Book excerpt: When the inimitable poet Ogden Nash said, 'Some tortures are physical and some are mental, but the one that is both is dental, ' he clearly didn't have access to this book! In The Tooth, the Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Tooth, two doctors dismantle every dental bogey known to man, and, tongue firmly in cheek, answer those questions we were too scared to ask our dentists. After giving a quick tour of the insides of the mouth, the authors introduce us to the sinister world of dental caries, gum disease, tooth sensitivity, bad breath and bruxism-their nasty symptoms and vile causes-then proceed to present painless solutions! Dread getting your teeth scrubbed? Opt for an enjoyable clean-up with ultrasonic scalers and get a complimentary mist of cool water! Worried about your dragon-breath? Go easy on the radish! Grind your teeth to distraction? Here's a night guard! Grab the front row, as the authors offer sagacious and startling advice (yes, cocoa can protect your teeth, and wait, your mouthwash could be hurting you!) and teach us about the ins and outs of various dental treatment techniques-fillings, root canal treatments, extractions, gum surgeries, tooth replacements, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry-procedures that are far kinder than they sound! This accessible, first-of-its-kind book in India ultimately reminds us why dental appointments don't have to be expensive, agonizing and prolonged, and why our friendly (yes, friendly) neighbourhood dentist deserves a full-toothed smile