Dental Library
The ArtSmiles Dental Library is an evidence-based reference covering a wide range of dental conditions, written for patients and the clinicians who refer them. Every entry is grounded in current clinical references and reviewed by the ArtSmiles team at Southport, Gold Coast.
Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker and the ArtSmiles clinical teamSouthport, Gold Coast
Looking after your mouth at home
Patient-friendly answers to the everyday questions about brushing, fluoride, bleeding gums and the home habits that actually shift your long-term oral health. Read these first, because most mouth problems are easier to prevent than to treat.
Choosing the Right Toothbrush: Manual vs Electric
Manual or electric? A patient guide to what the evidence shows, when each is enough, the difference between oscillating-rotating and sonic, and the bristle and head specs that actually matter.
ReadHow to Brush Your Teeth Properly
A plain-language, evidence-based guide to brushing technique, frequency, toothpaste amount, and the spit-don't-rinse rule. Includes guidance for children, braces, dry mouth, and gum disease.
ReadLiving with Dry Mouth: Prevention and Daily Care
Dry mouth is more than a dry feeling. It changes the chemistry of the mouth and raises decay and gum disease risk. A patient guide to causes, daily care, and when to see your dentist.
ReadThe ArtSmiles SmileShield Protocol: Custom Fluoride Trays for High Caries Risk
ArtSmiles SmileShield is our signature overnight protocol for patients at high decay risk. A custom-fitted tray, low-dose 0.145% NaF, worn while you sleep, so the dental work we’ve done together keeps doing its job.
ReadWater Flossers: The solution for who don't like flossing
A water flosser flushes the gumline and the spaces between teeth. Here's what one actually does, who tends to benefit most, and how to use it without sore gums or a soaked bathroom.
ReadTry Oral Scan
Oral Scan is a short, anonymous symptom guide. Tell us where the problem is, what it looks like, and how long you've had it, and we'll suggest two or three conditions that fit your description, with a clear note on how soon you should see a dentist about it.
When saliva and the glands behind it go wrong
Blocked or infected salivary glands, stones that swell at meal times, and the autoimmune dryness of Sjögren's syndrome. Why saliva matters so much, and what happens when it dries up.
Acute Bacterial Sialadenitis: An infected salivary gland explained
Acute bacterial sialadenitis is a sudden infection of a salivary gland, often triggered by dehydration. Here's how to recognise it and the urgent treatment needed.
ReadSialolithiasis (Salivary Gland Stones): Why your gland swells at meal times
Sialolithiasis is the formation of stones in a salivary gland or duct. The classic symptom is pain and swelling at meal times. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadSjögren's Syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune condition causing dry mouth and dry eyes, with a high risk of dental decay. Here's how it's diagnosed and managed at the dentist.
ReadXerostomia (Dry Mouth): Why Your Mouth Feels Dry and What Can Help
Xerostomia (dry mouth) is a common symptom with many possible causes. Learn what triggers it, when it points to a systemic condition, and the practical steps that bring relief.
ReadMouth sores that heal, and the ones that shouldn't be ignored
From everyday canker sores and trauma to autoimmune blistering diseases and the non-healing ulcer that can signal mouth cancer. How to tell the routine from the serious.
Angular Cheilitis: sore, cracked corners of the mouth — what causes it and how to settle it
Angular cheilitis is the red, cracked sores at the corners of the mouth — here's what causes it and how to settle it. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadBullous Pemphigoid: when tense skin blisters are the main story (and the mouth sometimes joins in)
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune blistering disease of elderly skin that occasionally involves the mouth. Learn how it differs from pemphigus and how it's treated.
ReadChemical and Thermal Burns of the Mouth: pizza burns, aspirin burns and other accidents
Oral burns from hot food, aspirin or chemicals usually heal in 7-14 days. Here is how to recognise them and when to seek dental care. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadContact Stomatitis and Oral Allergies — Why Your Mouth Reacts to Toothpaste, Gum or Dental Materials
Contact stomatitis is an allergic reaction in the mouth to dental materials, cosmetics or foods. Learn the triggers, how it's diagnosed, and how removing the cause clears it.
ReadDeep Fungal Infections of the Mouth
Deep fungal infections produce chronic mouth ulcers that look like oral cancer. Learn the organisms, who's at risk, and the systemic antifungal treatments that work.
ReadDrug-Induced Oral Ulceration: when a medication causes mouth sores
Drug-induced oral ulceration happens when a medication triggers mouth sores. Here's how it looks, the common culprits, and when to see a dentist. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadErythema Multiforme: when sudden mouth ulcers and crusted lips appear together
Erythema multiforme produces sudden lip crusting, painful mouth ulcers and target skin lesions. Learn the triggers (herpes, drugs), diagnosis and how it's treated.
ReadMucous Membrane Pemphigoid: when the gums and mouth lining blister and erode
Mucous membrane pemphigoid is an autoimmune blistering disease that scars the gums and eyes. Learn the oral signs, why ophthalmology is involved, and treatment options.
ReadOral Manifestations of Crohn's Disease: how the mouth can show what the gut is doing
Crohn's disease causes mouth ulcers, lip swelling and cobblestoning. Learn the oral signs that sometimes appear before bowel symptoms and how the two are linked.
ReadOral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: the mouth cancer your dentist is looking for
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common mouth cancer. Learn the warning signs, risk factors and why a non-healing ulcer should never be ignored.
ReadOral Tuberculosis: when a chronic mouth ulcer points to a lung infection
Oral tuberculosis is a rare cause of chronic mouth ulcers, usually secondary to lung TB. Learn risk factors, diagnostic steps and the six-month antibiotic regimen.
ReadPemphigus Vegetans: the warty, vegetating variant of pemphigus
Pemphigus vegetans is a rare variant of pemphigus vulgaris that produces warty, vegetating plaques in skin folds and at the oral commissures. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadPemphigus Vulgaris: when the immune system attacks the lining of the mouth
Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare autoimmune disease that often starts in the mouth as ragged, painful ulcers. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadRadiation Mucositis: when head and neck radiotherapy makes the mouth raw
Radiation mucositis is painful ulceration of the mouth during head-and-neck radiotherapy. Learn prevention strategies, symptom relief and long-term oral effects.
ReadRecurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: when canker sores keep coming back
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis causes painful canker sores in the mouth. Learn the three types, common triggers, and when to investigate for systemic disease.
ReadTraumatic Ulcer: when a sore in your mouth doesn't heal
Traumatic ulcers are common mouth sores from sharp teeth, dentures or biting. Learn how they're managed and the three-week rule that helps catch oral cancer.
ReadFrom a cavity to a deep infection
Tooth decay and everything it can lead to: sensitivity, a dying nerve, abscesses, and even infection of the jaw bone. How each stage is caught and treated before it spreads.
Condensing Osteitis (Focal Sclerosing Osteomyelitis)
Condensing osteitis is dense bone on a dental X-ray, usually around a tooth with chronic pulp inflammation. Here's why it forms and how it's treated.
ReadDental Abscess and Cellulitis: When a Tooth Infection Spreads
A dental abscess can spread into the face and neck as cellulitis. Here's how to recognise the warning signs and when it becomes an emergency.
ReadDental Caries (Tooth Decay): Why teeth break down and how to stop it
Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common chronic disease worldwide. Here's how it forms, the early signs and how it's prevented and treated.
ReadIrreversible Pulpitis
Irreversible pulpitis is the spontaneous, lingering tooth pain stage of decay. Here's how to recognise it and the urgent treatment options.
ReadOsteomyelitis of the Jaw
Osteomyelitis of the jaw is a deep bone infection, usually following a dental abscess or extraction. Here's how it's recognised and treated.
ReadPeriapical Abscess: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
A periapical abscess is a pus collection at the tip of a tooth root, usually from a deeply decayed or dead tooth. Here's how it's recognised and treated.
ReadPeriapical Granuloma: What Is That Spot at the Tip of My Tooth Root?
A periapical granuloma is a small lesion at the tip of a tooth root from chronic pulp infection, usually painless and revealed on X-ray. Here's how it's treated.
ReadPhoenix Abscess
A phoenix abscess is a sudden flare-up of a previously quiet periapical lesion. Here's why it happens and how it's treated.
ReadReversible Pulpitis
Reversible pulpitis is short, sharp tooth sensitivity that fades once the trigger is removed. Here's how it differs from irreversible pulpitis and how it's treated.
ReadWhat is pulp necrosis?
Pulp necrosis is the death of a tooth's inner nerve from decay, trauma or a crack. Here's how it's recognised, the discolouration it causes and how it's treated.
ReadThe silent disease that loses teeth
Bleeding gums, gum disease, gum abscesses, and the overgrowth and infections that affect the tissue around your teeth. Usually painless until the damage is already done.
Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG): Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
ANUG (acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis) is a painful gum infection often linked to smoking, stress and poor hygiene. Here's how to recognise and treat it.
ReadAggressive Periodontitis (Stage III/IV Grade C Periodontitis)
Aggressive periodontitis is a rapidly progressing form of gum disease that often runs in families. Here's how to recognise the early signs and treatment options.
ReadChronic Periodontitis
Chronic periodontitis is a long-term inflammatory gum disease that slowly destroys the bone holding teeth in place. Here's how to recognise and control it.
ReadDesquamative Gingivitis
Desquamative gingivitis is red, peeling, painful gums, usually a sign of lichen planus, pemphigoid or pemphigus. Here's how it's diagnosed and managed.
ReadDrug-Induced Gingival Overgrowth
Some blood pressure, transplant and anti-epileptic medications cause the gums to enlarge. Here's how to recognise the change and manage it without stopping treatment.
ReadGingivitis: Why Your Gums Bleed When You Brush
Gingivitis is the early, reversible stage of gum disease. Here's how to spot the signs and the steps that get gums back to healthy in one to two weeks.
ReadNecrotising Ulcerative Periodontitis (NUP)
Necrotising ulcerative periodontitis is a severe gum and bone infection usually linked to immune suppression. Here's how to recognise and manage it.
ReadPericoronitis: gum infection around a partially erupted wisdom tooth
Pericoronitis is gum inflammation around an erupting wisdom tooth. Here's how to recognise the flare-up, what helps at home and when removal is the answer.
ReadWhat Is a Periodontal Abscess?
A periodontal abscess is a pus collection from gum disease in a deep gum pocket. Here's how it differs from a tooth abscess and how it's treated.
ReadWhen the tooth itself is worn or flawed
Grinding and acid erosion, cracks, root resorption, and the inherited enamel and dentine defects that leave some teeth weak from the start. The slow damage most people miss until it becomes structural.
Amelogenesis Imperfecta: When enamel doesn't form properly
Amelogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary defect of tooth enamel that produces thin, pitted or discoloured teeth from the time they erupt. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadCracked Tooth Syndrome: Why does my tooth hurt when I bite?
A cracked tooth often produces sharp pain on biting and sensitivity to cold, even when no crack is visible. Learn how dentists find and treat it. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadDental Fluorosis (and Enamel Hypoplasia): Mottled enamel explained
Dental fluorosis is white flecking or brown staining of enamel from excess childhood fluoride. Learn how it's diagnosed and the cosmetic treatments that work.
ReadDentin Dysplasia
Dentin dysplasia is a rare inherited disorder that gives teeth short roots or odd pulp shapes. Learn the types, diagnostic x-ray clues and long-term management.
ReadDentinogenesis Imperfecta: Hereditary opalescent dentine
Dentinogenesis imperfecta gives teeth a translucent blue-grey colour and weakens them. Learn its types, link to brittle bone disease, and lifelong dental care.
ReadEnamel Hypoplasia: When teeth form with thin, pitted or marked enamel
Enamel hypoplasia is a permanent enamel defect from childhood illness or nutritional issues. Learn the causes, how it's diagnosed and the restorative options.
ReadExternal Tooth Resorption: When a root dissolves from the outside
External tooth resorption silently dissolves tooth structure from the outside. Learn the trauma and orthodontic triggers and how dentists diagnose and treat it.
ReadInternal Tooth Resorption (Pink Tooth of Mummery): When a tooth dissolves from within
Internal tooth resorption is when the dentine inside a tooth dissolves from within. It is often silent until a pink spot appears or an X-ray finds it. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadTooth Wear (Attrition, Erosion, Abrasion and Abfraction): The four causes of tooth surface loss
Tooth wear covers attrition, erosion, abrasion and abfraction — four ways the surface of teeth can be lost over time. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadGrowths and swellings worth a second look
Soft lumps, bony lumps, and the cysts that form quietly inside the jaw. What is harmless, what is not, and when a lump needs removing or a biopsy.
Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst (Gorlin Cyst): A rare jaw lesion explained
A calcifying odontogenic cyst (Gorlin cyst) is a rare jaw lesion showing a mixed shadow on X-ray. Here's how it's diagnosed and treated.
ReadDentigerous Cyst: A fluid-filled sac around an unerupted tooth
A dentigerous cyst is a fluid-filled sac around the crown of an unerupted tooth, most often a wisdom tooth. Here's how it's found and treated.
ReadEpulis Fissuratum
Epulis fissuratum is overgrown gum tissue that forms where a denture rubs. Here's why it happens, how it's treated, and how to prevent it coming back.
ReadFordyce Spots (Fordyce Granules)
Fordyce spots are tiny yellow-white bumps in the mouth, a normal anatomical variant present in most adults. Here's why they appear and why they're harmless.
ReadGingival Cyst (Adult and Newborn): Two harmless gum cysts explained
Gingival cysts are harmless. In newborns they appear as whitish nodules and resolve on their own; in adults they form a small dome-shaped lump that's easily removed.
ReadHPV Oral Lesions: Papillomas, warts and condylomas in the mouth
Oral HPV can cause harmless warty lumps including squamous papillomas, common warts and condylomas. Here's how they're recognised and treated.
ReadLateral Periodontal Cyst: A developmental cyst beside a vital tooth
A lateral periodontal cyst is a rare benign jaw cyst found beside a tooth root on X-ray. Here's how it's identified, treated and followed up.
ReadLipoma in the Mouth: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Oral lipomas are benign fatty lumps inside the mouth. Here's how they look, what causes them, and when to see a dentist.
ReadLudwig's Angina
Ludwig's angina is a serious, rapidly spreading neck infection from a dental source. Recognise the warning signs early and seek urgent care.
ReadMucocele: What Is That Bluish Bubble on Your Lip?
A mucocele is a soft, bluish bump on the lip from a damaged salivary gland. Here's what causes it and how it's treated. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadOdontogenic Keratocyst
An odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign jaw cyst with a higher chance of recurrence than most. Here's how it's diagnosed, treated and followed up.
ReadPyogenic Granuloma
A pyogenic granuloma is a benign red lump that bleeds easily, often on the gum and common in pregnancy. Here's why it forms and how it's treated.
ReadRanula: A soft bluish swelling in the floor of the mouth
A ranula is a soft, often bluish swelling in the floor of the mouth from the sublingual salivary gland. Learn how it is diagnosed and treated. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadResidual Cyst: A leftover dental cyst explained
A residual cyst forms at the site of a tooth removed years ago, when its cyst lining was not fully cleared. Here's how it's found and treated.
ReadTori and Exostoses: What Are These Bony Lumps in My Mouth?
Tori and exostoses are harmless bony lumps in the mouth, often on the palate or lower jaw. Here's why they form and when they need treatment.
ReadTraumatic Fibroma (Fibrous Epulis): The most common oral mouth lump
A traumatic fibroma is a firm pink lump in the mouth from cheek-biting or a rough denture edge. Here's how it forms and how it's removed.
ReadTraumatic Neuroma
A traumatic neuroma is a benign but tender nerve overgrowth that forms after an injury or surgery. Here's why it hurts and how it's removed.
ReadPatches that are harmless, and patches that need watching
White, red, and mixed patches on the cheek, tongue, palate, or floor of the mouth. From thrush and harmless friction marks to the pre-cancerous changes that need a biopsy.
Chronic Hyperplastic Candidiasis (Candidal Leukoplakia): A stubborn white patch
Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis is a persistent white patch from Candida infection, often linked to smoking. Here's how it's diagnosed and treated.
ReadDenture stomatitis: why does the mucosa under my denture look red?
Denture stomatitis is a painless red patch under the denture from Candida. Here's how to clear it with hygiene, antifungal care and night-time removal.
ReadErythematous Candidiasis: the red, sore form of oral thrush
Erythematous candidiasis is a red, often sore form of oral Candida infection, common after antibiotics or inhaled steroids. Here's how to recognise and clear it.
ReadErythroplakia: A velvety red patch that needs urgent assessment
Erythroplakia is a velvety red patch in the mouth that almost always carries severe dysplasia or early cancer on biopsy. It needs urgent assessment. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadFrictional Keratosis: When Constant Rubbing Turns Mouth Tissue White
Frictional keratosis is a harmless white patch from chronic biting or rubbing. Here's how it differs from leukoplakia and when it needs a biopsy.
ReadHairy Leukoplakia: An EBV white patch and a sign of weakened immunity
Hairy leukoplakia is a corrugated white tongue patch caused by Epstein-Barr virus, strongly linked to immune suppression. Here's what it signals and how it's managed.
ReadLeukoedema: A harmless milky-white change of the cheeks
Leukoedema is a harmless milky-white change in the cheek lining that fades on stretch. Here's how it's diagnosed and why no treatment is needed.
ReadLichenoid Drug Reactions
Lichenoid drug reactions look like lichen planus but are triggered by medications or contact materials. Here's how to identify the trigger and clear the lesion.
ReadLinea Alba
Linea alba is a harmless white line on the cheek at the bite-line level. Here's why it forms and how it differs from leukoplakia or frictional keratosis.
ReadMorsicatio Buccarum (Cheek Chewing)
Morsicatio buccarum is a harmless white shredded patch on the cheek caused by chronic biting. Here's how to recognise the pattern and break the habit.
ReadNicotinic Stomatitis (Smoker's Palate)
Nicotinic stomatitis is the smoker's palate pattern, white with red dots from inflamed salivary openings. Here's how quitting reverses it and when biopsy is needed.
ReadOral Leukoplakia: A persistent white patch that needs assessment
Leukoplakia is a persistent white oral patch with a recognised cancer-change risk. Here's how to recognise it and why biopsy and follow-up matter.
ReadOral Lichen Planus: lacy white patches and red patches that won't go away
Oral lichen planus is a chronic immune-mediated mouth condition with lacy white or red eroded patches. Here's how it's diagnosed, treated and monitored long-term.
ReadOral Submucous Fibrosis
Oral submucous fibrosis is a pre-malignant scarring of the mouth linked to areca-nut chewing. Here's how to recognise it and slow progression.
ReadProliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia (PVL): A high-risk oral white patch
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is a rare but high-risk form of oral leukoplakia with multiple persistent white patches that often progress to oral cancer. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadPseudomembranous Candidiasis (Oral Thrush)
Pseudomembranous candidiasis (oral thrush) is a creamy white wipe-off Candida infection. Here's how to recognise triggers and clear it with antifungal treatment.
ReadSublingual Keratosis
Sublingual keratosis is a white patch in a high-risk site of the mouth that needs biopsy. Here's why floor-of-mouth lesions are taken seriously.
ReadVerrucous Carcinoma: A Slow-Growing White Warty Lesion in the Mouth
Verrucous carcinoma is a slow-growing, warty oral cancer often mistaken for leukoplakia. Learn how biopsy confirms it and why surgery is the main treatment.
ReadWhite Sponge Naevus (Cannon's Disease): A benign inherited white change of the mouth
White sponge naevus is a rare inherited condition with harmless thick spongy white patches in the mouth. Here's how it's diagnosed and why no treatment is usually needed.
ReadWhat your tongue is trying to tell you
Grooves, coatings, colour changes, a smooth red surface, or a map-like pattern. What these tongue changes mean and when they are worth acting on.
Fissured Tongue: Why does my tongue have grooves and cracks?
Fissured tongue is a common, harmless tongue variation with deep grooves on the surface. Learn what causes it and when it links to psoriasis or geographic tongue.
ReadGeographic Tongue (Erythema Migrans): A benign map-like pattern on the tongue
Geographic tongue is a harmless, migratory map-like pattern on the tongue. Learn what causes it, what triggers flares and how to soothe a burning tongue.
ReadHairy Tongue (Black Hairy Tongue): Why does my tongue look furry?
Hairy tongue is a benign furry, stained appearance of the tongue. Learn what causes the colour, how it differs from hairy leukoplakia and how to clear it.
ReadMacroglossia
Macroglossia is an enlarged tongue with many possible causes — congenital, hormonal, local lesions. Learn the patterns and the systemic conditions linked to it.
ReadMedian Rhomboid Glossitis: When the middle of the tongue turns smooth and red
Median rhomboid glossitis is a smooth red patch on the back of the tongue caused by chronic Candida. Learn the risk factors and how it's treated.
ReadDark marks that are normal, and ones that are not
Brown, grey, blue, and black marks inside the mouth. Most are harmless tattoos or natural pigment, but a few, including melanoma, need a closer look.
Addisons Disease (Oral Pigmentation): When the mouth turns brown
Addison's disease can show up first as brown patches in the mouth. Here's why oral pigmentation matters and what your dentist will look for.
ReadAmalgam Tattoo: When amalgam particles stain the gum
Amalgam tattoos are harmless grey-black spots from dental amalgam particles. Learn how dentists tell them apart from more serious oral pigmentation.
ReadDrug-Induced Oral Pigmentation: When medications darken the mouth
Some medications such as minocycline, antimalarials and chemotherapy agents can cause brown or grey-blue oral pigmentation. Learn the patterns. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadOral Malignant Melanoma: A rare but aggressive cancer of the mouth
Oral malignant melanoma is a rare, aggressive pigmented cancer of the mouth lining. Learn the warning signs and why early biopsy is critical.
ReadOral Melanotic Macule (Focal Melanosis): A benign brown spot in the mouth
Melanotic macules are flat brown spots in the mouth caused by harmless extra melanin. Here's how dentists tell them apart from melanoma and when biopsy matters.
ReadPhysiological Oral Pigmentation: A normal harmless brown colour of the gums
Physiological oral pigmentation is a normal symmetrical brown colour of the gums and mouth lining seen in many people with darker skin. It is harmless. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadSmoker's Melanosis
Smoker's melanosis is brown gum and cheek pigmentation linked to tobacco use. Learn how it differs from melanoma and how quitting affects the colour.
ReadWhen the mouth signals something bigger
Diabetes, autoimmune disease, anaemia, pregnancy, and conditions of the heart, liver, kidneys and thyroid often leave their first clues in the mouth. The oral signs that point to your general health.
Diabetes and Your Mouth: How Diabetes Affects Oral Health
Diabetes makes gum disease, dry mouth and thrush worse — and bad gums make blood sugar harder to control. Learn how the two are linked and what to do.
ReadLupus Erythematosus and the Mouth: What Oral Signs Mean
Lupus can produce painful palate ulcers and patches that mimic oral lichen planus. Learn the oral signs, what biopsy shows and how treatment is shared with rheumatology.
ReadOral Manifestations of Anaemia: when low iron or B12 shows up in your mouth
Anaemia can show up in your mouth first — smooth sore tongue, pale lining, cracked corners. Here's what to watch for. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadOral Manifestations of Cardiac Disease
Heart disease and dental health affect each other in important ways, from medication side-effects to bleeding risk and infective endocarditis. Coordinated care keeps you safe. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadOral Manifestations of Coeliac Disease: when gluten sensitivity shows up in the mouth
Coeliac disease can show up first as enamel defects and mouth ulcers. Learn the oral clues, why dentists look for them and how the condition is diagnosed.
ReadOral Manifestations of HIV and AIDS: When the mouth shows the disease
HIV and AIDS produce a range of oral conditions including candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma. Learn the signs. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadOral Manifestations of Liver Disease
Liver disease can show up in the mouth as jaundice, bleeding gums and lichen planus. Learn what dentists look for and why clotting tests matter before treatment.
ReadOral Manifestations of Psoriasis: When a skin condition shows in the mouth
Psoriasis can show up in the mouth as geographic tongue, fissured tongue or rare oral plaques. Learn which oral findings are linked and how they're managed.
ReadOral Manifestations of Renal Disease: When the kidneys show in the mouth
Chronic kidney disease changes the mouth — dry mouth, uraemic stomatitis, gum overgrowth from transplant medicines. Learn what dentists watch for.
ReadOral Manifestations of Respiratory Disease: Dental clues to lung conditions
Asthma and COPD affect the mouth — thrush from inhalers, mouth breathing, gum-lung disease links. Learn how dentists adapt care and why oral hygiene matters.
ReadOral manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis: how RA can affect your jaw, mouth and saliva
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the jaw joint, salivary glands and gums. Learn how it shows up in the mouth and what dentists adjust during treatment.
ReadOral Manifestations of Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease shows up in the mouth — enlarged tongue, delayed eruption, burning mouth, dry mouth. Learn how the oral signs differ in hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
ReadPregnancy and Your Mouth: What Changes Should You Watch For?
Pregnancy hormones can cause swollen gums, gum lumps and tooth erosion. Here's what to expect and how to care for your mouth. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadTeeth and mouths that are still developing
Cleft lip and palate, missing or extra teeth, unusual tooth shapes, and the harmless cysts that appear as new teeth come through. The developmental differences we watch for as children grow.
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Cleft lip and palate are common congenital differences in the upper lip or roof of the mouth. Here's the staged team approach to surgery, dental and speech care.
ReadDens Evaginatus (Talon Cusp): A small extra cusp explained
Dens evaginatus is a small extra cusp on a child's tooth that can fracture and expose the pulp. Here's how it's spotted and protected before complications.
ReadDens Invaginatus (Dens in Dente): A developmental tooth-within-a-tooth
Dens invaginatus is a developmental fold inside a tooth that can let bacteria reach the pulp early. Here's how it's spotted and sealed before infection.
ReadEruption Cyst (Eruption Hematoma): A soft bluish swelling over a new tooth
An eruption cyst is a harmless bluish bubble on the gum over an erupting tooth. Here's what causes it and why most need only reassurance, not treatment.
ReadHypodontia and Supernumerary Teeth: When teeth are missing or extra
Hypodontia is missing teeth that never formed; supernumerary teeth are extras beyond the normal set. Here's how each is diagnosed and managed at any age.
ReadThe viruses that show up in the mouth
Cold sores, a child's first herpes infection, and the childhood viruses like hand-foot-and-mouth, chickenpox and measles that show up inside the mouth. How to recognise them and ease the symptoms.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease: A common childhood viral illness
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious childhood viral illness causing mouth ulcers and rashes. Here's how to recognise it and care for your child at home.
ReadHerpangina: a viral cause of throat ulcers in children
Herpangina is a viral childhood illness causing fever and small painful ulcers in the back of the throat. Here's how to recognise it and ease symptoms at home.
ReadMeasles — Koplik Spots
Koplik spots are the early in-mouth sign of measles, appearing before the rash. Here's how to recognise them and why prompt isolation and care matter.
ReadPrimary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis: when a child's first cold-sore virus hits the mouth
Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is the first herpes infection, common in young children. Here's how to recognise it, ease symptoms and prevent spread.
ReadRecurrent Herpes Simplex: cold sores on the lip and inside the mouth
Recurrent herpes simplex causes cold sores on the lip and sometimes inside the mouth. Here's what to look for and when antivirals help. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadVaricella-Zoster — Chickenpox and Shingles
Varicella-zoster causes chickenpox in childhood and shingles later in life. Here's how it affects the mouth and the prompt treatment that limits damage.
ReadFace and jaw pain that isn't a toothache
Jaw joint problems, nerve pain, and persistent facial pain with no obvious cause. How these are told apart from an ordinary toothache, and what actually helps.
Atypical Facial Pain: When Persistent Face Pain Has No Obvious Cause
Atypical facial pain is chronic face pain with no identifiable cause — here's how it's diagnosed and managed. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadBurning Mouth Syndrome: Why does my mouth feel like it's burning?
Burning Mouth Syndrome causes a scalded sensation often with no visible cause. Here's what triggers it and how it's treated. Reviewed by Dr Cristian Dunker.
ReadTemporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) cover a wide range of jaw joint and muscle problems. Here's how to recognise the signs and what helps without surgery.
ReadTrigeminal Neuralgia: Why does my face have sudden, electric-shock pain?
Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial nerve pain triggered by everyday touch. Here's how it differs from toothache and how it's diagnosed and treated.
Read