Have you always wanted a killer smile and healthy teeth? Nearly everyone dreams of perfectly white teeth. To get your teeth looking their best, you need to take proper care of them. There are over the counter products which help cosmetically as well. Read the tips here to learn some general tips about dental care.

Sodas can damage your teeth. Soda contains a high level of sugar so this will not help your teeth at all. Try water instead. This is good for your whole body.

Daily flossing is essential to healthy teeth. Take a generous amount of dental floss and insert it gently between your teeth. Move the floss up from the gum on the side of each tooth. This will remove plaque that you can’t reach with your toothbrush and help keep your teeth their cleanest.

Go to your dentist twice a year, or whatever the recommendation for your particular situation is. The best way to prevent any serious dental problems is to visit your dentist regularly. You’ll also feel better about going to the dentist if you visit them often. You need to have a good relationship with a dentist when you have to take care of larger problems.

Brush teeth gently. While it may seem like the best way to keep teeth clean is by brushing hard, it isn’t true. Brushing too hard or with bristles that are too hard can cause pain, irritation, gum recession, and eventually loose teeth. To prevent this, use a brush with soft nylon bristles and use gentle, circular brushing motions when brushing.

Even though it requires some extra time out of your day, be sure you brush your teeth and floss. Dedicating a few minutes every day will pay off. There is no better preventative maintenance for your mouth than to brush and floss daily. It’s easy, inexpensive, and you need to do it for a beautiful smile.

Take care of your toothbrush. After you finish cleaning your teeth, make sure you clean your toothbrush, too. Simply wash it off with water and place it in a toothbrush holder so that it is standing up. Putting your toothbrush in a case is not advisable, because bacteria is more likely to grow that way.

Don’t assume that just because oranges and orange juice are touted as healthy for your body that they are healthy for your mouth. The acidic nature of this and related foods start wearing down on your enamel immediately. You can have them, but brush immediately after consuming anything involving heavy concentrations of oranges.

Be realistic about your expectations for whitening toothpastes. The compounds and abrasives they contain are often very helpful at lightening the surface stains on your teeth, such as coffee stains. However, they are not going to address more serious issues like decay or stains that have penetrated the tooth enamel. Most dental experts agree that it is safe to use such toothpastes twice a day.

These dental tips should help clear up any questions you have about proper dental care. Your dentist can give you additional tips as well. If you want to demystify a subject, learn all you can about it. If you put in the effort, you can have a killer smile in no time.