Good Dental Hygiene

Good dental hygiene keeps teeth healthy, lowers dental costs and helps limits trips to the dentist. It als makes you a more attractive partner, coworker or mate.

Brush Your Teeth Three Times a Day
You should brush your teeth three times a day, using a soft toothbrush and a mild toothpaste for best results. When you brush, make sure you cover every area of your teeth, especially the harder to reach spots. Brush your tongue, too, to remove bad-breath-producing bacteria.

Floss Daily
Flossing is essential because it removes anything lodged between your teeth and cleans out bacteria and plaque that collect in the crevices your toothbrush cannot access. When you floss, rub the string against all tooth surface areas, scraping each tooth surface such that you detach and remove all excess plaque, bacteria and debris.

See Your Dentist Twice a Year
Bi-annual check ups are essential for optimal health. Your dentist will perform a professional cleaning, remove tartar and look for signs of dental health issues.

Don't Drink Soda
Soda eats away at tooth enamel and coats your teeth with enamel-destroying plaque, two dental hygiene no-no's. Switch out soda for tea, water, milk or juice.

Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products
Be careful not to abuse your gums with harsh toothbrushes or to wear down your enamel with destructive cleansers that claim to whiten teeth but may actually damage enamel. Check with your dentist before you use any whitening product.

Swish with Mouthwash
If you have problems with halitosis, swish with mouthwash throughout the day to fight bad breath. Avoid drinking coffee or eating garlic, onions or stinky cheese; brush vigorously and often in addition to using mouthwash. Check with your dentist to make sure there is not any underlying medical issues contributing to your problem; an infection is a common cause of halitosis. Once you have eliminated the possibility of a medical problem, continue using good hygiene practices.