Brushing your teeth
You brush your teeth daily, but are you doing it the right way? Apart from short back and forth movements, brush up and down too, holding the toothbrush vertically. This helps to dislodge particles of food. Be sure to brush both the front and the back of the teeth. Use the tooth brush on the edges of the gums too, as this provides a massage and stimulates circulation. After brushing, rinse your mouth several times with water and then with a medicated mouthwash.

All of us brush our teeth in the morning, but brushing them again at night, before retiring, is most important. This helps to prevent the formation of mouth acids and subsequent tooth decay.

It is a good idea to end your meal with crunchy fruits or a salad, instead of rich, creamy desserts. Raw fruits and vegetables actually help to cleanse the teeth, while foods like sugar and starch give rise to mouth acids and hasten tooth decay, if they remain in the mouth.

Bad Breath
Bad breath is something you have to check for yourself, because nobody will tell you. Cup your hands over your mouth and nose. Exhale through the mouth and inhale quickly through the nose. You should not neglect the problem and see your dentist, to rule out the possibility of a gum disease.

Rinse your mouth well after each meal and even after a snack. The problem of bad breath begins in the mouth. Food particles get trapped in the teeth, decay fast and give to the problem.

When you brush your teeth, use dental floss between the teeth. Mouthwashes ans rinses can also help. Clean your tongue as well. A coated tongue can sometimes cause bad breath.

A dental check-up is a must. There may be hidden pockets around the roots of the teeth, or under the gums, where food particles keep collecting. Or, you may have a gum disease. If there is even slight bleeding when you brush your teeth, you should see your dentist. Red, puffy, or bleeding gums can point to gum disease. It is a good idea to consult your physician too, because medical problem, like sinusitis or poor digestion can also give rise to bad breath.

Calcium, phosphorous, Vitamins A and D help t keep the teeth healthy, while Vitamin C prevents bleeding of the gums. Your daily deit should include citrus and other fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, milk and milk products, like yoghurt and cottage cheese and unrefined cereals. Foods that you can eat raw, like fresh fruits, salads and sprouts, not only cleanse the teeth, but also help to exercise the gums and teeth, because they have to be chewed.

Dental care
A visit to the dentist is something we tend to put off until it becomes absolutely essential and, in some cases, too late. Your dentist should be able to attend to cavities and gum trouble in good time and also advise you to how to avoid them. Any tingling sensation when you eat sweet or cold foods means that you need to see your dentist.

Dentists also provide treatment for various other problems. For instance, tartar formation can be removed. This is caused by calcium deposits and is something you should not attempt by yourself. It is also possible to get treatment from the cosmetic aspect. Chipped or partly broken teeth can be attended to. White fillings that match normal tooth colour are used for the front teeth, when they are chipped or broken. The teeth can also be 'capped', in order to achive a better shape. Straightening of protruding or irregular teeth, with the help of braces, is very common.

Your teeth can be the best accessory. A healthy diet, mouth hygiene and good dental care can help your teeth last a lifetime. Keep smiling.