What's one of the best things to start your school year off right? A healthy and attractive smile. Bad breath, stained teeth, or tartar build-up do little to win friends. Here are some tips for making your school yesr successful, dentally speaking:

• Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste handy in your school locker, gym bag or purse. Brush, or at least rinse, your teeth after every meal.
• When you snack, choose foods that are good for your teeth such as nuts, popcorn, cheese, lean meats, raw vegetables, plain yogurt and sugarless gum or candy.
• Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard in any sport that has the potential to seriously harm the face or head. In high school and college football alone, about 200,000 injuries a year are prevented by their use.
• Don't use smokeless tobacco. Athletes are now swearing off its use. Users of "chew" have a four times higher risk of oral cancer, and the bad breath and brown spittle of "chew" is a major turn-off.
• Be on the alert for gum disease. During puberty, gums can be more sensitive to the toxins in plaque and are more likely to become inflamed during this period.
• See your dentist for a back-to-school check-up and on a regular basis to maintain good oral health and make your smile a winner.