• Be aware that excessive amounts of coffee, tea, red wine and other beverages can stain your teeth.

• Don’t chew on ice, popcorn kernels, lollipops or other hard foods; doing so can crack or otherwise damage your teeth or restorations.

• If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, rinse your mouth with water.

• Routine dental radiographs may be an effective tool in preventing strokes, according to researchers at the University of Buffalo. Stroke victims usually receive no warning of the impending stroke, but dental radiographs can help spot potentially dangerous calcium buildups in the carotid arteries near both ends of the jawbone. These buildups can choke off the blood to the brain and are a major cause of strokes.