Smile

It is very important to take care of your teeth....no matter how busy you get....seriously.....i was at the dentist's on saturday for some deep cleaning and scraping.....and after all that drilling with his evil pirate looking hook, i felt like a trailer went over my jaw....damn, the pain....thank God for painkillers.

With Valentine coming up soon we have to smile confidently and in order to do that we need to focus on us and caring for our teeth and gums, is a very important part of it all. It is necessary to have good oral health habit which can help your teeth stay healthy throughout your life....the healthier your teeth and gums are, the less risk you have for tooth decay and gum disease.

These are five basic steps to caring for your teeth and gums:

1. Brushing
2. Flossing
3. Eating right
4. Rinsing
5. Visiting a dentist

Brushing your teeth after every meal or at least twice a day...always brush for two whole minutes but wait for thirty minutes after eating, this will allow the enamel that softened from the acid during eating to re-harden and not get brushed away....hehehe, i bet you all didn't know that #grinning#. Brushing removes plaque (a living bio-film teeming with micro-organisms that cause disease) when bacteria in plaque comes in contact with food they produce acids.....these acids lead to cavities.

Flossing your teeth daily after any food, especially sticky snacks like chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, etc.....flossing gets rid of food and plaque between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach....if plaque stays between teeth it can harden into tartar which must be removed by a dentist or hygienist....a tongue scraper is an important part of oral hygiene, this works wonders with stale and smelly breath, use it to remove the plaque from the tongue....this will freshen breath and presumably slow down accumulation of plaque on your teeth....alternatively you can use your toothbrush to clean your tongue.

Eating right....avoid snacking constantly, this can cause plaque build up on your teeth, which increases the risk of getting cavities, avoid sugary and, or sticky foods....sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth then excretes substances that break down enamel, eat lots of veges and drink water instead of soda or juices....remember that fruit juices are full of acids and natural sugars, if you have to, do so minimally or only drink them at meal times when the saliva is flowing most.

Try to chew less seeds, it may produce fissures in your molars.

Rinsing....Use a fluoride mouthwash, this helps strengthen the enamel....right before you go to bed is a good time

Visiting your dentist.....Try to visit your dentist twice a year and anytime you have a problem with your teeth....schedule a professional cleaning with a dental hygienist.

Tips:

• Replace your toothbrush every three months.
• Use a whitening toothpaste or white strips once in a while to whiten your teeth.
• After having sugary drinks washing your mouth out with water or milk will help get rid of harmful acid.
• Don't forget to brush the back of your tongue and the upper palate of your mouth.
• Chewing gum between meals, especially if the gum is sweetened with Xyitol, it helps keep your mouth moist and your teeth cleaner both which are very good for your teeth.
• When you use mouth wash use as directed on the bottle....read all instructions before using the products.
• Floss your teeth before brushing, this is so that plaque from the outside and inside surfaces gets dislodged to be killed when you brush....try and drink milk as it is high in calcium. Calcium helps bones and teeth grow stronger.

Now we can all wear those bright coloured lipsticks and smile to display our pearly whites......Ciao