Dental care
Learning Center
Brush up on how to brush your teeth
Are you brushing your teeth properly? Here's how to brush: Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with circular short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush. Brush your teeth twice a day.
Dental floss vs. water flosser: Which is better?
Cleaning between your teeth every day is an important part of good oral health.
Does flossing really make a difference?
Yes. You can't reach the bacteria in tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line with a toothbrush. Aim to floss daily. If you find it hard to handle floss, use an interdental cleaner — such as a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, a water flosser, or wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover. As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn't matter if you brush or floss first.
HPV vaccine: Who needs it, how it works
Learn about how the HPV vaccine works, who needs it and what side effects to expect.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment of this blood vessel disease, also called IgA vasculitis, that causes a purplish rash on the lower legs.
How to focus on the present for long-term progress
Sometimes, the big picture can make your head spin. Here's how to let go of worries about the future for a minute and set yourself up for real progress.
Improve brain health with the MIND diet
The MIND diet is a smart way of eating for both your brain and your overall health. Here's how to do it.
Keloid scar
Learn about how to prevent, remove or flatten these problematic raised scars that form over scars from acne, tattoos, piercing and other injuries.
Mayo Clinic Minute: Meningitis 101 for college students
College life can increase the risk of bacterial meningitis, a potentially serious infection – but a vaccine can offer protection.
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD)
Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for this autoimmune disease that attacks nerve fibers in the body.
Refine Your Search
Type
Gender
- All
- Female (1)
Age
- All
- 45 to 64 middle
- 19 to 44 younger
- 19 to 28 young adult
- 13 to 18 years teen
- 06 to 12 years elementary/preteen
- 03 to 5 years preschool
- 80 and over
- 65 to 80 older
- 2 years