Dental Health Vocabulary

adjective showing great joy, happiness, or satisfaction

• She entered the room beaming with joy, ready to present her research findings.
• When I saw her beaming smile, I knew she had aced the exam.
• He was beaming like a kid in a candy store when he got his new skateboard.
• The sunrise painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, beaming its warmth across the horizon.

noun a movable or fixed structure that forms the mouth of a person or animal, containing the teeth and used for biting and eating

• The surgeon had to carefully realign the patient's fractured jaw.
• I can't believe she punched him in the jaw!
• That joke really dropped my jaw!
• Her performance was so stunning, it left everyone's jaws on the floor.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'lantern jaws' is a noun phrase referring to a distinctive facial feature characterized by prominent, angular jawlines.

• The actor's lantern jaws gave him a distinct appearance on screen.
• That guy with the lantern jaws is always easy to spot in a crowd.
• Check out the dude with the lantern jaws, he looks like a superhero.
• Her sharp words cut through the conversation like lantern jaws.

noun a condition in which the muscles of the jaw become rigid and painful, typically as a result of infection with tetanus

• Lockjaw, also known as tetanus, is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system.
• I heard that lockjaw can be caused by stepping on a rusty nail.
• My jaw is so tight, it feels like I have lockjaw!
• After the accident, he was so shocked that he had a case of emotional lockjaw and couldn't speak for hours.

verb the action of making something less tight or strict

• The engineer recommended the loosening of the screws to prevent any damage to the machinery.
• I think we should try loosening the jar lid before we give up on opening it.
• Dude, just loosen up and enjoy the party!
• She felt like she was finally loosening the grip of her past mistakes.

verb to chew or grind food with the teeth

• It is important to thoroughly masticate your food to aid in digestion.
• Make sure to chew your food well before swallowing.
• Don't just wolf down your food, take the time to masticate.
• He masticated the information slowly, trying to fully understand it.

• Preventive measures were put in place to ensure the safety of all employees.
• Taking preventive steps can help avoid potential problems in the future.
• It's better to be safe than sorry, so always go for the preventive option.
• A stitch in time saves nine - being preventive now can prevent bigger issues later on.

noun a medicine or treatment designed to prevent disease

adjective intended to prevent disease

• The doctor prescribed a prophylactic medication to prevent infection after the surgery.
• I always make sure to take a prophylactic before traveling to prevent getting sick.
• I heard she's on the pill as a prophylactic measure.
• Wearing a helmet is a prophylactic against head injuries while biking.

verb moving back or away from a previous position

adjective becoming more distant or less intense

• The receding tide left behind a trail of seashells on the shore.
• I noticed my hairline was receding when I looked in the mirror this morning.
• His chances of winning were receding faster than a hairline on a bald man.
• As she walked away, his hopes of reconciliation with her were receding into the distance.

adjective relating to saliva or the glands that produce it

• The salivary glands play a crucial role in the digestion process.
• I always have a lot of saliva because my salivary glands are overactive.
• I can't stand when my mouth gets all drooly because of my salivary glands.
• His words were so captivating, they triggered a salivary response in the audience.

noun saliva that dribbles from the mouth

verb to let saliva dribble from the mouth

• The dog's excessive slobber made a mess on the floor.
• The baby loves to slobber all over their toys.
• Stop slobbering all over me, you're getting me wet!
• The politician's speech was full of slobber, lacking substance or coherence.

noun the act of making a harsh or loud noise while sleeping

• The sound of snoring coming from the next room kept me awake all night.
• My dad fell asleep on the couch and started snoring really loudly.
• I can't stand sleeping next to my brother, he's always snoring like a chainsaw.
• The old building seemed to be snoring as it settled into the night.

noun a feeling of pain or discomfort

adjective causing or affected by physical pain or discomfort

• After the accident, he complained of a sore back and neck.
• I can't go to the gym today, my muscles are too sore from yesterday's workout.
• I can't believe how sore I am after that intense hike!
• Her heart was sore after the breakup, but she knew she would heal in time.

noun a substance used to sweeten food or drink, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners

• The company decided to use a natural sweetener in their new line of products.
• I prefer using honey as a sweetener in my tea.
• I always add a little bit of sugar as a sweetener to my coffee.
• Laughter is the sweetener that makes life more enjoyable.

verb past participle of the verb 'swell'

adjective enlarged or distended with fluid or other material

• The doctor prescribed medication to reduce the swollen glands in her neck.
• I twisted my ankle and now it's all swollen.
• My face was so swollen after crying all night.
• His ego was so swollen, he couldn't see his own faults.

noun a pain in or around a tooth

• I am experiencing a severe toothache and need to see a dentist as soon as possible.
• Ouch, my tooth is killing me with this toothache. I should probably make a dentist appointment.
• My toothache is driving me nuts, I can't deal with this pain anymore.
• Dealing with this project is like having a constant toothache, it's a persistent source of discomfort.

noun a situation where things are not properly aligned or arranged

verb to position or arrange something incorrectly or improperly

• The misaligned panels caused a disruption in the overall aesthetic of the building.
• The crooked shelves made the room look messy.
• The wonky picture frame made the wall look janky.
• Her priorities were misaligned, causing her to lose focus on what truly mattered.

verb to bite or chew noisily

adjective showing eagerness or enthusiasm

• The horse was champing at the bit, eager to start the race.
• He was champing at the bit to get out of the office and start his weekend.
• She was champing at the bit to spill the tea on what happened at the party.
• The students were champing at the bit to show off their new project to the class.

noun a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus

• Abscesses are localized collections of pus caused by infection.
• I had to go to the doctor to get my abscesses drained.
• Man, those abscesses are really gross.
• The corruption in the government is like a festering abscess that needs to be dealt with.

noun a type of bacteria commonly found in the mouth and throat

• Actinomyces is a type of bacteria commonly found in the mouth and throat.
• I heard that actinomyces bacteria can cause dental problems if not properly treated.
• Watch out for those actinomyces bugs in your mouth, they can be trouble!
• Like actinomyces spreading through the body, rumors can quickly grow out of control.