Most kids don’t like mint flavor, so if your child does not like brushing his or her teeth, try switching to another flavor of fluoride toothpaste, such as bubble gum or fruit flavor made specifically for kids.

Most people don’t notice that they grind their teeth. This mysterious habit often occurs while you sleep. If you have tenderness or pain in your jaw or teeth when you wake from a night’s sleep, this might be a sign of tooth grinding or clenching. Check with your significant other for grinding sounds while you sleep. Significant wear can be caused from this habit including broken teeth and wearing through the protective outer enamel layer. Check with your dentist- you may need to wear a “night-guard” that fits over your teeth and protects them from grinding wear while you sleep.

If you don’t have a toothbrush close by, avoid sticky foods such as caramel, raisins etc. Sticky snacks will stick to your teeth and cause both decay and a heavier plaque buildup unless you brush your teeth right after the snack (plaque  and decay causing bacteria begins to accumulate in the first 5 minutes after eating). Also avoid putting pencils, paper clips or needles in your mouth. With time, this will damage your teeth by chipping and wearing down the enamel on the edges of your front teeth.

Chewing sugar free gum with Xylitol is actually beneficial for your teeth, as it stimulates saliva flow and Xylitol helps fight bacteria in the mouth. 5 minutes chewing after each snack will help control plaque buildup. Look for sugar free chewing gum, preferably with Xylitol (such as Trident). Ask your dentist first if you have TMJ (jaw) problems. Xylitol has been used in Europe for decades, and it has been scientifically proven to fight the bad bacteria in the mouth that can cause tooth decay. Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener derived from natural sources, and is also produced in the human body as a by-product of a normal metabolism.