The tongue is the red headed stepchild of dental care. We spend a good deal of time and attention on our teeth, brushing, flossing, whitening, straightening, capping, filling, and replacing. But what about the tongue? Did you know your tongue is the leading culprit for bad breath?

Bacteria from the food we eat sticks to the tongue, especially the back, or anterior, portion. These bacteria produce foul odors that produce bad breath. By cleaning the tongue regularly, we can clear away the bacteria and solve what for some is a serious problem. (more…)

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Here’s a list of foods, beverages, and a few other things that cause your teeth to stain. Be on the lookout and consume in moderation. Drinking through a straw helps reduce tooth staining. Best anti staining advice — stop smoking! Second best anti staining advice — stop smoking!

• Antibacterial mouthwashes
• Apples
• Berries
• Balsamic vinegar
• Beets
• Blueberries
• Coffee, especially black. Creamers blunt the effects. Avoid drinking extremely hot coffee - it increases the staining effect.
• Curry
• Dark colored colas
• Dark colored fruit juices

(more…)

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Powered or Manual Toothbrushes?
The first toothbrush decision is whether to use an electric or a manual toothbrush. There isn’t a firm consensus that one is better than the other - in most cases it boils down to a matter of personal preference. Powered toothbrushes are two, three, or four times more expensive than the ordinary variety, but tend to last much longer. Lazy brushers may get better results with an electric toothbrush. The small, rotating head(s) are effective at reaching into tight spaces between teeth and other hard to reach spots.

Are you a lazy brusher? To remove plaque, a person should brush for about three minutes, which for most of us feels like an eternity. People also tend to think they brush for longer than they actually do — some powered toothbrushes come equipped with a timer, a handy crutch indeed.

Manual Toothbrushes - Hard or Soft Bristles?
The answer to this question is more clear cut. Soft bristles work perfectly well for most people, and are a must for those with unhealthy teeth or gums. Strenuous brushing with medium or hard bristles can damage teeth and gums; better to brush thoroughly but mildly with a soft bristle toothbrush.

Toothbrush Size Matters
Toothbrushes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The operative word in making a selection is comfort. Your toothbrush should comfortably reach all brushing areas, especially those hard to reach molars. Sometimes the handle, rather than the head, is the key to comfortable brushing. Trial and error is probably the best way to judge which toothbrush works best for you.

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• Toothbrush holders for the kid in you–or the kids

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What you eat, how you eat it, and when you eat it have a big impact on the health of your teeth. Acidic foods and beverages that can erode tooth enamel include -

• Regular soda pop
• Diet soda pop
• Citrus fruits
• Citrus juices
• Wine
• Pickles
• Vinegar

All soft drinks are not created equal. This article compares acid content of popular soft drinks - the numbers might surprise you. (more…)

Have you noticed there are a lot extremely white teeth running around these days? That’s because tooth whitening has become almost as popular as brushing and flossing these days. Here are some tooth whitening options.

At home. Product choices abound. Over-the-counter whitening strips can be purchased in any drugstore and, though easy to use, are not as effective as other options. Whitening toothpastes contain chemical additives to remove stains, but usually do not contain bleach. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the product’s label to make sure you are making a safe choice. Bleaching kits typically involve smearing gel on a mouthguard which is then inserted in the mouth for 30 minutes or longer, at a variety of intervals. Products come in several concentrations, so care should be taken when selecting a product. Bleach can cause tooth sensitivity; poorly fitting mouthguards can irritate gums. (The dentist can fabricate a custom mouthguard to overcome the latter problem.) (more…)

If you’re shopping for mouthwash, the variety of choices can be perplexing. Some mouthwashes claim to cure bad breath. Others promise whiter teeth or tartar control. Some tout all natural ingredients, while others have a list of ingredients that look like a chemistry exam.

Make life easy by checking with your dentist. S/he can recommend the mouthwash that will work best for you.

According to the American Dental Association, antiseptic mouthwashes do indeed offer oral health benefits, including reducing plaque, controlling gingivitis (bleeding gums), and yes — killing germs. (Not the germs that cause gum disease, unfortunately.) (more…)

Dental flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. Flossing and brushing both get rid of bacteria that cling to teeth and cause tooth decay (not to mention bad breath). Regular brushing is a must, but it won’t clean out the bacteria hiding in those narrow spaces between your teeth. Regular flossing will. The American Dental Association recommends at least once per day.

True, regular flossing is a chore. If you need motivation, remember that over time, the bacteria hiding out between your teeth, if undisturbed, will turn into hard-to-remove tartar. Tartar irritates and inflames the gums and eventually leads to serious conditions that inflame and weaken the gums and bone structure supporting the teeth. In short, flossing keeps your teeth from falling out.

If you avoid flossing because of discomfort, you might be surprised to see how many types of dental floss are available these days — waxed, unwaxed, flavored, flat, rounded, floss on string, floss mounted in holders. Waxed floss is more durable than the unwaxed variety, but is harder to work in between tightly spaced teeth. If you’re not sure which variety is right for you, check with your dentist.

Flossing is not just for adults. Children should begin flossing (with adult supervision) around the age of 2 to 3. Starting the dental floss habit early may be the best way to prevent serious decay and gum issues decades later.