How to make your teeth pretty

If your teeth aren't pretty, you aren't pretty.

Face it, folks, it's the truth. And like a lot of things, taking care of your teeth isn't all that complicated.

You know about eating better. I've nagged you about drinking lots of water. But here are the four things to do. They are easy, they don't take long, and doing them on a habitual basis will do lots for making your smile a beautiful one.

First, get a check-up and cleaning every 6 months. In most areas, this will run you maybe $100. And while I'm not a big fan of medical exams, having someone else look at your teeth will enable you to find out problems far ahead of when you start feeling a searing pain at 2 a.m. If you don't have a dentist, ask around. Ask 10 friends or family members, and names will start to recur. Just find one.

Second, brush twice a day. I'm not going to tell you to do it after every meal, though it would be good for you. Just thoroughly brush at night, and after breakfast. Use a soft toothbrush. And ask your dental hygienist (see the first recommendation) for instructions on better brushing.

Third, floss every night. Once you get the hang of it, this takes maybe 2 minutes. Again, your hygienist can show you how if you've never done it much before. This is one of the best things you can do to keep your teeth in optimal shape. Do it.

Fourth, scrape your tongue. Here's an experiment. Take a plastic butter knife (not a sharp one, please!) and scrape the serrated edge gently over your tongue. If you're like most people, you have a grayish film on the knife. This film is the host for an extended family of bacteria, all living in your mouth. You need to show them a new home. Buy a tongue scraper, and use it. Since these aren't familiar to most people, this page will explain more about them:

http://www.animated-teeth.com/bad_breath/t4z_tongue_cleaning.htm

Tomorrow: a teeth-whitening rinse that sells for 49 cents at Wal-Mart. Just send me the money you save on the Mega-Bucks Mouthwashes. I'm saving up for a trip. : )

See you then.