You chomp with them. You brush and floss them. You flash them when you smile. But how much do you really know about teeth? Let's take a close look at the anatomy of your pearly whites.

We don't always think about tooth decay being a problem for babies and toddlers. But it's a common issue, and it's serious. Many babies are given bottles with sweet liquids throughout the day and night. This can weaken teeth and allow cavities to form. We call this "baby bottle tooth decay."

Bad breath that doesn't go away is a problem for many people. It can be embarrassing and frustrating. You may not understand why it happens, or how to control it. But there are ways to deal with bad breath successfully.

If your gums bleed, don't ignore it. Bleeding gums can be a sign of major problems with your teeth and gums. It can also be a sign of a serious medical issue.

This is a painful ulcer you get in your mouth. It can form inside your lip, on or under your tongue, on your gum, on your cheek or on the roof of your mouth.

For many people, the thought of going to the dentist causes worry and stress. Maybe you've had a painful experience in the past. Maybe you're scared of what it will take to fix a cavity or other problem. But it's not good to avoid the dentist. Delaying or skipping visits lets small problems turn into big ones. So use these tips to control your fear.

A very small crack in your tooth can be painful. It can be above or below the gum line. The crack can be so small you don't see it. Sometimes your dentist has trouble seeing it, even with X-rays. This can be frustrating. We call this problem "cracked tooth syndrome."

You know it's important to brush and floss to remove plaque from your teeth. But what is plaque? Why is it on your teeth, and how does it hurt them?

If salivary glands in your mouth don't produce enough saliva, you have a condition we call "dry mouth." It can be uncomfortable. It can lead to problems with your mouth and teeth.

This is a problem that can happen after a permanent tooth is removed. Normally, when you have a tooth removed, a blood clot forms in the empty socket. This blood clot protects the underlying bone and nerves. But if a clot doesn't form, or if it forms but then dissolves or becomes dislodged, the nerves are exposed. This is a "dry socket." It can be very painful.

This is a mild form of gum disease. Without treatment, it can lead to serious dental problems.

For a healthy mouth, you need healthy gums. Your gums protect the bones and tissues that support your teeth. But bad oral hygiene opens your gums to an infection we call "gum disease." And this leads to serious dental problems.

Many people who have heart disease also have problems with their teeth and gums. Researchers are trying to find out if there is a direct link between the health of your heart and the health of your mouth.

Good oral hygiene involves more than just keeping plaque away. You need to be aware of other dangers, too. One of the biggest is HPV. That's human papillomavirus. There are more than a hundred HPV viruses. Many affect the mouth and throat and genitals.

If your jaw is often sore or painful and you don't know why, you need to see your dentist. There are many reasons for this type of pain, and your dentist can help find what's wrong and correct it.

We all know how annoying mouth sores can be. Your lips and gums are sensitive, and the sores make it hard for you to eat and talk. They can also be slow to heal. Let's learn about common types of mouth sores and what they mean for you.

If you sometimes feel sharp pain in your teeth, you may have sensitive teeth. It's a problem for many people. You may have pain when you brush or floss. Your pain may be triggered by things like soda, hot drinks, citrus and acidic foods. Tooth sensitivity can keep you from having the foods and drinks you enjoy.

This is a breathing disorder. With it, your breathing becomes irregular when you sleep. Your breaths may become shallow. Your breathing may stop completely for extended periods of time. This severely disrupts your sleep.

It's loud, it's repetitive, and it can prevent a good night's sleep. Snoring is problem many of us have to deal with. It can happen occasionally or every night. Let's take a few minutes to learn more about snoring.

This is a form of hardened plaque that builds up on your teeth. You cant brush it away. It can be embarrassing, and its bad for your teeth and gums.

This is an unconscious grinding or clenching of your teeth. We call it "bruxism." For many people, it happens during sleep. For others, it happens when they're awake. It can damage your teeth and cause other problems.

This is a common habit for many babies and young children. Most often, thumb sucking isn't a problem. But if it continues for a long time, it can change the shape of the mouth as a child grows.

If you have pain in your jaw, or if you have problems opening or closing your mouth, you may have a TMJ disorder. That's a problem with one or both of your temporomandibular joints. These joints connect your jaw to your skull. They act as hinges. They also allow your jaw to slide forward and back.

When you use tobacco, you put your health – and your mouth's health – at risk. Tobacco products damage your teeth, gums and the tissues of your mouth and throat. Let's learn about the dangers of tobacco.

This is an infection near the root of a tooth. It's a pocket of pus that can be next to a root, or below the tip of the root. An abscess is painful. If it's not treated, it can lead to serious complications. It can even be life-threatening.

Your teeth are protected by a hard outer layer we call "enamel." If you don't practice good oral hygiene, this enamel can break down. Harmful bacteria gets through the weak enamel and begins to destroy your teeth. This is tooth decay.

We've all heard of "wisdom teeth." But what are they, exactly? Why do we have them, and why do they have such a funny name?