Not everyone is a candidate for whitening. Bleaching is not recommended if you have tooth-coloured fillings, crowns, caps or bonding in your front teeth — the bleach will not change the colour of these materials, making them stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like veneers or bonding.

A guide to dental health for your baby and the family. As parents of young children there will be many calls on your time, but the simple dental advice offered in this booklet will provide important health gains for your children.

What is halitosis? Halitosis simply means bad breath, a problem that many people experience at one time or another. It is estimated that 40 percent of the population suffers from chronic halitosis at some time.

If you find yourself waking up with sore jaw muscles or a headache, you may be suffering from bruxism — the grinding and clenching of teeth. Bruxism can cause teeth to become painful or loose, and sometimes parts of the teeth are literally ground away. Eventually, bruxism can destroy the surrounding bone and gum tissue. It can also lead to problems involving the jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

Dental caries, or tooth decay, is the formation of cavities in the teeth by the action of bacteria. The causes of caries are plaque bacteria, dietary sugars, exposure to acid attack and susceptible tooth surfaces.

Follow these four easy steps to make sure your child keeps smiling.

If you have a toothache, take an appropriate painkiller and see the dentist as soon as possible. If there is an object wedged between teeth, try to remove the object with dental floss, guiding the floss carefully to prevent cutting gums. If you can't remove the object, see a dentist.

Prevent your child from losing their smile. If an adult tooth is knocked out, follow these steps.

You have been recommended to use Colgate Duraphat® 2800ppm fluoride toothpaste. The following information has been prepared to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Colgate Duraphat 2800ppm toothpaste.

You have been recommended to use Colgate Duraphat 5000ppm Fluoride Toothpaste. The following information has been prepared to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Colgate Duraphat 5000ppm Flouride Toothpaste.

By following the information in this guide, you and your family can have healthy teeth and gums to last a lifetime. As a parent, you can work with your children to help them understand why good oral care is important — and show them how to do it right!

When caring for your fixed brace, clean your teeth and gums with a small headed toothbrush.

Good oral care starts from the beginning of your child's life. Even before his or her first teeth emerge, certain factors can affect their future appearance and health. For instance, tetracycline, a common antibiotic, can cause tooth discoloration. For this reason, they should not be used by nursing mothers or by expectant mothers in the last half of pregnancy.

Passing on good oral habits to your child is one of the most important health lessons you can teach them. This means helping him or her brush twice a day, limiting between-meal sweet snacks and seeing your dentist regularly.

Some people are born with teeth that are more yellow than others. Others have teeth that yellow with age. Your natural tooth colour can also be affected by many factors.

Help your child learn good brushing habits with the Colgate Smiles brushing chart.

Proper nutrition means eating a balanced diet so your body can get the nutrients needed for good health. Every day, your body renews itself, building new muscle, bone, skin and blood. The foods you eat provide the building blocks for these new tissues. If your diet is low in the nutrients your body needs, your mouth may have a more difficult time resisting infection.

Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in his or her health that will pay lifelong dividends. You can start by setting an example; taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is something to be valued. And anything that makes taking care of teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own toothbrush, encourages proper oral care.

Plaque is the film of bacteria which is constantly forming on all teeth. Plaque causes dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal disease (gum disease).

Dental injuries can often be prevented — especially if you know what to watch out for. These tips can help you do just that. Note the specific areas that you know may prove dangerous.

Many adults suffer from sensitive teeth or dentine sensitivity. This condition is common when the enamel covering the crown of the tooth is worn away and the root surfaces of teeth are exposed.

Sports guards, mouth guards and mouth protectors are different names for the same thing: a device worn over your teeth that protects them from direct blows. Mouth guards are an important piece of athletic equipment for anyone participating in a sport that involves falls, body contact or flying equipment. This includes football, rugby, cricket, basketball, hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, mountain biking — any activity that might result in an injury to the mouth.

What is tartar? Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Tartar can also form at and underneath the gumline and can irritate gum tissues. Tartar gives plaque more surface area on which to grow and a much stickier surface to adhere to, which can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease.

You may have read articles in newspapers and magazines about "TMD" — temporomandibular (jaw) disorders, also called "TMJ syndrome." Perhaps you have even felt pain sometimes in your jaw area, or maybe your dentist or physician has told you that you have TMD.

What are the different parts of the tooth? Crown: the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.

Mouth irritations and oral lesions are swellings, spots or sores on your mouth, lips or tongue. Although there are numerous types of mouth sores and disorders, among the most common are Aphthous ulcers, cold sores, leukoplakia and candidiasis (thrush). These are discussed below. If you have a mouth sore, you're not alone — around one third of all people are affected at some point. Nonetheless, mouth sores, irritations and lesions can be painful, unsightly and can interfere with eating and speaking. Any mouth sore that persists for a week or more should be examined by your dentist. A biopsy (tissue taken for testing) may be advised and can usually determine the cause, ruling out such serious diseases as cancer and HIV.

"Cavities" is another way of saying tooth decay. Tooth decay is heavily influenced by lifestyle — what we eat, how well we take care of our teeth, the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste. Heredity also plays a role in how susceptible your teeth may be to decay.

Wisdom teeth are the last molars on each side of the jaws. They are the last teeth to emerge, or erupt, usually when a person is between 16 and 20.

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colourless film that constantly forms on your teeth.

Dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth moist. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, especially if you're nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious health problems or indicate that a more serious medical condition may exist. That's because saliva does more than just keep the mouth wet — it helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria in the mouth, and makes it possible for you to chew and swallow.

Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means your teeth are clean and free of debris, gums are firmly held against teeth and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss, and bad breath is not a constant problem.

Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. It is the main cause of cavities and gum disease, and can harden into tartar if not removed daily.

Tooth sensitivity is tooth pain due to a wearing away of the tooth's surface or gum tissue. The most common cause of sensitive teeth in adults is exposed tooth roots due to receding gums.