Need one more reason to quit smoking?  Tobacco facilitates the growth of bacteria in dental plaque, which is that sticky substance that coats the teeth and causes decay. Coast Dental's chief clinical director explains how it stains your teeth and what you can do to remove it.

Ever wonder just what is a root canal? These pictures and simple explanations explain the procedure, why it's needed, and how it helps alleviate tooth pain.

The face of oral cancer is changing. Meet one woman who doesn't fit the profile: a non-smoker who has no history of cancer in her family and none of the known risk factors. Now she's sharing her story to inspire others to get an oral cancer screening - even if you don't think you need it.

Your life has suddenly turned upside down. You just learned you have cancer and you're struggling to understand the diagnosis, the prognosis and how your life is about to change.

One of the first recommendations by your doctor may surprise you. Many oncologists recommend cancer patients see a dentist to correct any problems with your teeth or gums before you start radiation or chemotherapy treatments. More than one-third of people treated for cancer have side effects that affect the mouth, the National Institutes of Health reports. Here is what you can do to help alleviate some of the common problems.

Oral cancer is on the rise. It's no longer mostly smokers or tobacco-users; it's sexually-active people between the ages of 20 and 50. And some people don't have any risk factors at all.

When your dentist suggests you have an oral cancer screening test, it can be a shock. Here are the stories of two oral cancer survivors, one whose cancer was detected quickly and one whose cancer was not diagnosed for more than two years. If you read just one story today, make this it.