We might have come across many saying “It takes 42 face muscles to frown but takes only 22 to smile”. They also say “The best curve in one’s body is smile”. And the most important component of a flashy smile is the ‘teeth’.

White teeth can bring a gorgeous smile to your face and their prominence covers up all other face-related drawbacks, if you have any. Bad breath plays a vital role in your communication skills. Moreover, fresh breath and white teeth symbolize healthy oral hygiene. So it is very important that we take proper care and maintain them well. Here are a few simple steps to help you do so:

1. Change the head of your electric toothbrush at least every two to three months. Otherwise, you're just transferring bacteria to your mouth. According to Beverly Hills dentist Harold Katz, D.D.S., the best way to brush is by placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums and gently moving it in a circular motion, rather than a back-and-forth motion. Grip the toothbrush like a pencil so you won't scrub too hard.

1. Use a tongue scraper every morning to remove tongue plaque and freshen your breath. One major cause of bad breath is the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping will help banish. Plus, using a tongue scraper is more effective than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush, says Dr. Katz.

1. Gargle with apple cider vinegar. Do this in the morning and then brush as usual. The vinegar helps help remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria in your mouth and gums.

1. Brush your teeth with baking soda once a week. This will remove stains and whiten your teeth. Use it just as you would toothpaste. You can also use salt as an alternative. Just be sure to spit it out so it doesn't count as sodium intake! Also, if your gums start to feel raw, switch to brushing with salt every other day.

1. To check the freshness of your breath, lick your palm and smell it while it's still wet. If you smell something, it’s time for a sugar-free breath mint. Make sure your mouthwash is alcohol-free. Most over-the-counter mouthwashes have too much alcohol, which can dry out the tissues in your mouth, making them more susceptible to bacteria.

1. Last but not the least. This is something our elders have taught us in every walk of our lives. Brush before and after bed. They're the two most crucial times, says Kathleen W. Wilson, M.D., an internist at the Ochsner Health Center in New Orleans and author of When You Think You Are Falling Apart. That’s because saliva (which keeps cavity-causing plaque off teeth) dries up at night, so it’s best to have all plaque cleaned off the teeth before sleep. It’s also important to brush first thing in the morning to brush off plaque and bacteria (morning breath!) that may have built up as you slept.

Hope you find our simple techniques to keep up good oral hygiene easy and convenient to follow.

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