Dental knowledge
Plain explanations of dental care, written for patients and reviewed by our dentists.
A teenager's cooperation has a big effect on how braces progress. How parents can support hygiene, elastics, aligner wear, confidence and school schedules.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
Braces don't mean giving up football, swimming or the flute. How to protect teeth and appliances during sport and music practice, what to do after a knock.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
How parents can handle brace problems at home, from poking wires and loose brackets to lost elastics and cracked aligners, and when to call the clinic.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
Torn between fixed braces and Invisalign clear aligners? Questions to help you decide: your teeth, your daily routine, self-discipline, check-ups and cost.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 9 min read ·
A mini-screw is a small screw placed temporarily in the jaw as an anchor for braces. When orthodontists use one, if it hurts, care and removal.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 8 min read ·
Not everyone with braces needs extractions. Why some cases do, other ways to make space (expansion, enamel reduction, moving teeth back) and what to ask.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 9 min read ·
Tips for parents choosing where their child will have braces: orthodontic training, records, questions to ask at the consultation and signs to think twice.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
A baby tooth lost early to decay or a fall can let nearby teeth drift and leave the adult tooth short of room. What space maintainers are, types and care.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
Long-term mouth breathing and snoring in children can be linked to how the jaws develop. Signs to watch for, who to see first and how a dentist can help.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
How thumb and dummy sucking, tongue thrusting and lip biting affect a child's teeth and jaws, when to worry, and gentle ways parents can help a child stop.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
What early (two-phase) orthodontic treatment is, which problems are usually treated early, when waiting is better, and how parents can prepare.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 6 min read ·
When a child should have a first orthodontic check, signs in the teeth, jaws and habits that parents can notice at home, and what the first visit involves.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 8 min read ·
How to brush properly, choose a brush and toothpaste, use floss and a water flosser, and the common mistakes in everyday oral hygiene.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
What root canal treatment is, when the pulp becomes inflamed, the steps involved, whether a crown is needed afterwards and how to care for the tooth.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Why toothache gets worse at night, the common causes, safe ways to get through the night, what not to do, and when it is an emergency.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
A practical guide to oral hygiene with braces: the first days, food to limit, brushing around brackets, useful tools and what to do when a bracket comes loose.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Why teeth are sensitive to cold, the habits that make it worse, what helps at home and when you need a dentist to check.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 3 min read ·
Who teeth whitening works for, why teeth discolour, in-clinic versus at-home whitening, who should not whiten, sensitivity afterwards and keeping the result.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Why baby teeth matter, the signs of decay in children, prevention at home, when the first dental visit should be and how to help a child not fear the dentist.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
What retainers are, why teeth drift back after braces, the types of retainer, how long to wear them, how to clean them and what to do if one breaks or is lost.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
The signs of an impacted wisdom tooth, when a dentist advises removal and when watching is better, what the X-ray shows and when to come in urgently.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Dental implant treatment step by step: examination and scans, planning, placing the post, the healing period, fitting the crown, and who needs extra care.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
How long braces take, the stages of a course of orthodontic treatment, what makes it longer or shorter, and how to keep your treatment on schedule.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Metal braces, ceramic braces and clear aligners compared on appearance, hygiene, appointments and suitability, and how your orthodontist chooses.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
How a long-missing tooth affects chewing and neighbouring teeth; dentures, bridges and implants compared; why an examination and X-rays come before the choice.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 5 min read ·
How porcelain veneers differ from crowns: tooth removed, who they suit, what decides how long they last, and how your dentist chooses between them.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
How tartar forms, the benefits of regular check-ups and scaling, how often suits different people, what to expect afterwards and how to book.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 3 min read ·
Bleeding when you brush is a sign of gingivitis. How it differs from periodontitis, how to clean properly, the role of scaling and when to see a dentist.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Caring for a dental implant: the first 24 hours, eating, cleaning the site, long-term hygiene and the warning signs that mean you should come back.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
Preparing for wisdom tooth removal, care in the first 24 hours, eating and cleaning over the following days, and the warning signs that mean you should call.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·
When a porcelain crown really helps, when a filling, veneer or braces are better, the crown procedure step by step, and how to care for a crowned tooth.
Reviewed by: Dr. Chu Thùy Trinh · 4 min read ·