Flossing will remove plaque and debris in areas that your toothbrush isn t able to reach. A buildup of plaque can lead to gum disease or tooth decay, which is why flossing is very important. If you floss immediately after brushing, you ll notice that your gums and teeth will be much healthier. When you look at dental floss, you ll notice there are two types - nylon and single filament. Dental emergencies should be seen immediately by a dentist, day or night. These emergencies include broken teeth, teeth that have been knocked out, or teeth that have been forced out of the socket. With some emergencies, the cheeks, lips, or gums will have cuts or abrasions on them from where the teeth come out of the socket. To determine if you have periodontal disease, you ll need to have your dentist examine you on a regular basis. Your dentist can perform tests on your gums and your teeth, to determine if you have it. If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist can tell you how to stop the progression and prevent things from getting any worse than they already are. Hundreds of years ago, herbs were the only way to stop the pain. Dentists were just starting to come around, although they didn t have near the equipment and sophistication that they have these days. Even though teeth were pulled during these times, it normally happened with alcohol to numb the pain then pliers to remove the tooth. When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can grow and spread, or get backed up. When this happens, an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent will swelling as it gets bigger and spreads. Once the infection has started to spread, your jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling in the area that has been infected. Tobacco users will also suffer from dry mouth, as the tobacco will use up the saliva in the mouth and leave the user with nothing to keep his or her mouth moist. Cavities are a very serious situation, and if left untreated, can result in the destruction of the tooth. This can also destroy the nerves as well, resulting in an abscess.