Dentifrices are therapeutic aids meant for cleaning the teeth with the help of a toothbrush. They are available in the form of powders, liquids and paste, e.g. tooth pastes and tooth powders. The ingredients are abrasives, detergents, antiseptics, sweetening, coloring and flavoring agents. Obtundents are agents that diminish dentine sensitivity. Mummifying agents are used to harden and dry the tissues of the pulp. Mouth washes are solutions containing active ingredients meant for cleansing and deodorizing the oral cavity. Disclosing agents are used to make the supra gingival plaques visible. Sialogogues are agents which enhance salivary secretions and antisialogogues are substances that reduce the salivary secretions. Caries is a degenerative condition characterized by decay of hard and soft parts of the teeth. Fluorides are used for the treatment and prevention of caries. Plaque is a soft, non-mineralized bacterial deposit formed on inadequately cleaned teeth. Antibacterial agents, fluorides and other compounds are used as antiplaque agents. Dental desensitizing agents may act by occluding tubules, by precipitating proteins or tubule sealants. A dentist can come across several life threatening medical emergencies in dental practice and should be equipped with adequate knowledge for appropriate management of such situations.