Healthy habits, including brushing and flossing, can keep your teeth and gums healthy. If your teeth and gums are not healthy it can lead to pain and tooth loss. If you do wind up having some pain in your teeth and you have not yet been able to go to a dentist, there are some helpful tips in the video above "10 Ways to Kill a Toothache". If you have tooth/mouth pain, make sure to go to a dentist as soon as you can.

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Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on your teeth. It forms from bacteria and foods in our mouths. When plaque stays on your teeth too long, it can lead to tooth decay (softening of the protective layer of enamel) and gum disease. Brushing and flossing help get plaque off your teeth so your mouth can stay healthy. Learn more in the video above "What Causes Cavities?" Taking care of your teeth and gums is especially important if you have diabetes or are pregnant.

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When plaque is not removed it hardens over time into another substance called tartar and collects above your gums. Tartar makes it more difficult to brush and clean between your teeth. Your gums become red and swollen, and bleed easily—signs of unhealthy or inflamed gums, called gingivitis.

When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to gum disease called periodontitis. In periodontitis, the gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces, called pockets, which slowly become infected. This infection can last a long time. Your body fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. Both the bacteria and your body’s response to this infection start to break down the bone and the tissue that hold the teeth in place. If periodontitis is not treated, the gums, bones, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. Teeth may become loose and might need to be removed. If you have periodontitis, your dentist may send you to a periodontist, an expert in treating gum disease.