If you are a smoker and are looking to avoid all of the oral problems that you have or will have, there is only one suggestion that will work every time - quit smoking.  Once you start doing damage to your teeth and gums because of your smoking habit, there are few things that can be done to stop the deterioration in your oral health.  Quitting smoking and taking care of your teeth through dental hygiene and regular dental visits are usually all most people need to keep their teeth healthy.

1.    Quit - No other single action is more beneficial to your health (in general not just as it pertains to your teeth) that to quit smoking. You are probably aware that the carcinogens resulting from smoking have been shown to cause cancer, emphysema, angina, COPD, heart disease and the list goes on.  Quitting smoking can actually prevent the onset of even more diseases as those who smoke compromise their immune system and make themselves more susceptible to diseases that may not even be smoking related.  The bottom line is that a constant smoker will eventually cause so much damage to their teeth, gums and the rest of their mouth, that they will begin loosing their teeth.  Obviously there is no better way to keep your teeth healthy than to ensure that you are going to keep your teeth - period.
2.    See Your Dentist - Dentists recognize that they are often in a good position to help their patients to stop smoking.  This is because dentists tend to be visited more routinely than regular general practitioners.  Dentists are obviously very aware of the negative effects that smoking has on oral health.  Your dentists is actually very well qualified to counsil you on the specific risks that you face and are also the first line of defense when it comes to detecting oral cancers.  Your dentist can provide you with an oral cancer examination at your request. 
3.    Eat A Healthy Diet - Eating healthy, smoking and tooth loss are all related in an interesting way.  Smoking reduces flow to the gums and cuts the supply of vital nutrients.  Specifically, vitamin C levels decrease.  Therefore, it is important to supplement this loss by eating more foods with vitamin C.  Smoking however will also cause damage to your teeth to the point that eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables becomes more difficult as things like apples and carrots are hard to chew when your teeth are loose and rotting (as is the case with smokers).  So, not only are you hurting your teeth by smoking but you are also hurting your chances for fighting back by weakening all of your defenses. 
4.    Keep Them Clean - Stained teeth, brown hairy tongue and bad breath are just a few of the problems that smokers face.  This is because smoking compromises your saliva flow and function. Saliva is important for cleaning the lining of the mouth and teeth.  A clean mouth is better protected from decay.  If you cannot quit smoking today, the least that you can do for your teeth is to keep them as clean as possible.
5.    Help Your Kids - Recent studies that show that children who are raised in households where one or both adults smoke are more likely to develop tooth decay.  If keeping your own teeth healthy is not incentive enough to quit smoking, hopefully protecting the health of your children will be.  Long-term studies have shown that smoking can cause gum disease, bone loss and eventually tooth loss. Help protect your kids from the terrible diseases that your smoking habit is making them susceptible to.

As we age, the calcium reserves in our bodies slowly become depleted, and if nothing is done to combat that, bones weaken and become brittle, leading to a condition called osteoporosis. However, it's not just our bones that become weak - our teeth also need calcium and proper care in order to stay strong. If they are neglected, they too become weak and more prone to decay, breakage, and eventually will fall out.

But there are a number of things you can do to ensure your teeth remain strong. The following are some helpful tips that keep your teeth stay healthy and strong as you age:
1.    Brush regularly and properly. Sometimes, after a long and exhausting day, it's tempting to just go to bed without brushing your teeth. However, regular, proper brushing is the best way to keep your teeth healthy and strong and free of decay. You should be brushing at least twice a day, and your toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. Proper brushing technique is to brush for at least two minutes (a minute on the top and a minute on the bottom) in a circular motion, concentrating on the gum line. It might be a good idea to consider purchasing an electric toothbrush as well, as they are more effective at removing plaque from teeth.
2.    Floss. In conjunction with brushing, flossing regularly is the most effective way to keep your teeth healthy. You should be flossing at least once a day to remove the plaque and build-up from the places your toothbrush can't reach, as the main cause of cavities inside the teeth are from not flossing.
3.    Visit the dentist regularly. The longest you should go without seeing the dentist is a year at most; at least twice a year is recommended. Regular check-ups will include a cleaning, which removes tartar and plaque build-up from the teeth, preventing decay and gum disease. In addition, visiting the dentist regularly will also help the dentist to catch any problems and correct them before they become worse.
4.    Fluoride. Fluoride, which is often found in regular drinking water, is one of the best ways to strengthen your teeth and prevent decay. In addition to drinking fluoridated water, your toothpaste should also contain fluoride. Fluoride rinses are available as well from the drugstore or from your dentist.
5.    Avoid sugary foods. Foods high in sugar and fat are terrible for the teeth and will wear them down with time. When sucrose, the main ingredient in sugar, mixes with saliva, it clings to the teeth and eats away at it. Sugary foods and juices should be consumed sparingly, and you should brush or chew sugarless gum after eating.
6.    Eat the right foods. On the contrary, foods high in calcium like low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt as well as fruits and vegetables, will help keep your teeth strong.

By brushing and flossing regularly, making regular visits to the dentist, and eating the right foods, you can be sure your teeth will stay healthy and strong your whole life.

According to the Journal of Periodontology, adults who consume at least three servings of calcium each day have significantly lower rates of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss.  Sadly, calcium is the mineral most likely to be deficient in the average diet.  About 99 percent of the calcium in the human body is held in the bones and teeth.  Calcium is the main element of support in bones and teeth. Calcium salts make up about 70 percent a bone's weight.  Without sufficient calcium your bones are not able to retain their strength and rigidity. Likewise, without sufficient calcium your teeth will not be able to withstand the force involved in day-to-day eating.

Lets not forget about the remaining 1 percent of calcium in our bodies.  This calcium circulates in the bloodstream, where it helps to contract muscles including the contractions of the heart. Calcium is needed for blood clotting and transmitting nerve impulses.  Calcium is also involved in the stimulation of contractions of the uterus during childbirth and in the lactation process.

Calcium, it absorbed in the small intestine and passes from there either into the bloodstream or ultimately into the bones.  Regulatory mechanisms such as the hormonal secretions of the parathyroid and thyroid glands help to maintain the proper levels of calcium in the blood.  If a calcium deficiency does develop, the parathyroid hormone transfers calcium from the bones bloodstream where it is more desperately needed.  The result is that the bones are robbed of their calcium and the bones are weakened.  This includes your teeth.  Weak teeth cannot withstand the enormous amounts of pressure involved in everyday eating and chewing.  Therefore, those with low levels of calcium have weaker teeth and more problems with cracks, breaks and susceptibility to bacterial infection.

Calcium and cavities
Cavities have been defined as a bacterial infection caused by specific agitation to the structure of the tooth.  When one does not eat a healthy and calcium rich diet, plaque interacts with food deposits on your teeth and produces an acid that will slowly dissolve the calcium in your teeth.  When enough calcium dissolves from the tooth surfaces, the surface is compromised and a hole is allowed to form. That is called a cavity. The enamel, or surface area of your teeth, is 97% calcium.  When this enamel is weakened, the mouth become susceptible to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

Calcium and kids
Calcium is extremely important for the development of a child's teeth.  We know that calcium is also important for the dental health of adults but it is especially important for children who are still developing.  Calcium absorption tapers off as one approaches adulthood.  As an adult it is important to maintain your level of calcium.  Research suggests that children can continue to absorb and build strength in their bones, not just maintain a certain peak level.  This is why it is so important to build your child's calcium levels while you still can.

Calcium and osteoporosis
The long term result of even mild insufficiency of calcium is thinning bones.  The more common term for this is osteoporosis. But calcium is known to help prevent osteoporosis.  Research is close to being able to establish a definite connection between osteoporosis and dental health. With severe osteoporosis, you often see periodontal disease and evidence suggests that a lack of calcium contributes to periodontal disease.

Dental health is just one of those things that can be affected by aspects of our lives that we aren't even aware of.  Maybe you grind your teeth while you sleep, but were didn't realize it until you ground a hole through your retainer.  Or maybe your jaw is misaligned, causing you headaches that you didn't know were preventable.  Or maybe as a child you sucked your thumb for too long and now your teeth are crooked because of it.  Your diet is one of those things that can influence your oral health without you even knowing it.  You may be wondering exactly what you're eating that could be so bad (or good) for your dental health.  Just keep reading and you'll soon find out. 

We've all heard the phrase "you are what you eat."  That applies to your oral health and not just your waistline.  If you eat healthily, your teeth will be healthier.  If you eat unhealthily, your teeth will be unhealthy.  It's as simple as that.  Let's start with the unhealthy side of things: what exactly constitutes as unhealthy habits?

    The number one worst thing you could ever do to your teeth is drink soda.  Soda has little, if any, nutritional value and is packed with sugar.  Over time soda can take a toll on teeth, speeding tooth decay and unhappy teeth (not to mention the weight you might gain).  Sweetened fruit drinks, although not as bad as soda, are also included in this category.
    Between-meal snacks are a serious threat to healthy teeth.  First of all, most people do not choose something healthy (like a fruit or vegetable) for a between-meal snack; they choose junk food like cookies, chips or candy.  Second of all, most people do not brush their teeth after every snack, leaving their teeth coated with sugar and bacteria.  When bacteria (or plaque) comes into contact with the sugar in your mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more.  This can eventually lead to tooth decay. 
    The body was designed to work its best when it receives a balanced diet.  Fad diets or extreme diets that completely eliminate one or more food groups are not only bad for your general health, but they are also bad for your oral health.  Sure, you may loose some weight for a short period of time, but then what?  If you're trying to loose weight, consider less extreme forms of dieting, accompanied by exercising.  This will make your body AND your teeth much happier.

We've covered the dieting habits that will cause unhealthy dental health.  Now what about the healthy habits?

    Drink lots and lots of water.  This will decrease your appetite and make your body function better overall.  
    Limit the number of snacks you eat.  As mentioned above, try to choose snacks that are low in sugar.  Not only will this improve your oral health, but it will also prevent you from gaining weight.  Good examples of such a snack are cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, or a piece of fruit.
    Eat a balanced diet.  Whether you are on a "diet" to loose weight or simply trying to be healthy, you should choose a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups.  Doing this will ensure that you're getting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed by your body and your teeth and gums. 

By reading this article you should now know what kind of diet you need in order to maintain proper dental health.  Remember to use moderation in all things (you don't need to completely eliminate sugar from your diet or start brushing your teeth 8 times a day).  But you should be aware that the things you eat and the habits surrounding them will indeed affect your oral health.

No matter how hard we try, we will all see signs of aging as we get older.  Our body begins to metabolize more slowly, hair turns gray and teeth are not as white as they once were.  But there are ways that you can slow the signs of aging, especially when it comes to your teeth.  Prepare now and make the effort to take care of your teeth so that you will still have them later in life.

Regular preventative dental care
If you are a non-smoker and have kept regular dental appointments your likelihood of contracting periodontal disease is greatly reduced.  Periodontal disease has links to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and low birth weight premature babies.  A dentist can detect periodontal disease in its earliest stages and can easily prevent the spread of this disease.  Failure to keep routine dentist's appointments means that this disease and other factors that hurt your teeth are left unchecked.  Plaque, for example, is not necessarily going to do anything to your teeth.  However, over time plaque buildup creates a sticky porous surface on which tartar can develop.  Tartar will eat away at the enamel of the tooth and can lead to cavities.  Cavities of course compromise your comfort, the strength of your teeth, and the quality of your smile.  So you see, preventative twice-yearly dental appointments can really do you a world of good and are worth the time it takes.

Healthy diet rich in calcium
Calcium is what reinforces the strength and rigidity of our bones and teeth.  In fact, 99% of the calcium that we ingest goes straight to our bones and teeth.  Eating a diet rich in calcium will add strength to our teeth making them less susceptible to breaks and chips. When we do not have a sufficient amount of calcium in our diets (especially when we are young) the 1% of calcium carried in the blood will draw calcium out of the bones to insure that the blood calcium levels are sufficient.  Taking calcium away from the bones and teeth leave them brittle and weak.  Over the course of time people can develop osteoporosis.  This is why older people tend to break bones more easily and have a more difficult time with oral health.

Whitening and other cosmetic dentistry options
There are just some things that you cannot prevent when it comes to your smile.  Everyone's smile is going to fade in brightness over time, especially if you are a tea or coffee drinker.  When all of the healthy eating and visits to the dentist cannot help the aesthetic appeal of your teeth, remember that there are options in cosmetic dentistry.  For faded teeth tooth whitening has become very popular.  There are over-the-counter options as well as professionally applied options to choose from.  Another popular cosmetic dentistry option for those who are older are dental implants.  Dental implants are a more permanent solution to dentures.  Whether you have lost a tooth from injury or from poor health, it is likely that a cosmetic dentist can provide you with a permanent solution to your problem.  Dental implants act much like your real teeth and you need not worry about messy pastes, glues and tapes.

Coffee, tea, caffeinated beverages
Over time, drinking coffee, tea and caffeinated beverage will have an obvious effect on your teeth.  Tea and coffee can discolor teeth, while caffeine can actually eat away at the tooth over time.  The harsh chemicals in a soda may seem harmless in your youth but over time the deterioration is quite apparent. 

Smoking
If you do nothing else to ensure that you have a sparkling smile when you are older you should quit smoking.  Studies have shown that those who smoke even as little as a pack a day are three times more likely to have periodontal disease and all of the potential hazards that accompany it.  Those who have smoked for a lifetime are guaranteed to have tooth loss and major oral health issues.

Fluoride supplements are controversial, having both strong advocates and opponents.  The American Dental Association stands by its findings that fluoride reduces cavities while the FDA has started to put warning labels on toothpaste bottles that contain fluoride.  It is up to you to decide what supplements you believe are right for your family and you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of supplementing fluoride carefully.

Advantages of supplementing fluoride (as per the ADA)

Fluoride has been shown to reduce cavities and tooth decay for the past few decades.
It is said that fluoride reduces cavities in both children and adults and also helps to prevent tooth decay in its early stages.  The ADA recognizes that some are weary of the positive claims made by those who support the supplementation of fluoride and that that "Fluoride is like any other nutrient; it is safe and effective when used appropriately."

There are a number of ways to get the fluoride that the ADA recommends.  Many cities now have fluoridated tap water (this means that the fluoride supplement is mixed right into the drinking supply).  Did you know that fluoride is present naturally in all water sources? Community water fluoridation has now been in existence for over 50 years.  Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the fluoride content water to the recommended level oral health experts say if needed for optimal dental health. The recommended community water fluoridation level is 0.7-1.2 parts fluoride per million parts water. Over the past fifty years water fluoridation has been shown to be an extremely effective and inexpensive means of obtaining the fluoride necessary for optimal tooth decay prevention.  However, not all community water sources have a fluoridated water source. For individuals who do not benefit from fluoridated water, there are other supplements available.

Other sources for fluoride supplements include an actual supplement taken orally, toothpaste, mouth rinse or fluoride applied professionally at the dentist's office.

Fluoride supplements are designed to play an active and convenient role in your overall oral care maintenance.  Fluoride works silently to fight tooth decay in a safe, convenient and effective manner.  If you are still concerned about the benefits of fluoride voice your concerns with your dental health professional.

According to the ADA "Dietary fluoride supplements (tablets, drops or lozenges) are available only by prescription and are intended for use by children ages six months to 16 years living in non-fluoridated areas".   There are different dosing directions depending on your child's age and the concentration of the child's drinking water.  It is important to talk to your dentist about the specific needs of your children.  It is said that optimal fluoride is necessary from the age of 6 months to when a child turns 16 years old. Taking fluoride supplements become more costly than water fluoridation and are certainly less effective on a wide-spread scale (such as to be used as a public health measure).

Disadvantages of supplementing fluoride (warnings by the FDA)

If you look on the back of your tube of fluoridated toothpaste you will find this warning: "Keep out of reach of children less than 6 years of age.  If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis.  Fluorosis is caused by fluoride that stains teeth from the inside. Perhaps dentists were wrong in assuming that fluoride prevented cavities.  Instead what is preventing cavities is the calcium, magnesium and other teeth building components in the fluorinated water supplies.