Toothpastes

The American Dental Association  recommends you brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste  and a toothbrush.  Toothpaste is packed with fluoride  and xylitol  to prevent (or get rid of) gingivitis, thus keeping your teeth healthy. Every year more and more toothpastes hit the market promising whiter, stronger, less sensitive teeth, and a host of other great effects. So how do you choose just one out of the millions? Do you want whiter teeth, fresher breath, both...? 

There's a toothpaste for almost every desire; some toothpastes are made with antiseptic ingredients  for a deep down clean, others contain notes of jasmine ; there is even a charcoal toothpaste! Hopefully the suggestions below will help you find the perfect brand. 

Popular Types of Toothpastes

Whitening  Whitening toothpaste is usually made with abrasive or chemical cleaners to polish off surface stains. Unfortunately, old stains are often left untouched. However, Elgydium  can gently remove many of the set in stains and protect the enamel at the same time.	For Sensitive Teeth  Almost every brand has a line of toothpaste for sensitive teeth. However, Sensodyne  has specialized in toothpaste for sensitive teeth over the years and has the most options.	With Mouthwash  Colgate recently came out with their 2 in 1 toothpaste  that combines the power of mouthwash with the power of toothpaste, thus eliminating the extra steps!	Children's Flavors  Getting a child to brush his or her teeth is a hard feat to begin with. Add an adult mint flavor and the difficulty level rises. Try bubblegum,  strawberry  or watermelon  flavored toothpaste to help encourage good dental hygiene in your family.	Natural  Nature's Gate  makes a line of natural toothpastes. These eliminate harmful chemicals and use only natural abrasives to rub teeth clean.

Brush Up!

Now that you've picked out the perfect toothpaste, it's time to brush!  Below, a few helpful hints for keeping those pearly whites clean, even when you're not brushing.

• Hold your toothbrush at a 45° angle when cleaning so you can make contact with the tooth surface and the gumline.
• Don't forget that brushing behind your teeth is just as important as brushing the front.
• Maintaining a healthy diet can cause less plaque build-up on your teeth. This means avoiding foods that contain sucrose (sugar) and maintaining a regular intake of calcium  for strong teeth.
• Pregnant? Start drinking your milk  now! Eating right can help to ensure your baby's teeth will be healthy.
• If you have young children, make sure you supervise them as they are brushing their teeth and flossing. This will help them build better tooth care practices that will hopefully carry on into adulthood.

Dental Products

Here are some other products that will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking pretty, too!

Mouthwash  Not only can it get rid of your morning breath, but mouthwash can help to kill germs that cause gingivitis, and get rid of plaque in hard to reach places.	Dental Floss  This is another great tool for maintaining healthy teeth. One piece of floss can loosen all of the plaque you didn't catch when brushing. To clean between bridges or braces, pick up some threader floss.	Whitening Strips  While the effect of these daily strips is subjective, for some people it does whiten teeth when worn for a few minutes or overnight. It can be a much cheaper alternative to the dentist's office.	Toothbrush Sanitizers  Concerned about keeping brushes clean and not spreading around germs in your family? Pick up a toothbrush sanitizer--it uses a UV bulb to destroy bacteria on your brush.	Oral Irrigators  Think of a waterpik,  but with a little more power behind it. Oral irrigators work by spraying out jet streams of water (some can be hooked up to your sink faucet) to clear up and rinse away any build-up in your teeth.

Related Guides

Teeth Whiteners Use in combination with brushing your teeth for an extra white smile.	Electric Toothbrushes Add extra cleaning power to your paste with an electric toothbrush.	Dental Hygiene Read up and impress your dentist at your next cleaning.

External Links

• Dentist.net: Information about teeth whitening. 
• Rd.com: Reader's Digest article on how to keep teeth healthy.