The words dentists use - in the words patients need.

Hardened plaque, also called tartar. Once plaque mineralises it cannot be brushed off - a dentist or hygienist has to scale it away.

The early, reversible stage of gum disease. Gums look red or puffy and bleed on brushing because of plaque at the gumline. With thorough cleaning it can heal.

A tooth that cannot fully erupt because it is blocked by bone, gum, or another tooth. Wisdom teeth are the ones most often impacted.

A bite that doesn't meet as it should - crowded, spaced, protruding, or shifted teeth. It can affect chewing, speech, and how easy the teeth are to keep clean.

A more advanced gum disease that damages the bone holding teeth in place. It can cause receding gums, loose teeth, and tooth loss if it is not treated.

A soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. It is the starting point of both cavities and gum disease, and it can be removed by brushing and cleaning between the teeth.

Inflammation of the tooth's pulp - the living tissue of nerve and blood vessels inside the tooth. It often starts as lingering pain to cold or sweet, and may need a filling or a root canal.