• Keep your teeth clean for good health overall.teeth image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
  
  Keeping up with good hygiene and daily habits for your teeth and gums can aid the long-term overall health of your mouth. Various household cleaning methods help prevent cavities from forming as well as also helping to improve your teeth's strength. You can help keep your teeth clean by adding in a few simple steps to your daily routine.
  
  

Proper Brushing

• Each time you brush, spend a minimum of two minutes cleaning them thoroughly. For the best brushing results, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gum line. Gently brush your teeth from the bottom of your gums to the top. A common problem when brushing teeth is brushing too hard; be gentle, and use a softer toothbrush if your teeth are sensitive to your brushing. Use short strokes when cleaning the plaque from your teeth to remove it more efficiently. Brushing after each meal --- including snacks --- will ensure healthier teeth and gums.
  
  

Flossing

• Brushing your teeth is not sufficient to keep your entire mouth in good health. Flossing below the gum line at least once a day should be a minimum requirement in your daily routine. You can floss after each meal to help remove material and food that your toothbrush cannot reach to help prevent bacteria and cavities from forming. Use waxed or unwaxed dental floss, although unwaxed is thinner and might be easier to use than waxed floss.
  
  

Nutrition

• Watching what you eat can help tremendously when taking care of your mouth's health and teeth. Sugary foods expose acids to your teeth and enamel, causing erosion and rotting away of the surface. Eating carbohydrates with a meal to help reduce the amount of acid exposure to your teeth. After a meal, if you cannot brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with water to get rid of the sugar and acid. Avoid eating sugary foods between meals as your teeth might be exposed to the acid and sugar for a longer period of time.