Looking for a smile that can light up a room? Did you know that something as simple as flossing can add up to seven years to your life? Each time you pick up your toothbrush, you’re waging war on infections and deadly health conditions including heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Poor oral care can be a culprit in preterm labor and preterm birth—a condition that affects one in eight births—and can be life threatening for both a mom and her baby.


The mouth is truly the gateway to the body. Serious diseases such as eating disorders, diabetes and HIV/AIDS often show their first symptoms in your mouth. Experts at the American Dental Association, the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health now stand behind what your mother told you: Brush your teeth when you rise each morning, after each meal and before you go to bed. Doing so can help reduce stroke and heart-attack risk, diminish poorly controlled diabetes and prevent infection and inflammation in your body, according to research.

You’ve heard the term gingivitis on TV—it’s in practically every commercial for products related to keeping your mouth clean. Gingivitis refers to bacteria in your mouth, often caused by the buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums. Plaque forms when bacteria and saliva mix and stick to your teeth. Researchers are now exploring the relationship between bacteria in your mouth and swelling and inflammation throughout your body, especially your arteries. If you have plaque in your mouth, you’re likely to have it in your arteries as well. New studies indicate that this plaque puts you at a greater risk for heart attack or stroke. In other research, people with gum (periodontal) disease are showing increased heart-attack and stroke risks.

If you have diabetes, you’re prone to oral-health problems that can manifest in other ways in your body. People with diabetes are at risk for mouth infections and periodontal disease. Research shows that gum disease makes it harder for people with diabetes to control their blood-sugar levels because it increases sugar levels in your saliva, leading to further decay in your mouth and a greater risk for gum disease and infections. Diabetes increases your risk for dry mouth and thrush, a fungal infection causing painful white patches in your mouth

Achieving oral health is easy: Brush your teeth at least twice each day with a fluoride-supplemented toothpaste, floss each day to remove plaque and food particles that your brush can’t reach, eat a balanced diet, limit time spent eating between meals and get a thorough dental exam, including a professional cleaning, at least once a year, say experts at the American Dental Association.

There are safe and effective ways to brighten your teeth. Whitening your teeth doesn’t make your mouth any healthier, although it may improve your sense of well-being when you can flash a bright smile. Your dentist can use a variety of methods to quickly brighten your smile as many as five shades brighter than your current color. Different laser treatments are also being used now to brighten teeth, but none of these yet are approved by the American Dental Association, which puts its seal of approval on products proven effective for oral health maintenance.

Whitening toothpastes use a polish and sometimes bleach to brighten your teeth over time. If you find that you’re sensitive to the bleach in these products, try using less of the product for shorter periods of time on a more frequent basis to avoid lengthy exposure of your gums to the bleach. Look for whitening toothpastes or bleaching kits that carry the ADA seal of approval—avoid those that don’t. And remember to see your dentist at least once a year to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums—and possibly the rest of you—in optimal health.

• Gums bleed easily
• Lightly colored or pale rose colored gums
• Pain in your teeth or gums
• Plaque accumulates frequently or easily
• Teeth appear longer than before (gums receding)
• Sores in your mouth or on your gums

• Skip smelly foods: Garlic and onions are well known contributors to halitosis, but so are commonly consumed foods like cheeses, orange juice, and some soft drinks.
• Brush, brush, brush: Food and bacteria trapped on your teeth and gums can rot. Pack a travel size toothbrush in your purse and brush your teeth after eating out.
• Swish, swish, swish: A fluoride mouthwash can prevent bacteria and plaque from accumulating, which helps control bad breath from ever developing.
• Eat well and often: Dieting or fasting can promote unpleasant breath.
• Stay hydrated: Dry mouth is associated with bad breath because the lack of saliva allows bacteria to proliferate, which in turns promotes halitosis. Dry mouth can be a side effect of medications, or you might have other conditions such as sinus blockages that force you to be a “mouth breather,” which can cause dry mouth.
• Get professional care: You might need a dentist to treat developing gum disease if these steps don’t help. Ongoing bad breath is a sign of more serious oral-health issues, or even an indicator of sinus or kidney problems.