Protect Your Pearly Whites with These Simple Steps

Brush twice a day. Brushing your teeth after every meal is ideal, but once in the morning and again before bedtime should be enough to clear out food particles and bacteria. Use of a medium or soft-bristle toothbrush is ideal, as a brush that is too firm may cause the gums to bleed and wear down tooth enamel. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride to strengthen teeth as you clean. Brush in a circular motion for about two minutes to ensure that you’ve cleaned each tooth thoroughly.

Floss at least once a day. Brushing only does half the job! To get teeth really clean, you need to get between the teeth to remove pieces of food and plaque buildup. Be sure to use a long piece of floss and wind it around your fingers as you go to avoid reusing the same part of the floss over again.

Use a mouth rinse. Again, a mouth rinse with fluoride is ideal, but one with antiseptic properties will help kill bacteria and loosen stubborn food particles. If there’s no mouth rinse or mouthwash available, swishing with a mouthful of water will help in a pinch.

Get plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is a mineral that is vital to the development and structure of your bones and teeth—ninety-nine percent of the calcium your body stores in the bones and the teeth. But calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed by your systems. Adequate amounts of D are often found in the same foods as calcium, but D can also be absorbed through your skin via sun exposure.

As the popular saying goes: "only floss the teeth you want to keep!"