Dental care to smile about: you can have a lifetime of healthy smiles with a few simple tips for better oral hygiene.(PERSONAL CARE: NATURAL BEAUTY)

Pearly white teeth and kissing-flesh breath not only enhance your confidence, they may save your life. Research shows that the health of teeth and gums is linked to overall health, and many diseases may be alleviated by eliminating toxins and inflammation originating in the mouth.

People with periodontal disease--an infection of the tissues that support your teeth--are up to two times as likely to suffer a fatal heart attack and three times as likely to suffer a stroke.

A very shallow V-shaped crevice called a sulcus separates the tooth and gum. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket--generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the pocket depth. It's a startling statistic that more teeth are lost due to gum disease than tooth decay. A conscientious oral hygiene program includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes, with a soft toothbrash; flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with a natural mouthwash or oral rinse each time you brush.

When brushing your teeth, focus on your gums, says Richard Hansen, DMD, a dentist in Fullerton, CA. "Massage the gum tissue with a water irrigator, an electric toothbrush or a soft toothbrush to help increase circulation. Also, make sure you eat a balanced diet and include nutritional supplements, like vitamins C and B complex and ...