Smile Savers

According to an article in the March 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, brushing, flossing, and eating right keep your teeth strong and promote overall health.  Below are 4 tips from that article:

1. Make it tea for your teeth: Fruit drinks, sodas, and citrus juices (like orange) have sugar and acids that wear away tooth enamel.  The better dental choice , as safe as just plain water, is tea without milk, lemon, or sugar.

2. Listen to your hygienist: In a two-week study of identical twins, one brushed and flossed, the other simply brushed.  The flosser developed significantly less plaque causing bacteria than their brush-only siblings.

3. Spoon up some culture: In a new study, people who consumed at least 1/4 cup of yogurt or a lactic acid drink every day were less than half as likely to have serious gum disease.  The magic ingredient? Probiotics, researchers believe.

4. Get plenty of fruits and vegetables: The higher your consumption of folic acid from food (produce is a great source), the lower you risk of bleeding gums, research shows.