the supporting tissues and result in abnormal wear on the supporting tissues and result in abnormal wear on the supporting bone.

There's a world of difference between a toothache and sensitive teeth. Occasionally, some people will experience the discomfort of a tooth that has suddenly become hypersensitive. It hurts when you sip a hot or cold drink, suck in cold air, or eat foods that are sweet or sour or acidic.

Fluoride are minerals that have been shown to greatly reduce tooth decay. Fluoride combine with tooth enamel and make it resistant to acid formed by plaque. There are fluoride rinses, tablets and gels. In Europe, there is fluoridated milk.

Maintaining oral health requires special care during pregnancy. An old wives tale tells us that a mother would lose a tooth for each child. But this certainly does not have to be true. During pregnancy, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The practice of preventive dentistry really pays off during pregnancy. Due to a number of factors, gum tissue becomes more sensitive to plaque, oral hygiene and plaque removal takes on added importance. As far as dental decay is concerned, research shows that pregnancy has no effect. Calcium in teeth cannot be lost to supply the needs of the developing baby.