* Brush at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.
* Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
* Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.
* Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they're soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it's time to change them.
* Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you'll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that's hidden where your toothbrush can't get it, no matter how well you brush.

It's also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and he or she can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

What You Should Know About How to Whiten Teeth

Everyone seems to want whiter teeth these days. Hollywood and magazines teach us that the people with white, bright teeth are what we want to be like, and many people will go to any length to get whiter teeth. While it would be great to just show up at your dentist's office and leave it all to him, it is a good idea to learn about how to whiten teeth and your various options before just handing over your hard-earned cash.

Options for How to Whiten Teeth

First of all, there are several answers to how to whiten teeth. Several are simply over-the-counter options. The easiest, one that many people do already, is to use a whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes work by helping to remove surface stains to the teeth by being more abrasive to the teeth.

Typically toothpastes contain small amounts of silica, calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate, and aluminum oxide to help grind off the stains that are made by the molecules hanging onto the teeth from the food eaten. These gentle polishing or chemical agents aid in the stain removal effectiveness. These toothpastes do not contain bleach; they have a hydrogen peroxide in them that helps remove stains right on the surface of the tooth. There is nothing in them to alter the intrinsic color of the teeth.

Another aspect of how to whiten teeth is to use an over-the-counter bleaching kit. These whitening strips are thin, flexible shaped strips that are coated with a whitening gel that is peroxide-based. The strips are worn on the teeth for about half an hour at a time, for several days. Many people get visible results using this method.

A method of how to whiten teeth is to use a tray-based product. These are similar to what is done in a dentist's office, though it can also be done at home, almost as effectively. The tray is made to fit in your mouth, over your teeth, then they are filled with a peroxide-bleaching agent and worn in the mouth for a significant amount of time over several weeks. This is one answer to how to whiten teeth.

If you're willing to spend a bit more money, you can go to your dentist and let the dentist determine how to whiten your teeth. They can usually do a great job, one that is quicker and very effective. The dentist applies a protective gel to the non-teeth areas, particularly the gums. Then the bleaching product is applied right on the teeth. The process usually lasts upwards to an hour, and will often need to be done over several visits for maximum results.

If you want to know how to whiten teeth the easiest and fastest way, a similar process can be done in a cosmetic dentist's office, using a special laser. The gums are protected, the bleaching agent is applied, and the laser is aimed at a few teeth at a time, for about 15 seconds at a time. In total, each tooth receives about 2 to 4 minutes under the laser, and results can be seen after just one visit.

You have just completed the reinvention process by performing teeth whitening that gives your face a new shine. You have eliminated all your qualms related to giving that big toothy smile to a friend or business associate, but, what now? It isn't cost effective to have teeth whitening done and then simply go and stain your teeth again, resulting in repeating the whole process of teeth whitening. No, you need to take a few steps to ensure that your teeth will remain white for an extended period of time.

First, you need to make sure that you purchase toothpaste that specifically mentions teeth whitening. These toothpaste providers won't do the teeth whitening process completely, but they can maintain the teeth whitening that you've had done. Don't just go buy the cheap and tasty paste, but the stuff that specifically mentions teeth whitening.

Next, don't simply go back to what you did before your teeth whitening by consuming food and beverage that stains the teeth. If you are a big drinker of tea and soda, try to do so through a straw to keep the stains away from your teeth. If you are a lip-stick wearer you need to consider what you are wearing and how you wear it, don't go with the bright and flashy colors that could potentially stain your teeth.

Finally, a decent amount of time after consuming a potentially staining food or beverage you should rinse or brush your teeth. This process, either mouth wash or brushing, removes the staining chemicals from the enamel on the teeth without allowing them to begin the staining process. Don't freak out if you can't get to mouth wash or a toothbrush in a hurry, a little time won't kill your teeth.

Teeth whitening is not a "one and done" process that completely eliminates the discoloration of the teeth. After completing the teeth whitening process it is important to take good care, even better than before, of your teeth. Who knows how much money you could save by taking proper care of your first teeth whitening.

The emerging cosmetic procedure of teeth whitening has many different options and
systems to create the individual's desired level of whiteness. You can go to a dental
health professional to have laser teeth whitening or a professional bleaching done or go
the long term route of whitening toothpaste or mouthpiece trays. One of the more
popular teeth whitening home remedies are that of whitening strips and gels that attack
the teeth for long periods of time.

Teeth whitening strips are generally small, flexible strips that are coated on one side with
a whitening bleach. The strips are applied, one to the upper teeth and one to the lower
teeth, for around 30 minutes at a time twice a day. Some whitening strips will have a
specific system for applying the strips based on the amount of concentration in the
whitening bleach for the strip.

If a strip has a higher concentration of bleach then it will generally be worn for a shorter
amount of time then a strip with a lower concentration of bleach. When the individual
has achieved the whitening level he or she is happy with he or she may discontinue the
process at any time. The benefit of strips over mouthpieces or trays is the comfort of
strips that have a considerably less bulky size.

With a teeth whitening gel you are getting a more powerful whitening agent than you can
find in most whitening toothpaste. With whitening toothpaste you are getting some
chemicals that are designed to make teeth whiter. However, teeth whitening gels can
sometimes contain a peroxide based formula that can add a little more punch to the
whitening process without purchasing more equipment.

Teeth whitening strips and gels are good alternatives to actually going to a dentist and
having laser teeth whitening if you are looking for a way to save some dollars. However,
they will not provide the immediate and long lasting effect that you can expect to see
from the laser teeth whitening process.