We are all supposed to floss every day, but many people don't. Reasons may vary from being tired to flossing is annoying. However, if you take the effort in doing it, you could reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay in hard-to-reach places between your teeth. Plus, you'll get fresher breath too.

Another simple way to improve your oral hygiene is to make sure that you are cleaning your teeth well by brushing for the recommended two minutes. This is so that the flouride may have sufficient time to react and that most areas in your mouth and teeth are cleaned. Studies have shown that most people actually brush for significantly less than one minute. A tip in making sure you're brushing long enough, use a timer or an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer. If you don't like these options, personally you may try singing/humming a timing song. Do it once for each quadrant in your mouth.

Acidic foods can be highly damaging to your overall mouth. Sugary beverages such as sports drinks are among the worst, they're often as acidic as pure lemon juice and should be limited in consumption. If you are guilty of consuming these beverages on a daily basis, try to reduce the amount you're drinking. Cut down to no more than one a day. If you're just drinking one a day, try going down to one every other day. Always remember to follow up with a drink of water to help rinse the acid from your teeth.

If you don't like the way stained teeth affect your appearance, teeth whitening can help. But the results don't last as long if you're consuming a lot of staining foods and beverages. Some of the worst culprits are chocolate, coffee, tea, red wine, dark beer, and berries. That's a lot of tempting stuff and it's hard to cut them out, but just a little bit of reduction can make a difference.

Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits for your teeth and for your general health. The chemicals can lead to various dental problems such as bad breath, tooth discoloration, plaque and tartar buildup, inflammation and many others. It even makes it harder to get your teeth replaced with dental implants. This is one of the hardest habit to change, but it's also one of the most beneficial.

If you're still using a manual toothbrush, consider making the upgrade to an electric one. Electric toothbrushes can help clean your teeth significantly better than a manual toothbrush and it will help you get better about brushing for two minutes at a time.

Brushing your tongue with a toothbrush can remove some bacteria but it isn't the best method. If you really want to ensure your tongue is as clean and bacteria-free as possible, use a tongue scraper to enhance your overall oral health.

When your mouth dries out, it means that there isn't enough saliva to consistently wash away bacteria from your teeth. As a result, it can increase the risk of cavities. Sip on water all day long to keep your mouth moist, this is important especially the weather can be unpredictably hot here in Malaysia.

If you're unhappy or feeling unease with the appearance or function of your smile, make this year that you finally invest in your smile. At Q & M, we offer a wide range of cosmetic and restorative treatments to help you fall in love with your smile. If you haven't been making your regular dental checkups and cleanings, it's always never too late to start. And if it's been several years since you saw a dentist, don't put it off any longer. On the other hand, if it's anxiety that's keeping you away, you may always reach out to us first at Q & M to know how we can help with the fear. With so many options available for keeping your overall oral health healthy and to make this occasion joyous with your smile and laughter, do visit us to know what's best for you!