Proper care for your teeth and gums can extend your natural teeth lifespan and prevent costly (and sometimes painful) restorative procedures.

Here are 3 oral health secrets that will help keep your oral hygiene in check:

• Chewing gum is good for you

Specifically, sugar-free gum. Chewing increases your saliva production, a key component to good oral health. It helps clear out lingering bits of food and can help carry away bacteria and acid that build up on your teeth.

• Too much fluoride can damage teeth

Dentists love fluoride. It's a mineral that is commonly found in toothpastes and some tap water. While fluoride is good for you in moderation, too much of it can cause Flurosis - the term used when your teeth deform due to too much fluoride.

• Spending more than 2-minutes brushing will improve your oral health

Dentists often recommend brushing for 2-minutes, twice daily; however this is actually the minimum amount of time that's required. For ultimate oral health, the ideal amount of time is actually 3-5 minutes each session. Spending the extra couple of minutes to really get into the nooks and crannies will make all the difference.