by Sam Smart

Created on: November 18, 2009

Unfortunately, not everybody's paying enough attention to their teeth. Some people eat too many sweets without even brushing their teeth properly twice a day. Problems involving tooth decay and tooth loss are likely contributed by a lack of attention toward dental hygiene. To keep your teeth healthy and strong, brush and floss your teeth everyday, be aware of sweets, and see your dentist regularly.

Brush Your Teeth Everyday

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, or after every meal. Use a good toothbrush and thoroughly brush at all areas of your teeth for two minutes. Be sure that you use a toothpaste that contains flouride, so that will help prevent cavities and keep your teeth in a good shape. For a fresher, cleaner breath, gently brush your tongue using the toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste. Rinse your mouth with clean water for about ten seconds, then spit it out in a sink. Keep in mind that it's recommended you replace your toothbrush with a new one every three months.

Floss After Brushing

Flossing is equally important opposed to brushing your teeth. Flossing will enable to remove food particles from enclosed areas in your teeth your toothbrush may not reach. After brushing your teeth, use a waxed floss string that's about eight to ten inches long and wrap its ends around your two pointer fingers. Use the floss to gently scoot itself up and down between each pair of your teeth. After flossing, pitch the string in a trash can.

Avoid Sugary Foods

Have the effort to avoid sweets and eat fruits instead. Popular candy bars like Nestle Crunch and Snickers are noted for their high concentration of sugar from the milk chocolate. An apple that's healthy and contains fiber makes a perfect snack. Candies, soda pop, and other sugary drinks like Kool-Aid contain sugar as well, and they need to be avoided. You can practice substituting sweets for foods that don't have any sugar in them at all. For example, you can instead use raisins to sweeten your oatmeal. In cooking, trade regular sugar for a sugar substitute.

Visit Your Dentist

See your dentist at least twice a year. Your dental appointments are important because you'll receive professional check ups on your teeth and the dentist will let you know how well you're taking care of them. If you experience any pains in your teeth, schedule a dental appointment immediately. Those pains you have may involve just one small cavity, and you need to get that filled right away.

Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, eating sugary foods sparingly, and seeing your dentist at least twice a year are key ways for you to maintain a healthy dental hygiene. If you eat too much sweets, you'll increase a chance of a cavity. If you don't brush your teeth and then floss it, you can still get tooth decay from the remaining food particles. Proper eating and ample teeth cleaning will yield to a beautiful, healthy smile.

Source

Brushing Teeth - Proper Techniques for Brushing Your Teeth

www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHe althBasics/GoodOralHygiene/BrushingandFlossing/Howto Brush.cvsp

Learn more about this author, Sam Smart.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.