A trip to the dentist is for many a stressful event, especially when accompanied by the dreaded words: "You have a cavity." Naturally, you can blame germs for this aggravation. The main cause is a group of bacteria known for their ability to grow on hard surfaces, such as the enamel of the teeth.

Sometimes tooth sensitivity or bad breath are just symptoms of a flu bug that will go away when your flu does. But sometimes, these symptoms that show up in the mouth are the body's way of letting you know that something much more serious is going on elsewhere in the body. Know these dental symptoms that you should never ignore and when to see your dentist.

As a mom, you may have noticed your teen struggling with self esteem. While it could be acne, weight gain or hormones, it might be your teen's smile. Are they proudly displaying their pearly whites or do they cover their mouth when they laugh? I spoke to Jennifer Vishnevsky, a contributor to TopDentists.com and she gave me some great guidelines to help you decide if tooth whitening is the right choice for your teen.