If you have teeth - let's hope that you do! - there are several steps you can take to make sure that they last and look attractive in the process. Short of bleaching your teeth, which you may want to consider having done, the following seven steps will help you present a winning smile every time you flash a grin.

1. Don't smoke. For obvious reasons, smoking is bad for the human body. It is particularly tough on the teeth! Avoid smoking and your teeth will be whiter and less susceptible to disease.

2. Drink water. We all love our soft drinks and coffee. Trouble is, we like these beverages too much! Better to quench your thirst with something that actually does just that and doesn't bring harm to your pearly whites.

3. Brush twice daily. Three times is best! Yes, as soon as you finish eating you should brush your teeth. If you are at work, you can make a stop into the bathroom to take care of business. To clean your teeth, that is. If you cannot brush at work, at the very least drink water to wash away the residual food items lingering in your mouth!

4. Go to the dentist. Twice a year is ideal; more often if you have ongoing or reoccurring problems with your gums or with bad breath.

5. Avoid sweets. Sure, this is a difficult thing to do. At the very least, limit your intake and then brush soon after you consume your favorite candies.

6. Eat healthy. A diet rich in fibers and nutrients is wise. Your teeth will benefit from your good food choices as well as suffer from your bad food choices.

7. Floss those teeth. Yes, flossing is no fun. As my dental assistant once said, "only floss between those teeth you want to keep." You get the picture.

Of course, if your teeth are beyond repair you may have to opt for dentures. For mostly everyone else, that should be incentive enough for you to maintain good dental hygiene and to keep that winning smile every time you flash a grin.