The number of children with cavities is on the rise. One out of four toddlers and preschoolers have tooth decay, and half of children in their early teens have at least one cavity. If the decay is allowed to spread, the child may need to have a baby root canal or have the tooth pulled.

Sound painful? It can be. Here are 10 easy and affordable ways to help prevent cavities in your children's teeth.

You know that you should visit the dentist every six months or even more often if you have gum disease. But did you know it's your daily home care routine that makes the biggest difference in keeping your mouth healthy?

In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day, you may also need to use a mouthwash or mouth rinse. There are a lot of over-the-counter varieties that are used to mask bad breath. However, you may need a prescription-strength mouth rinse to treat the bacteria that's causing the bad breath and other problems.

If you have high blood pressure, your medical doctor may prescribe calcium channel blockers to help control it. However, that can have a side effect that can be disturbing if you don't expect it. See the before-and-after pictures.

If your gums are puffy, tender or bleed when you floss, then you may be among the 75% of American adults who have some form of gum disease.

Gum disease, which is also called periodontal disease, starts as gingivitis. Many people are shocked to realized gingivitis is an infection caused by bacteria. And here's a scary new statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Half of all Americans over the age of 30 have gum disease beyond that first, reversible stage of gingivitis. In fact, periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in American adults.

Here's a quick overview of the different stages of the disease, and how you can stop it from advancing.

If you have had an artificial joint replacement or heart surgery, you need to let your dentist know before your appointment. The guidelines determining who needs to take an antibiotic before having certain dental procedures have changed, and the changes could affect you.

Dental x-rays have gotten a bad rap this year and a lot of people are asking, "Are x-rays really necessary?"

The answer is yes. Dental x-rays are used for diagnosing and treating problems that can't be seen with the naked eye. X-rays reveal cavities between the teeth or hidden by fillings, infections in the bone, fractures, gum disease, abscesses, cysts, and tumors.

Just what is the harm in putting off dental care? Delaying treatment allows decay and infection to worsen, and the damage becomes more extensive and more expensive to fix.

See how the cost of a healthy mouth cleaning compares to needing gum disease treatment or osseous surgery. Have a small cavity? See how filling it now compares to needing an extraction and a bridge or dental implant.

In some cases, minor surgical therapy can change a patient's life forever.

The Gummy Smile procedure is one such treatment. It helps patients smile more, adds self-confidence and promotes better health for the rest of their lives. When patients return for their follow-up visits, they usually say they never knew their teeth could look so good and cannot understand why they waited so long to have the procedure done. They love their new smiles and they usually want to share stories about family, friends and co-workers taking notice immediately.

If you have an exposed tooth root, it's usually the sign of a problem. Coast Dental Periodontist Michael Quinn explains the possible causes of exposed tooth roots and how they can be fixed. The pictures help tell the story.

Can brushing and flossing actually save your life? Researchers are asking that question as they learn more about the link between gum disease and heart disease.

Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as people without gum disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Periodontal disease can also worsen existing heart conditions, researchers report.