The goal of National Dental Hygiene Month is to raise awareness of habits that promote a healthy smile. Organizations like the American Dental Hygienists Association and American Dental Association make dental hygiene easy by focusing on four key ingredients. There are no big surprises, other than the sometimes unexpected connection between healthy gums, a healthy heart, and diabetes.

When in doubt, remember the adage found posted at countless dental clinics: “You don’t have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.”