Many consumers are choosing to have their teeth whitened to improve their smile and help their teeth regain their pearly white stage. Many people don’t understand that bleaching your teeth is simply cosmetic. The results do not improve the health of your teeth at all, they simply remove stains on the outside of your teeth to allow the light in.

Although teeth whitening might improve both your smile and your self esteem, there are many other things you should do to keep your smile good looking and healthy. Let’s talk about some things we can do to keep out teeth from major dental repair.

It is important to understand how food, drinks, and tobacco affect your teeth. Here’s a rule of thumb to keep in mind- if its not good for the rest of your body, its probably not good for your teeth either.

Sugary drinks are one example that fit right into that category. The sugar from a soda or bottle of juice will stick to your teeth and can cause cavities. A better option is to drink water.

It’s natural and won’t damage your teeth at all. It can even act as floss when eating or drinking those things with lots of sugar. After a bite of a Twinkie, take a swig of water to immediately wipe that sugar off your teeth. Many cities even add fluoride to their water so drinking tap water can be especially beneficial to your mouth.

Using a straw to drink these types of sugary sodas and juices will also help the sugar avoid your teeth and go straight to your stomach. Consider avoiding those beverages with sugar in them completely. Remember that most red wines will also stain your teeth as well.

You can also use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to keep your teeth healthy and clean. Fluoride is a major key to avoiding cavities altogether and just a small amount each day will help ward them off.

Another tip, although it may be obvious, is to brush and floss. Dentists encourage brushing for one minute twice a day with a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. When it comes to flossing, most people forget the teeth in the back of the mouth, which can be the most important to floss.

Many people don’t know and understand the basics of brushing and flossing. When you visit your dentist every six months, ask for a short lesson on brushing and flossing. Their simple advice can help a lot in the long run.

As mentioned above, you should be seeing your professional dentist every six months, for a check up and cleaning. Having the plaque removed every six months will keep your teeth shiny and more importantly healthy. Keeping up on your dental work will help you avoid tooth aches and other disasters that happen when you avoid the dentist.

Although most people don’t realize it, your toothbrush can play a major role in the overall health of your teeth. Replace your brush every three months for the best results.