Toothbrushes may harbor illness-causing bacteria, but the way you store and care for your brush may influence its bacterial load significantly. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Your toothbrush serves as a reservoir for microorganisms and becomes contaminated with infectious organisms soon after its initial use. In both healthy people and those with oral disease, pathogenic bacteria and viruses…

Oral health may have a wide-reaching effect on the entire body’s well-being with two recent studies reporting on the connection between oral health, high blood pressure, and cancer of the esophagus. The oral health—the condition of teeth and the types of bacteria present in the mouth—of elderly people was the focus of a recent Japanese…

Ok, so how should I brush my teeth? Well, you need to pay particular attention to all the red and swollen areas of the gums. But when I brush them they start to bleed! That’s why you need to brush them! I know it sounds counter intuitive, but there is plaque on and around your…