Taking good care of your teeth will help you live a long, healthy, pain-free life. In order to keep your teeth healthy, it is important to develop a good dental care routine early in life and maintain them as you get older. You can do this by practicing good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, and supplementing these good habits with professional care when necessary.

1. You should do so for at least two minutes. This will give you the time you need to get to all surfaces of your teeth. Make sure you remember the backs of your teeth.
 
2. Use a fluoride toothpaste. Flouride protects the enamel and makes you less likely to get cavities. But it is important that the toothpaste have enough fluoride to be effective. Check to make sure it has at least 1,350-1500 ppm.
Toothpastes with less than 1000 ppm of fluoride will be ineffective at protecting your teeth.
Children can use full strength toothpaste if an adult makes sure they spit it out after brushing.
 
3. Floss daily. Flossing cleans the surfaces between your teeth. This is important because you can’t clean there effectively with your toothbrush. As a result, if you don’t floss, food, plaque, and bacteria build up there.
Use 30 cm of floss or an interdental cleaner. Insert it between your teeth and curve it around one of the teeth. Move it up and down along the side of the tooth, then curve around the other tooth and repeat.
Be gentle when you go below the gum line. If you are new to flossing, your gums may bleed, but after a few days, this will stop.
 
4. Use mouthwash. Look for a mouthwash that has fluoride in it. If you use a fluoride mouthwash after brushing and flossing, this will help the fluoride reach the enamel of all surfaces of your teeth. Swish the mouthwash around in your mouth for two minutes to allow it to thoroughly coat all areas of your teeth.
You can also make a natural remedy using a salt solution. Put half teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and stir.
Don’t swallow the mouthwash because it may upset your stomach. If you want to try to kill bacteria further back in your throat, you can gargle briefly before spitting it out.
 
5. Brush or scrape your tongue. The surface of your tongue is uneven. This means that food particles and bacteria often get trapped there. This then becomes a source of bacteria which gets transferred to your teeth.
You can brush gently or use a special tongue scraper. Some toothbrushes even have a rough, rubbery patch on the back which you can use for this purpose.
Scrape gently so that you don’t injure your tongue. It shouldn’t hurt. When you finish, rinse your mouth out to get rid of the debris and bacteria.
 
6. Don’t smoke. Smoking will stain your teeth yellow, give you bad breath, and make you more likely to get gum disease or mouth cancers. If you need help quitting smoking, there are many resources available.
 
7. Limit your sugar consumption. Sugar erodes the enamel on your teeth because as it breaks down, it produces acid which wears away your enamel. This makes you more likely to get cavities and tooth decay. Foods to avoid include:
Sugary sodas. Limit the amount of juice you drink to one glass per day.
Desserts such as pastries, cakes, ice cream and candies.
Highly sweetened tea or coffee.
 
8. Eat less sticky foods. These foods leave a thin layer of sugar on your teeth which is difficult to remove and increases your risk of tooth decay. Try to avoid eating:
Gummy candies
Granola bars
Taffy
Dried fruit like raisins
Sugary gum. Sugar-free gum is excellent for stimulating saliva production and helping to remove the last little bits of food stuck between your teeth.
 
9. Scrape your teeth clean with a crunchy fruit or veggie. This particularly effective at the end of a meal or as a healthy snack between meals. Consider eating more:
Apples
Broccoli
Peppers
Carrots
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Celery
 
10. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol damages the enamel on your teeth and increases your risk of tooth decay. If you need help quitting drinking there are numerous resources you can draw upon. You can:
Get support from friends, family, or a support group like Alcoholic Anonymous
Talk to your doctor about taking medications.