Your toothbrush is your most powerful weapon for a healthy mouth! Whether you use a manual or electric version, your toothbrush is responsible for clearing away food debris, plaque and bacteria twice per day. Without your toothbrush, you’d be susceptible to oral health conditions ranging from bad breath and cavities to gum disease, infections and even tooth loss.

Now that we’ve established the importance of your toothbrush, what are you doing to take care of it? Keeping your toothbrush in good condition and free of germs is critical if you want it to do its job. Here are five proper care and maintenance tips for your toothbrush to ensure your toothbrush is not doing more harm than good. (more…)

The oral health care aisle at your local drug store offers a variety of brands for toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. Are you using all three products? While the American Dental Association specifically lists flossing and brushing as recommended daily hygiene habits, mouthwash seems to be in more of a “gray” area. Statistics reported by National Smile Month tell us that only 31% of adults use mouthwash. This begs the question: is mouthwash an obligation or simply optional? (more…)