Keeping your mouth healthy and fresh starts with the right routine and good eating habits. Follow the tips below and make your mouth happy:

The day to day:

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends a soft-bristle brush like Oral-B^® Pulsar Pro-Health^TM and the vibrating Pro-Soft bristles give you a dentist-clean feeling. If you have plaque buildup or suffer from gingivitis, try a brush with an angled head, like the Oral-B^® CrossAction Pro-Health^TM. It helps break down plaque — especially in hard-to-reach areas — and has a tongue-cleaning feature that helps keep your mouth healthy.

Once you have your brush, hold it at a 45-degree angle and slide the tips of the bristles under your gums, gently jiggling the brush to dislodge any food particles caught under the gumline.

Don’t forget to brush your tongue and the insides of your cheeks — it helps freshen your breath.

Brush with an all-in-one toothpaste like Crest^® Pro-Health^TM for at least two minutes, twice a day. It protects against gingivitis and tooth sensitivity.

Long term care:

Switch it up. Whichever brush you choose, the CDA recommends changing it (or the head) every three months, or after a cold so the germs don’t spread.

Make regular visits to your dentist. Checkups and professional cleaning keep everything in working order and help identify problems before they get big.

Be diligent with your routine. Use floss, a soft toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and rinse for a complete clean. And look for products with the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Seal of Recognition.

Give yourself an oral exam monthly. Look for sore, red and puffy gums that bleed when you brush or floss. These symptoms could indicate the early stages of periodontal disease.

Try the Crest^® Pro-Health^TM Collection. Its pastes and rinses work with Oral-B^® brushes to help keep your mouth in the pink of health. Use them all as part of your regular oral-care routine and see the difference it can make.

Food dos and don’ts:

DO Choose dairy products and nuts. They’re low in sugar and high in protein, calcium and phosphorous, to help build strong teeth and prevent decay. And raw vegetables, crunchy fruit, popcorn and sugar-free beverages don’t stick to teeth, preventing the bacteria buildup that can lead to gum disease.

DON’T Eat only sugary, high-carbohydrate foods. Researchers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have found that baked goods, sweets and fruit juices can stick to your teeth and gums, which makes your mouth produce more acid and attracts bacteria. Eat low-sugar, high-protein foods like nuts and crunchy foods like apples to keep them from sticking around.

DO Boost your intake of vitamin C. People who consume less than 60 mg per day are one and a half times more likely to get gum disease than those who consume 180 mg a day or more.

DON’T Rely on bottled water. Unlike some tap water, a lot of bottled water lacks fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent and reverse the early stages of tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and allowing teeth damaged by plaque to repair themselves.