Do not do this to your teeth.

• Position: Oral Hygiene

Despite your best efforts, outdated oral hygiene habits can compromise your dental (and overall) health. DentalPlans, Plantation, Fla., offers some tips on what not to do to keep your teeth strong and your mouth healthy:

Do not brush with enthusiasm. You might figure that a good, hard brushing is more likely to remove food debris and just-forming plaque than a gentler approach, but overly aggressive brushing can damage tooth enamel, potentially resulting in tooth decay and gum disease. Since enamel has no living cells, the body cannot regenerate it if damaged.

Do not brush right after a meal. Tooth enamel can be in a weakened state right after you eat, especially if your meal included acidic foods or drinks. You safely can rinse your mouth with water right after a meal, but wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing to allow enamel time to toughen up again.

Do not bet on sugar-free. Sugar fuels the bacteria that are the primary cause of dental decay, but sugar-free foods and drinks with acidic additives and low pH levels also can soften tooth enamel, regardless of whether the item contains sugar or not. (Sugar-free gum generally is safe, but check the label for additives such as citric acid.)

Do not blame bad brushing for bad breath. If you do not...