Dental Tips
You can keep your teeth for your lifetime. Here are some things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth.
- Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly and floss between the teeth to remove dental plaque.
- Visit your dentist on a regular basis, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.
- Do not use any tobacco products. If you smoke, quit.
- Limit alcoholic drinks.
- If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease.
- If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco products and alcohol.
- See your doctor or a dentist if you have sudden changes in taste and smell.
- When acting as a caregiver, help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.
Additional Resources
- CDC: Tips From Former Smokers
- CDC: Managing Diabetes
- Working Together to Manage Diabetes: A Toolkit for Pharmacy, Podiatry, Optometry, and Dentistry (PPOD)
- National Institutes of Health: Chemotherapy and Your Mouth pdf icon[PDF – 326KB]external icon
- National Institute on Aging: Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouthexternal icon
A day as a Dentist
Dental TipsA day in the life of a Dentist is a video that takes a fun look behind the scenes of a dental practice and shows you what happens during a normal day in the office. Download this free guide on sealants for children's teeth.Better Health Care is Our...
Free Guide to Brushing
Dental TipsBrushingIf the person you care for can brush but needs somehelp or guidance:■ Encourage self-care. If the person you care for hasproblems with memory or judgment, he or she mightneed reminders. For example, leave the toothbrush andtoothpaste on the sink....
Can You Seal Out Tooth Decay in Children?
Dental TipsDental sealants are thin plastic coatings that protect the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth from cavities or tooth decay. Because they have small pits and grooves, these surfaces are rough and uneven. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and...
What is TMJ or TMD?
Dental TipsTMD is the most common facial pain condition, affecting 5% to 12% of US adults. Because up to two-thirds of patients with TMD have jaw-related pain that lasts at least six months, it’s important to identify and treat those at high risk for persistent, or...
About Root Canals
Dental TipsBetter Health Care is Our Mission24/7 service. Same Day Appointments are Available.
Dental Care for Older Adults
Dental Tips By 2060, according to the US Census, the number of US adults aged 65 years or older is expected to reach 98 million, 24% of the overall population.1 Older Americans with the poorest oral health tend to be those who are economically disadvantaged, lack...
Better Health Care is Our Mission
24/7 service. Same Day Appointments are Available.