AGD Web portal offers handy tips on oral health care

This is the time of year when we all make the same old New Year's resolutions. Exercise more. Eat better. Lose weight. What about committing to better dental health?

The Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) consumer Web portal, KnowYourTeeth.com, is a great place to start. The portal is loaded with valuable information, from pertinent issues affecting children, teens, adults and seniors to how to find a general dentist.

"Dental trends and treatments are constantly changing and improving," says AGD President David F. Halpern, DMD, FAGD. "KnowYourTeeth.com helps consumers stay on the cutting edge of what's new and what's best for their oral health. The AGD created the portal to be the go-to, easy-to-use resource for dental information."

The most exciting and unique feature of the site is the Dental Diary widget. The diary offers up to date information on oral health and includes a dental care calendar with individual reminders when it's time to replace tooth brushes and schedule routine dental visits. It also sends notifications of upcoming dental appointments. The widget can be easily uploaded to desktops or personal Web pages for convenient use.

Other useful areas of the portal include:

• The ABCs of Oral Health - Oral health topics from A to Z are addressed - ranging from anesthesia to laser dentistry to veneers. Print out information and take it to your next visit to ensure that your dentist is aware of your concerns.
• Dental Advisor - Do you have a question about your oral health? Consumers can post questions on the online forum 24/7 and an AGD dentist will provide an answer within 48 hours.
• Find an AGD Dentist - General dentists serve as primary dental care providers for patients of all ages. With their commitment to continuing education, AGD dentists are up to date on the latest treatments in oral health care. Just enter your ZIP code to receive the contact information of AGD dentists in your area.
• Factoid of the Week - The portal's home page offers educational facts about a variety of oral care issues. For example, did you know that your dentist can help diagnose and treat sleep apnea?
• The Life of a Tooth - This visual timeline focuses on six life stages from infancy to senior adulthood. Information on tooth development, oral home health care and dental visits is presented for each stage.

Visiting KnowYourTeeth.com makes it simple and fun to maintain dental health. This could be your easiest New Year's resolution yet!