While having a healthy smile is good enough reason to keep up a steady oral hygiene routine, new studies at Yale have shown that a clean mouth might actually help decrease your risk of catching pneumonia.

The study showed significant changes amoung mouth bacteria in pneumonia patients, which has pointed researches to believe that there could in fact be a link between oral health and pneumonia.

One researcher said that the findings could help improve pneumonia prevention in the future because reduced risk will come with the simple maintenance of brushing and flossing everyday.

It’s also interesting to note that other studies conducted in the past have linked people with excessive gum problems to a higher pneumonia mortality rate. Another great reason to always make sure your whole mouth’s overall health is up to par!

So, as we continue to make our way through the cold & flu ridden winter season, take that one extra step in protecting your body from germs and make sure you pay your regularly scheduled visit to the dentist. A small price to pay to keep those germs away!

It’s easy for remembering to maintain a healthy smile to get lost amid all of our other typical new years resolutions, like losing weight and getting more organized. But making sure your smile stays brighter and shinier than ever in 2012 doesn’t have to be hard if you remember these easy tips and tricks.

Floss Everyday 

There’s a scene in the show “How I Met Your Mother” where Lily get’s locked in her bathroom for an extended period of time. When she realizes she won’t be getting out anytime soon she exclaims, “Well, I guess I’ll actually floss now.” Unfortunately, this is the mentality most of us develop towards flossing. It becomes more of an afterthought rather than a daily necessity. Vow to make 2012 the year that you’ll floss twice a day, everyday and watch your teeth become whiter and your overall oral health improve drastically!

Brush (but for the full two minutes!)

We trust that you brush your teeth twice everyday. But do you brush for long enough? The Academy of General Dentistry found that the average person only brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds a day when you should be brushing for at least two to three minutes. In 2010, try using a stopwatch or playing a song that lasts around that amount of time to ensure that you’re daily brushing sessions are lasting the appropriate amount of time.

Get yourself to the Dentist

Did you make your yearly dental checkup in 2011? Recent studies have begun to show that more and more people are starting to skip their regularly scheduled dental checkups. Even if you take good care of your teeth (which we’re sure you do!), seeing the doc every so often is still important because as dentists we’re trained to look for any alarming signals that could indicate a larger oral or overall health problem. Many minor problems that start in the mouth can lead to much more serious complications if left untreated. We challenge you to make 2012 the year that you and your family stick to a regularly scheduled dental check-up routine. Can you rise to the occasion?

You’re well aware that sugar is one of your teeth’s worst enemies. But foods that have low pH levels (like those ultra-sour Warhead candies) can diminish tooth size and chip away at enamel. Foods like fruit juices, soft drinks, and sour candies should be consumed in moderation because citric acid is typically included in their ingredients and they are notorious for having unnaturally low pH levels.

2. Some of your teeth could be missing!

Missing teeth are inheritable, making it possible for some people to be born without a certain tooth. This most commonly happens with wisdom teeth (guess you’re lucky if you don’t have to get them pulled!) and lateral incisors (the tooth right next to your big front tooth).

3. Flossing gets rid of bad breath.

You floss a few days after your yearly dental exam. You always do it five minutes right before you’re headed to see the dentist, but never on a regular basis. Right? What is it with flossing anyway? It may not be the most fun activity but aside from preventing plaque and keeping your gums healthy, daily flossing is one of the number one ways to prevent and banish bad breath!

4. Shocking statistic: 80% of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gum disease.

This includes everything from minor gum inflammation and gingivitis to much more serious conditions that can go as far as damaging the fibers and bones that support your teeth. Fortunately, gum disease is prevented easily by brushing twice daily, flossing, and regular yearly dental check-ups!

But think about this; have you ever asked yourself, “do my teeth compliment the one-of-kind contours of my facial features?” (And fellas, FYI: Just because you don’t wear makeup or have long locks, doesn’t mean you’re teeth can’t compliment your face too!)

Porcelain veneers are one of the best ways to achieve a perfectly customized smile that will compliment your face’s shape in all the right ways. If you’re considering a smile makeover, take into account some of the following   guidelines from New Beauty when deciding what type of smile you’d like to achieve as an end result.

Small faces: Opt for shorter more rounded veneers. Teeth that are long and too square might look overwhelming and disproportionate to your petite size.

Full Faces: Longer teeth are more complimentary. A little extra length in your teeth will create a slimmer more streamlined appearance.

Thin Faces: You should go for a broader smile with teeth that are wider and will add some fullness. Steer clear of veneers that are thin and long. They will add unnecessary length.

Square-Shaped Faces: Aim for a smile with soft edged teeth. This will help to soften up and contrast the sharp angles of your face’s contour.

These days it’s pretty rare for a week to go by without seeing at least one headline about that oh-so-loveable Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. This week many were chattering about her smile. It is rumored that a cosmetic dentist from France altered her teeth to look ever-so-slightly unaligned, so that her smile wouldn’t look too perfect.

This got us a thinking. Can a smile ever really be too perfect? Well, maybe. Kate and her dentist were going for a healthy and natural looking smile. The key word here is natural. The best kinds of smile makeovers will provide authentic- looking results and a smile that doesn’t look overdone.

Just for fun, here are a few public figures whose smile’s could have maybe taken a more subtle and organic route:

Hilary Duff

Denzel Washington

Catherine Zeta Jones

What do you think? Can a smile be too perfect? Is there anyone else whose smile you think is too good to be true?

Lucky for you, there are certain foods that can help keep your whole mouth clean and your smile white and shiny. Some of the following firm fruits & vegetables will scrub your teeth as you chew (Think scrubbing bubbles, but in the form of food for your teeth!) and increase the flow of saliva (I know, ew!) to protect your teeth.

- Apples
- Carrots
- Celery
- Green Beans
- Cauliflower

OK, and if fruits and veggies aren’t really your thing, dairy products that are high in calcium will also help to keep your mouth’s shine alive.

- Cheese (Swiss, American, Cottage, Parmesan…yum!)
- Yogurt
- Milk

What foods that can stain should you avoid? (Or at least make sure you brush right after eating.) Things like,

- Sugary soft drinks
- Soy Sauce
- Blueberries
- Black coffee
- Wine (red & white)
- Tomato sauces

P.S. Don’t forget to join us on Facebook!

Even if the paparazzi isn’t snapping photos of you 24/7, you might still feel self conscious about any imperfections in your smile. This isn’t an uncommon feeling and it can usually be remedied quite easily!

Just for fun, let’s take a look at some celebrities who we think could really wow the crowd if they opted for a smile makeover.

Anna Paquin

Unfortunately, the True Blood Star is frequently criticized for the rather large gap between her teeth, which is a common flaw in many people’s smiles. It even has it’s own medical term called “Diastema.” While she seems to embrace the trademark flaw, for those who would rather fill the space it can easily be corrected with Veneers.

Mel Gibson

There’s nothing immediately alarming about his chompers but for some reason he frequently pops up on lists of celebs that have less than lovable smiles. More than anything we think he could use a good whitening. That’d take a few years off his appearance for sure!

Jewel

There’s no one distinct flaw in the singer-songwriter’s smile, but when she says cheese we can’t help but think that a few small tweaks or even an Invisalign regimen would take her smile from slightly shifty to stunningly straight!

When it comes down to it, everyone’s smile is unique, but what matters most is that when you look in the mirror and grin you’re satisfied with the teeth smiling back at you!

It seems unlikely that exercising would have an effect on your smile, but studies have shown that physical activity does reduce your risk for gum disease. Take this step to the next level by breathing through your nose while you’re working out, which will prevent your gums and mouth from drying out.

Of course flossing is always an important part of maintaining your oral health, and ensuring that you do so at least twice a day is an excellent way to proactively prevent gum disease. Additionally, when you’re teeth are not aligned properly, the small crevices between your teeth are more susceptible to bacteria and at home teeth cleanings can become less effective. For this reason, correcting teeth that are not positioned properly can become a significant part of preventing gum disease, as well as other oral health problems.

Lastly, as I’ve mentioned before, eating healthily and drinking plenty of water is a significant step that you should be practicing every day for proper oral hygiene. Eating right to keep your teeth clean and healthy is one of the most significant and important factors of gum disease prevention.

Make it a priority to continually practice each of these steps as part of your daily oral health routine. They will aid in the successful prevention of gum disease and ensure that you’re teeth are as white and bright as they can be, which is certainly something to smile about.