All babies whether breast or bottle fed need to suck. They get pleasure from it. So often babies find that sucking a thumb or finger is also nice. It then becomes a habit. Until a child is aged about 5 years old sucking a thumb or finger does not matter. If baby front teeth become pushed up by the thumb they go back to their proper place as soon as the thumb sucking stops. But if the thumb sucking still goes on when the adult front teeth come in then there is a problem. Thumb sucking until aged 5 should be ignored. If it carries on beyond aged 5 then you should ask advice from your dentist.

Teeth can become darker or discoloured for several reasons. Stains on the surface of the tooth can be cleaned off with whitening toothpaste. If the stains from foods, drinks or tobacco, are into the tooth itself, then whitening by a chemical cleaner can be used. This works by the mild chemicals in the whitening paste or gel chemical removing the stains.

The teenage years are when the oral health habits for a life time are set. The most important issues are: Twice daily thorough tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpaste; Good cleaning to prevent gum disease starting; Controlling snacking to no more than three times a day; Regular check-ups with a dentist every six months; Learning that good oral health is an important part of whole body health; Eating a balanced diet, at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, avoiding binge eating or excess dieting. ‘Take good care or your teeth and they will take good care of you’.

Over thousands of years our jaws have become smaller, so there is less room for the third molar, or "wisdom tooth." In many people this tooth is often missing, but in others there is simply not enough room for it. So it needs to be taken out.

If a tooth has tooth decay down into the nerve the only way to save the tooth is by a root canal treatment. The only alternative is to have the tooth extracted or pulled out. But these days root canal treatments can be easily carried out while the patient is sedated. If you are sacred of root canal treatment you should talk to your dentist about having sedation for the treatment.

As teeth get older they sometimes become brittle. They can crack or a piece can break off. If this happens you should see you dentist who can tell you what sort of repair or filling is needed.

Just because a tooth is loose does not necessarily mean it should come out. Loose teeth mean gum disease. So you've got as quickly as possible to see your dentist. He or she can tell you whether the tooth can be saved and how. It is always best for a dentist to remove a tooth anyway.

Mouthwashes are used to help prevent gum disease by stopping bacteria and food particles (plaque) sticking to the teeth. Most mouthwashes also have fluoride to help prevent cavities. Your dentist will advise you as to which mouthwash to us and how often.

An abscess means that decay has got into the centre of a tooth and killed the nerve. The infection from the dead nerve has leaked out into the jaw bone. The infection needs to be cleaned out if the tooth is to be saved. This can be done by a dentist who does a ‘root canal treatment’. The infection can be thoroughly cleaned out and the nerve canal filled. The only other treatment for an abscess is to have the tooth pulled out.

If the stain is on the surface of your teeth it can be easily cleaned off by a dentist or dental hygienist. If the stain has gone into the tooth enamel then it needs to be chemically cleaned by tooth whitening. Your dentist is the best person to advise you what is best.