Everyone wants a beautiful, bright smile, but we should also focus a little on the health of our mouth as well.

Brushing your teeth for 2 minutes every day will keep teeth healthy and prevent decay.  Flossing at least once daily not only prevents gum disease but it is also good for your heart as well as a myriad of other bodily systems.  Infections in your mouth can spread to other parts of the body.

You should also get regular cleanings (every 6 months) and a checkup once a year.  Talk to your hygienist about the proper way to brush and floss.  

Whitening

You can go about whitening in two ways: at home or at the dental office.  Professional whitening can be costly but it only takes about 45 minutes and the dentist ensures it is being done correctly.  However, the new at-home kits provide the same results and many of them are perfectly safe for the novice.  We caution against dissolving strips and painted on gels. It's not good for you to swallow the peroxide in the bleach.  Use strips that don't dissolve, or even better (and more precise) whitening trays.  We had great luck with Rembrandt whitening trays.  Be sure to follow the instructions exactly.  There may some gum and tooth sensitivity after bleaching, if it persists longer than a few days, you need to talk to your dentist.

To keep teeth white, rinse with water after drinking red wine, coffee etc.  

Electric Toothbrushes

This is the way to go now.  These toothbrushes are so advanced, they tell you how long to brush, if you're brushing too hard and they have small heads to ensure that each individual tooth gets cleaned properly.

You can touch up your whitening by using a Crest Whitestrips Daily.  You don't need to do it everyday, but every couple of weeks is pretty good at keeping stains at bay.

If you smoke, know that you are headed for gum disease, staining, mouth infections, cavities and many other afflictions.  Try to quit smoking.  If you do smoke try to rinse your mouth with water after each cigarette, this will help.

Be sure you are getting zinc in your diet.  Zinc helps tissue heal faster, so you are less prone to infection.  Foods rich in zinc include: red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy products.