Did you know that brushing your teeth isn’t just about getting rid of the garlic breath and coffee stains? Good oral health is actually directly linked to good health overall. Keep your mouth and your body happy with a good oral hygiene routine.

If your oral health is better than you think it should be, you may be benefiting from flouridated water coming out of your tap. Flouride helps prevent cavities and many cities are adding it to their water supply, and have been for decades. If you drink mostly filtered water, bottled water, or no water at all, you might not be getting enough flouride. Get yours by using a flouride rinse in the evenings.

Another great way to improve your oral health is by flossing. The little string that runs up and down your teeth and under your gum line is doing more than just removing popcorn kernels. It’s scraping away the bacteria that cause plaque. Once the plaque hardens, it can be difficult to brush away. You don’t want plaque and bacteria, so make sure you’re flossing every day. Once a day is enough – more often isn’t helpful… unless of course you’re going after that stray piece of popcorn.

Even if you’re already brushing every night, or even twice a day, if you’re not brushing with an electric sonic toothbrush, there’s a lot more you could be doing to benefit your teeth. Sonic care toothbrushes combine the super-fast brushing action of a regular electric toothbrush with sonic (sound) waves that clean by vibrating water against your teeth and a very fast frequency. This high-tech combination is actually the best way (outside the dentist’s office) to remove plaque and stains from your teeth, leaving them healthier and whiter!

When I asked my personal dentist if I should be using a sonic care toothbrush, his answer was a resounding yes. Other people in my family had been using about them, and I read about them in consumer reports. The data panned out so I decided to invest in a sonic toothbrush.

The sonic care toothbrush was easy to use (It almost made brushing fun!) and I could tell a difference. My teeth seemed whiter. My dentist could see a difference, too, so I decided to stick with the Sonicare brushing.

Now I stay healthy by flossing daily, drinking flouridated water, visiting my dentist every six months and brushing with a sonic care toothbrush.

I hope you make a decision to keep your mouth in excellent condition. Talk to your dentist about how you can develop the optimal oral care routine for you!