| National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is among the most common of birth defects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States:

About 1 in every 1,050 babies is born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate.
About 1 in every 1,600 babies is born with cleft palate alone.

Developmental Disabilities & Oral Health

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Developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other cognitive disabilities create challenges in accomplishing daily activities, especially self-care activities. People with these disabilities may need extra help to achieve and maintain good health, which includes oral health. To achieve and maintain good oral health, people with mild or moderate developmental disabilities often require a special approach to dental care.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

Overview

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a painful condition often described as a burning, scalding, or tingling feeling in the mouth that may occur every day for months or longer. Dry mouth or an altered taste in the mouth may accompany the pain.

Burning mouth syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, and your dentist or doctor will rule out other conditions before diagnosing burning mouth syndrome.

Advocating for yourself and forming a partnership with a dentist or doctor you trust can be helpful throughout the process of getting a diagnosis.

Cancer Treatments & Oral Health

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Most people are aware of common side effects of cancer treatment like nausea and hair loss. But many don't realize that most people treated for cancer develop problems in the mouth. These problems can make it hard to eat, talk, and swallow. This may interfere with cancer treatment and lessen quality of life.

Dental Fillings

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A filling is used to treat a small hole, or cavity, in a tooth. To repair a cavity, a dentist removes the decayed tooth tissue and then fills the space with a filling material.

Dry Mouth

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Saliva, or spit, is made by the salivary glands and is very important for a healthy mouth. It moistens and breaks down food, washes away food particles from the teeth and gums, and helps people with swallowing. In addition, saliva contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate that help keep teeth strong and fight tooth decay.

Dry mouth, also called xerostomia (ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah), is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Dry mouth can happen to anyone occasionally—for example, when nervous or stressed. However, when dry mouth persists, it can make chewing, swallowing, and even talking difficult. Dry mouth also increases the risk for tooth decay or fungal infections in the mouth because saliva helps keep harmful germs in check.

Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. If you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or doctor to find out why your mouth is dry.

Fluoride & Dental Health

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Fluoride (said like floor-eyed) is a mineral that occurs naturally in soil, water, and air that has been shown to prevent cavities, or tooth decay. For the past several decades, fluoride has been added to community water supplies and oral care products such as toothpaste and mouth rinse. Fluoride works by strengthening the tooth’s hard outer surface called enamel.

You can get fluoride by drinking tap water in communities where the public water system adds fluoride and by using fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse, as well as from certain foods and beverages. In the dental office, a dentist can apply fluoride varnish or gel, and in some public health programs, children can have fluoride varnish applied to their teeth.

Fluoride can prevent tooth decay across the lifespan. Fluoride hardens teeth as they form under our gums before we are born. Both children and adults benefit from it.

Diabetes & Oral Health

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People who have diabetes know the disease can harm the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other important systems in the body. Did you know diabetes can also cause problems in your mouth? People with diabetes have a higher chance of having periodontal (gum) disease, an infection of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. Periodontal disease can lead to pain, bad breath that doesn’t go away, chewing difficulties, and even tooth loss. Diabetes can also slow down healing, so it can interfere with treatment of periodontal disease.

Indu Ambudkar, Ph.D., M.Sc.

Niki Moutsopoulos, D.D.S., Ph.D.