by Gretchen Lorraine Hillcrest

Created on: January 27, 2008

There is a Chinese saying that your teeth will fall out if you have been telling lies. I can't say whether there is any truth in that or not, unless you are lying about practicing good dental hygiene. In which case, you may be risking your pearly whites, or not-so-pearly whites. But don't fret, if you've been neglecting your dental health, here are some tips aimed at getting you off the yellow-brick road. Most likely, just like Dorothy and company, you've actually had this knowledge all along, and are in need of a reassurance marker to help you stay on the right path to putting a pretty smile on your face every day.

The main tip in practicing good oral hygiene is to practice it daily. Just think BFD that stands for Brush/ Floss Daily! It's all about keeping it clean. If your mouth is clean, the yucky stuff won't want to settle in. Plan on spending several minutes brushing, two times a day, at a minimum. General practice is to brush before you go to bed at night and upon waking up in the morning. Think about giving yourself an extra edge fighting tooth decay by getting in some bonus brushing following meals whenever possible; particularly after ingesting offensive foods, sugary foods and beverages. If brushing isn't feasible, try rinsing with water or chewing some sugar-fee gum. It's also a great way to keep yourself kissable.

Is there a right way to brush your teeth? Well, it's sort of like eating corn-on-the-cob, there doesn't seem to be one agreed-upon method. Some folks go up and down, some go back and forth and some folks do both, going back to get the spots they missed. Just be sure to be thorough, scrub the fronts, backs, tops and get them all. You don't want to miss a spot, (also, like eating corn-on-the-cob), which by the way, is one activity that sends you running for the floss.

Flossing is not the mystery it once was, and now with so many different brands and styles on the market, you can always be prepared by keeping some floss in your purse or in your pocket. What better way to make a good first impression on a date, then to be able to offer some floss after eating that broccoli? Pointing out food caught between the teeth goes over so much better, when you become the hero by extending your hand revealing some desirable dental floss. Yes, dental floss is the new clean underwear, don't leave home without it. You never know when you'll need it to save a potentially embarrassing moment.

Floss comes in cinnamon-flavored, mint-fresh, mint with zinc, easy glide, easy thread, whitening tips, the list goes on. Toothpastes and toothbrushes are no different, there are so many varieties and colors that you could spend quite a bit of time trying to choose the ones that are so-you, so have fun with it.

It's been said variety is the spice of life and never has it been truer than in dental accessories of late. So get in on the action. Who doesn't want to prevent gingivitis? Gum massagers, gum stimulators, gum vibrators oh my.

BFD, you bet and visit your dentist regularly. A healthier mouth leads to an all around healthier you.

Learn more about this author, Gretchen Lorraine Hillcrest.
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