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Every morning, we rush through the routine of brushing our teeth and rinsing our mouth, but after a hard day’s work, we are
so tired that we just just crash after dinner, without bothering to clean our teeth. These days, teeth care has become an important issue what with our children suffering from tooth decays everyday and we, suffering from tooth pain, gum problems, bad breath and so on.  So how do you keep your teeth healthy and your smile beautiful? Here are a few tips…

The right diet and nutrition play an integral part in ensuringstrong teeth and healthy gums. Avoid sugar as it is your teeth’s deadliest enemy and is the prime cause of tooth decay. Retentive sticky foods (such as raisins, caramels,toffees, slowly dissolving hard candies, etc) that are not quickly diluted by saliva also pose a major risk in the formation of
dental cavities. Wafers/chips when retained on the tooth for a log period of time and eventually broken down into carbohydrates and sugars lead to decay.

Bread, pastries, areated drinks, doughnuts, sweet rolls and processed cereals, one of the biggest causes of tooth decay,
should be avoided. Beverages like butter-milk and home-made squashes should be encouraged.

The longer  the food remains in your mouth, the greater the chance for decay. Rinse your mouth immediately after eating,
especially if you’ve just had something sweet, to prevent the formation of plaque. Remember, rinsing after meals and brushing teeth at least twice daily is essential to keep tartar and plaque at bay. Use effective, clinically tested toothpaste that provides long time protection between brushings.

Crash dieting can affect your teeth more than your figure. Teenagers have been known to start that Monday morning crash diet without even realising that this may in fact be the incorrect way to diet. These crash dieters who excessively fast, or diet on an on and off pattern, tend to have a lack of or decrease in certain vitamins, most notably Vitamins D, B-12 and
calcium. They also tend to lack certain minerals and proteins in their diets. These are very important vitamins especially for the health of the teeth and gums. Dieters also tend to take diet pills that may cause a decrease in saliva flow as a side effect. This decrease in saliva flow tends to increase the acid levels in the mouth, which may cause an increased level
of cavity formation. What may be recommended is that dieters consult with their health care provider or nutritionist to determine what type of diet they should be on. Vitamin levels and a balanced diet with all food groups should be evaluated.  As always, sound oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist help decrease oral health problems.
Supplements, together with good oral hygiene. can aid in decreasing the incidence of dental cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Vitamin C is vital for the production for collagen –the main protein building block for fibrous framework of all living tissues–which in turn, makes it more resistant to bacterialpenitration. Vitamin C also promotes healthy capillaries,
which aids oral tissue in staying healthy. Insufficient consumption of vitamin C may lead to oral health problems like swollen and bleeding gums and even loss of teeth.

Tongue cleaning is very important. It helps reduce bad breath and improve oral hygiene status because a large number of
bacteria reside in the rough corrugated surface of the tongue. mOst dental professionals advice that poor oral hygiene, such
as not brushing, not flossing, or not rinsing enough is the primary cause of gum disease and tooth decay.

Smoking, chewing beetle nut and tobacco are also factors that adversely affect oral hygiene. these habits can cause bad breath, decay, gum diseases, damage to tooth enamel, eventual tooth loss and in many cases even lead to oral cancer.

Try these healthy snacks that don’t attack your teeth:

• Celery and carrot snacks with hommous or avocado dip.
• Vegemite crackers with cheese.
• Plain yogurt, fresh fruits and nuts.

When  you do eat or drink a high-sugar snack, these are tricks to minimisethe damage to your teeth. After your snack, rinse
your mouth with water, eat a small piece of cheese or chew some sugar-freee gum. Cheese provides calcium to replace the minerals lost by the bacteria produced acid, and helps to even up the bacterial balance in your mouth. Chewing gum stimulates the flow of saliva. If you choose to have a soft-drink, use a straw. This will limit the amount of sugar touching
your teeth.The best drinks for teeth are pain water or milk. Drinking coffee and tea will stain your teeth and dry your mouth out. Drinks high in caffeine inhibit your saliva’s ability to combat tooth decay. Acidic fruit juice, such as orange juice, can also attack your teeth. To avoid damaging your teeth, remember to wait at least an hour after consuming acidic food or drink before brushing your teeth. With a little awareness and knowledge on the subject of oral care, there could be some prettier smiles around the world and less misery from tooth decay.

For brighter, whiter teeth

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups.
• Cut down on snacking in between meals.
• Limit snacks and drinks especially those high in sugar.
• Brush twice a day with the correct technique which can be learnt from any dental professional. Avoid aggressive brushing.
• Floss daily.
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and professional clean ups. Recommended at least once every six months. Simple preventive steps can prevent the further complicated treatment processes.
• Rinse thoroughly after every meal.
• Get all existing dental problems like bleeding gums, missing teeth, cavities, etc, treated immediately as they lead to further complications.