Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening is probably the most reinforced dental habit. However, many parents ignore flossing as a way to take care of teeth. In fact, there are a large number of people who consider brushing their teeth frequently in the day as a replacement to flossing. This is not true.

Flossing is quite different from brushing your teeth. What a flossing session does is reach into those hard to get places, those corners and crevices of your teeth and remove any food particles that have gotten stuck there.

It essentially helps prevent gum diseases and tooth loss. Can you imagine food rotting in your teeth which causes a gum infection? And all of this happened because your tooth brush wasn't able to clean the tight corners of your teeth.

Flossing is better than using a tooth pick too. A tooth pick tries to use brute force to push out the food particle and you will land up damaging your teeth and gum.

Run your tongue through your teeth and you will realize that there are many gaps in-between which a brush won't be able to clean. This is why flossing is important. It gets to places that your brush can't, further enhancing the hygiene of your teeth.

Here are some quick tips to getting your flossing right.

- Pick a Floss
Don't just pick up a string of thread and start flossing your teeth. Ask your dentist which floss would be best for you.

- It's a Sawing Motion
Don't jerk the floss up and down, instead move it in a sawing motion of back and forth. This way the floss enters the crevice gently.

- Pull it Side Ways
Once the floss is in the crevice, pull it sideways so that you scrape off any particles that have gotten stuck to the teeth

- Get the Back Teeth Too
The back teeth are the hardest to get to, but most of the food gets stuck in there since your grinders do most of the chewing.

- Do it Gently
Do not grind the floss into your teeth or gum. Flossing is a gentle process, so don't hurry it otherwise you will risk damaging your gums.

- Do it at least once a week if you have a busy schedule
Flossing is a chore. There are so many crevices in your mouth and it takes longer than brushing your teeth. While it is highly recommended that you do it everyday, a lot of us just can't find the time to do so. In such a case, try to do it at least once a week. Sundays are best since you will actually have a holiday and can spend ten minutes cleaning your teeth in the morning or before going to bed.

The best thing you can do is make flossing a habit. Let it be part of your oral hygiene and you will take care of your teeth even better. In fact, don't be surprised if those random toothaches stop.

Teeth contain one of the most sensitive nerve endings in the human body. This is why a toothache is equal to a brutal torture or worse. It is terrible to get inflicted by a toothache and you probably want to rush to the dentist. However, you may be in a situation where you can't, for example, it's late in the evening and the dentist's office is closed or you are busy with your job.

Well, you don't have to sit down and bear the pain. You do have options to do something about the toothache. A toothache usually occurs because the central portion of the tooth, called the pulp, gets inflamed. It can happen because of a cavity, a blow to the tooth or even an infection developing in your gums.

Here are your options when you get afflicted with a toothache.

Visit the Dentist

Your first order of business the next day is to visit the dentist. Even if you managed to get rid of the pain, get a checkup. A toothache is basically a message that is sent to your brain that something is wrong. The longer you wait to visit the dentist, the more damage you are risking.

Clean your Teeth

Give your teeth a thorough cleaning.

- Brush your teeth, but avoid injuring the afflicted tooth.

- Floss it to make sure there aren't any food particles stuck between your teeth

- Rinse it with warm water mixed with salt. A tooth ache can be caused by a mild infection and warm salted water works well against it.

Cloves

Cloves are a favored natural home remedy. If you don't have cloves, you can head to the pharmacy and get access to clove oil. However, be sure to follow the instruction of the clove oil and completely avoid applying it on your gum. Instead, put it on the tooth that is aching. If some oil does slip up onto your gum, be ready for a burning sensation.

Apply Ice

Either get an ice bag, frozen meat or a frozen pea packet and press the packet on the cheek that is hurting. Wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth or paper towel before you press it against your skin. This will lower the temperature of the whole area and help numb the nerves.

Do not apply ice directly to your tooth, it will only make the ache worse. This is because toothaches are very sensitive to hot and cold temperature.

Numbing Gel

You can get a numbing gel from the pharmacy and apply it on the tooth. This will temporarily numb it and help control the pain.

Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is a disinfectant. Dip a Q-tip into the hydrogen peroxide and use it to clean the afflicted area. Wash your mouth after the process.

Take a Painkilller

If none of these methods don't work, then should you resort to a painkiller. Aspirin can provide quick relief to minor tooth aches.

Visit the Dentist

Your first order of business the next day is to visit the dentist. Even if you managed to get rid of the pain, get a checkup. A toothache is basically a message that is sent to your brain that something is wrong. The longer you wait to visit the dentist, the more damage you are risking.

So take care of your teeth and don't panic when you get a toothache, you don't have to lose the tooth!