Beautiful teeth are your most important attribute. I know you have heard this before, but apparently not enough to take heed. Not only the teeth, but the entire mouth needs to be cleaned at least twice daily. I have had to step back from more than normal lately. I mean your teeth, your gums and your tongue. You do so much with that mouth all day--talking, smiling, eating, kissing, sucking, and most importantly breathing! So clean it! If you do, I am sure you will reap such benefits as more enjoyable conversations inspiring people to stick around and actually want to listen to what you have to say. It may even lead to you to doing more with your mouth than just talking. So this month my friends, take time for your teeth and your entire mouth… make it a priority, both morning and night. These great products and tips will help:

• Floss at least once a day
• Brush at least twice a day
• Limit between-meal snacks, especially snacks high in sugar
• Brush and floss as soon as possible after eating (don't wait until bedtime)
• Avoid using bleaching or whitening kits
• At least every 3-4 months, use a new toothbrush
• At least twice a year, visit your dentist for check-ups.

Before:
• Use a toothbrush, which has dried out since last being used or was soaked in hydrogen peroxide - to reduce risk of bacteria
• Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth - avoid abrasive toothpastes claiming to whiten teeth, which could wear down linings of teeth and gums
• Avoid sticking bristles into tube of toothpaste to minimize spread of bacteria
• Use just a pea-size amount of toothpaste for each brushing, the brushing action is more important than the toothpaste
• Wipe off the opening of the toothpaste tube after dispensing to minimize spread of bacteria

After:
• Place bristle end of toothbrush into hydrogen peroxide to minimize spread of bacteria
• Spray bristle end of toothbrush with an antiseptic spray to minimize spread of bacteria
Rinse with mouthwash

Flossing: It's more important to floss than to brush! After flossing between two teeth: Get floss out by pulling one end out to the side, vice pulling both ends straight up or down, especially next to crowns/caps

Stains:
To minimize staining:
Avoid: Red wine • Grape juice • Cranberry juice • Coffee • Tea • White wine