By practicing good oral hygiene, you should be able to keep your smile healthy and bright throughout adult life. We recommend following these guidelines:

	Brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque.
	Floss daily to remove the plaque from between your teeth and under your gumline, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it will have to be removed by the Hygienist.
	Limit sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks. The more often you snack between meals, the more chances you give the acids in plaque to attack your tooth enamel.
	Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups Click here to locate a dentist near you.
Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain oral health issues as an adult.

Cavities around existing fillings (called recurrent decay) and decay on the root surfaces of the teeth become more common as we age. So it's important to brush with a fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and see your dentist regularly.

Sensitivity can be an increasing problem as you get older. Your gums naturally recede over time, exposing areas of the tooth that are not protected by enamel. For more information about this and other issues, view our Common Problems section.

It is possible to make your teeth whiter. A thorough cleaning by a dental professional will remove most external staining caused by food and tobacco. Using a whitening toothpaste can also help remove these surface stains between dental visits. If stains have been present for years, you may need to have your teeth professionally whitened to remove these more stubborn external stains. For information on products including whitening toothpaste click here.