Oral and dental care – articles and advice
Cold sores
Features on oral hygiene, dental treatment and everyday mouth care. For detailed medical content, see our Patient Information Leaflets on oral and dental care.
Cold sores
Cold sores are painful blisters usually caused by the herpes virus. Learn how to ease symptoms and reduce the chance of future flare-ups.
Dental care
Healthy teeth and gums are vital for overall health. Discover the best ways to brush, floss, and prevent dental problems before they start.
- What is a prosecco smile? tips to protect your teeth this Christmas
- Is teeth whitening safe?
- What your teeth say about your health
- How to brush and care for your child's teeth
- The ultimate guide to flossing
- Is water flossing effective?
- How to spot the signs of a dead tooth
- Warning signs you need to go to the dentist
- How to cope with sensitive teeth
- Dental inequality: what is it and why does it exist?
- Scientists may have found a way to regrow tooth enamel
- How your teeth can affect your self-esteem
- How to get over your fear of the dentist
- The best snacks for healthy teeth
- The reason your gums are bleeding
- How to protect your child's teeth
Other oral problems
Not all mouth problems fit into neat categories. Explore conditions like dry mouth or burning mouth syndrome and how they’re treated.
- Things you might not know about cleidocranial dysplasia
- Is your mouth making you sick? How gum disease impacts more than just your teeth
- How to take care of chapped lips this winter
- Are facial workouts good for sleep, speech and oral health?
- What’s causing your morning breath?
- What causes mouth ulcers and how to treat them
- Should you clean your tongue every day?
- How long will a mouth ulcer take to heal?
- What causes a lump on the tongue?
- What causes an itchy roof of mouth?
- How to spot the signs of mouth cancer
- The reasons behind your bad breath