Dental Care

Regular use of mouthwash is a great habit to get into for continued dental health, but my dentist said something that struck me strange last time I visited. He instructed me to use mouthwash before I brushed, not after. "Before?" I asked. "Are you sure?"

Yes, my dentist was sure. He explained that rinsing before you brush loosens food particles and buildup, making brushing even more effective. There's even a market for the stuff, dubbed "prerinse." If you're a mouthwash-aholic like I am, though, it's best to choose a brand (like Crest Pro-Health) with little to no alcohol content since the alcohol can have a drying effect on your mouth.

The only downside of the pre- and post-rinse: I still love that just-rinsed feeling after brushing, so I end up using mouthwash both before and after I brush my teeth — which means going through twice as much mouthwash.

Brush, swish, spit. If that's your dental routine, you may want to revise it. While a little brush is better than no brush at all, there are a few simple tactics that one can employ for a whiter and brighter smile. Do your pearly whites a favor and heed some of this advice from Dr. Jonathan Levine. Your smile will thank you.

• Brush your teeth right when you wake up. Plaque and bacteria accumulate overnight, which is why it's important to floss and brush right away.
• Avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods and beverages. If you brush too soon after consuming acidic foods or drinks, you can harm the tooth enamel.
• Brush at least twice a day, if not more.
• If you only have time to floss or use mouthwash, choose flossing.
• Only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Change your toothbrush every three months.
• Use a mouthwash to reduce plaque buildup.
• If you have the funds to purchase one, buy an ultrasonic toothbrush.

Do you have any tips to share on dental care?

I dread my six-month dental checkup because I know what they're going to say — "You're not flossing, are you?" I know brushing alone doesn't help clean between your teeth, and really I have no excuse except that I just don't do it.

Here's some news that'll have us all reaching for the floss. When you don't floss regularly, food gets stuck between your teeth, which turns into sticky plaque and bacteria. When this builds up, it can lead to gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. You know you have it if your gums are inflamed, are tender, or bleed. Your gums will also recede, which means they pull away from your teeth and expose them, which causes damage to your precious chompers. If this progresses and you develop gum disease, your teeth will die, which eventually causes the bones under your teeth to dissolve away. What you're left with is changes in your facial appearance including gaps between your teeth, sunken cheeks, caving in of the lips, and wrinkles along the mouth and cheeks — all of which can make you appear older than you are.

Instead of expensive and uncomfortable procedures to keep wrinkles away, your best bet is to grab youth by the horns and make time to floss at least once a day. After all this I'd like to know if you already floss regularly? If you don't, does this info make you want to start?

When dental health becomes a battlefield, it is time to try a new tactic. Lights and colors have always attracted tots and the TrendyKid Wash and Brush Timer ($7.50) uses both to keep kids at the sink until their hygiene tasks are complete. With a simple press of the button, mom (or tyke) chooses the cleaning to be completed and a green light begins to flash, setting off a two-minute timer for tooth brushing and a 20 second timer for hand washing. Once the timer is through, the light turns red and lil ones know they are good to go. Keeping clean has never been so much fun! Would the TrendyKid Wash and Brush Timer work for you?

While getting my teeth cleaned the other day, my dentist asked me if I brush twice a day. "Of course. Ever since I was a kid," was my response. But she said that I should bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to work and brush after every meal, three times a day. She added that if I had time, I should brush after snacks and beverages like coffee, too. I know that means a lot of time spent at the bathroom sink, but if you have issues with cavities or bad breath, give my dentist's advice a try. Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in a circular motion so you don't irritate your gums.

How many times a day do you brush?

The tune "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" may have a special meaning for Shiloh Jolie-Pitt this holiday season. When the 3-year-old beauty was spotted visiting a toy store in France, she was sporting a rather authentic-looking pirate costume — including a missing front tooth.

The tooth fairy doesn't tend to start visiting lil ones until they reach the ripe old age of 6, though some get a visit up to two years earlier. According to doctors, teeth tend to fall out in the same order in which they appear, with the front two bottom teeth falling out first, followed by the top two. When a wee one loses a tooth before its usual time — either due to an accident or tooth decay — they don't usually rush off to the dentist in search of a veneer or bridge like their parents do. Instead they must wait until the permanent tooth grows in, often a few years later.

Brad and Angie's little blondie will likely be flashing her gap-toothed smile for a few years now. When did your youngster lose her first tooth?