In the world of personal dental care, toothpastes labeled natural, organic, or fluoride-free have risen in popularity. Because some regular toothpastes contain harsh ingredients, these natural toothpastes have become popular thanks to claims that they perform just as well or better than the typical formulas that have stocked supermarket shelves for decades.

Is natural toothpaste the right option for you? Let’s take a look at some of the key features of these products — and whether they’re a good choice for you and your teeth.

Human teeth have more complex structures than many of their owners may know about. A typical tooth consists of tough enamel enveloping another substance called cementum and an inner material called dentin. The inner chamber of the tooth contains a combination of blood vessels, soft tissues, and nerves called the pulp.

You may already know that infected or damaged pulp can cause serious dental problems such as toothaches and abscesses. However, you may never have heard of a condition called pulp calcification. Check out the following four questions and answers about this strange issue and its possible effects on your dental health.

If you care about your oral health, you may already pursue routine dental exams and cleanings, brush and floss regularly, and support your teeth through good nutrition. However, you may not know that exercise can also support your oral and dental well-being. Check out these four important points on the subject.

The most visible teeth in your mouth are the front teeth. Whenever you smile, talk, or eat, you may become self-conscious of your teeth if changes or damages have occurred. When you seek out tooth repairs, you have multiple options to choose from. Learn how a dentist can transform your front teeth and give you a whole new smile.

Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease or gingivitis, is often a serious dental health problem. However, people with Type I or Type II diabetes are especially vulnerable to this painful and debilitating condition.

Diabetes is notorious for affecting almost every part of the body in some way, and people who suffer from diabetes are more vulnerable to developing gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can also make controlling your blood sugar levels more difficult, so preventing gum disease should be a top priority for any person with diabetes.

Parents, teachers, and health professionals always preach the dangers of too much sugar exposure to your mouth, but you can just go beyond the lecture and advice. When you fully understand the science and evolution of sugar on your teeth, you will know why it’s important to keep your clean and regulate the amount of sugar you consume.

While flossing is recommended daily for most people, some mouths are not adept for floss. If you have large pockets in your gums, then floss could actually push food particles and bacteria down into the gums as opposed to removing the particles from your teeth.

Dental tartar issues have plagued humankind for at least 400,000 years, the age of the earliest archeological examples in prehistoric teeth. This calcification of saliva and food particles can create serious problems, from painful gum irritation and abscesses to tooth loss and systemic infections.

The use of braces is often for drastic changes and corrections to a person’s smile. If you only need minor adjustments to your mouth, you may not need a full set of braces.

If you extract a tooth, blood will clot on the extraction site and kick-start the healing process. In some cases, however, the blood clot fails, and the extraction site remains hollow and dry — hence the term dry socket. A dry socket causes pain, delays the healing process, and increases the risk of infection. Below are some of the risk factors and prevention tips for a dry socket.