My dentist tells me I have malocclusion. What is a malocclusion? Do all types of malocclusion really need braces?

Malocclusion is a prevalent problem around the world. Although not as life threatening as the other diseases out there, this particular problem can lead to changes in your way of life. Simply put, it is a problem of mal-alignment of the teeth, the jaws or both. When you start to suspect that you have this kind of problem, it may be time to see an orthodontist. Your orthodontist may put you on treatment with braces or with an appliance.

Some people may find this article too elementary since it has been proven, time and time again, that nighttime bottlefeeding does tooth decay. But recently, I had a patient (whose mother is a Baby Magazine reader at that) who was so surprised when I told her that it's the nighttime bottlefeeding of her child that caused the problem. So I found the need to go back to this very important information.

Toothbrushing remains to be the cornerstone of oral hygiene at home. Dentists can't stress enough the importance of this daily regimen to be done efficiently – to remove plaque and food debris and to raise fluoride levels in the saliva, thereby giving us fresh breath and preventing tooth decay and bone disease.

The thing is, toothbrushing, when not done properly, can be useless. For you to get the maximum benefits of fluoride, then it should carried out well. Here are some common mistakes that parents usually make when it pertains to brushing their children's teeth: