Once you are well into your teen years and into adulthood, you have only one set of teeth which have to last you a lifetime. The condition and life of your teeth depends on the lifestyle you choose. The correct lifestyle not only ensures that your teeth don't fall out, but also that you experience fewer toothaches. In turn, you won't have to spend a bomb at the dental office.

A few changes in your lifestyle will help you have good teeth. A lot of these lifestyle changes depend on what you are putting down your throat.

1. Avoid Sodas and Carbonated Drinks
Many people consume large quantities of Coca-cola and Pepsi. However, these are sugary and acidic drinks that degrade your teeth. In fact, it is well known in the dental industry that carbonated drinks can dissolve a tooth.

Instead, switch to sparkling water and fruit juice. Apart from taking care of your teeth, you are cutting on some calories big time.

2. Always Drink Water with Every other Drink
Water is the all-cleanser for your mouth. Whenever you drink a sugary drink, having a sip of water prevents the drink from lingering and causing bad breath, bad toothaches and teeth staining later on.

3. Opt for Hard Sweets and not Chewing Candy
There are plenty of candies which require your teeth to chew it down. Avoid them because sugar creates acids when it is broken down in your mouth. This especially happens when the sugar remains in your mouth for too long.

Hard sweets provide the same enjoyment and they don't linger long enough in your mouth to create harmful acids.

4. Go for Xylitol gum
Xylitol gum is a sugar-free gum which uses artificial sweeteners. This is the easiest way to avoid chewing candy, especially if you like chewing gum. The artificial sweetener used by xylitol gum can't be broken down in your mouth. This significantly reduces bad breath and tooth decay in your mouth. Plus, chewing gum does give you benefits like keeping your mouth moisturized, having a fresh breath and preventing cracks on your tongue and gum.

5. Improve your Intake of Vitamin D
The best source of Vitamin D is the sunlight, especially the early morning sun. Vitamin D is essential for your gums and teeth.

6. Stop Smoking
If you are a smoker, then consider getting off cigarettes. It can actually improve your teeth. Smoke creates a bad dryness in your mouth and added to that, the various toxins that pile inside is not good. Plus, your teeth will get a dirty yellow stain on them.

It goes without saying, but your overall life quality will improve once you quit smoking.

Slowly start incorporating these lifestyle changes and watch how your dental condition improves and your teeth takes care of themselves!

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!