Dental Care
By Jessica Floyd

Often times the first thing people notice about you is your smile. After all, talking is the main way we communicate. We all know you should brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, but many people don’t know exactly how long you should brush.

Dr. Clemons, a dentist in Chapel Hill, says that you should brush your teeth for two minutes. Dr. Clemons also says it's ideal to brush your teeth after every meal. However, dentists agree that's not always practical. When you don’t have time to brush after mid-day snacks and meals you can gargle with water or mouthwash to remove food particles. You can also chew a sugarless gum to temporarily clean teeth.

For good dental health in general try substituting fruits and vegetables for more sugary foods like cake and ice cream. Lowering your sugar intake reduces the amount of harmful bacteria that naturally lives in your mouth and also reduces cavities.

Dr. Clemmons says you should use a circular technique when brushing your teeth. Also remember to brush your tongue and floss daily.

Knowing the proper way to care for your teeth helps ensure your pearly whites will stay healthy for a long time.