1)Ditch the sugar-loaded foods.

Sweets, biscuits, cakes, pastries, fizzy drinks, that favourite mocha-choca caramel frappuccino with all the trimmings – what do they all have in common? A lot of sugar. The bacteria in your mouth (there are good guys and bad guys) feed on sugar and produce acid which can then dissolve the surface of your teeth (the enamel) leading to tooth decay. According to the Oral Health Foundation, ‘Every time you eat or drink anything sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour. So it is important to have sugary foods or drinks just at mealtimes, limiting the amount of time your mouth is at risk.’ This doesn’t mean you should go replacing those fizzy drinks with ‘sugar-free’ versions either. Sorry, it’s not that easy. Consider reducing your intake of refined sugars (we’re not talking fruit here) until you feel comfortable cutting them out. The rest of your body will thank you for it too.

2) Brush on the reg.

According to the British Dental Association(BDA) you need to be brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day. If you’re a brush-in-a rush type of person then consider investing in an electric toothbrush. Most are set with a timer of 2 minutes so there’s no skipping out early. It’s also a great opportunity to get some timed daily exercise in, squats while brushing your teeth anyone? Seriously, try it, it’s a quick little energy booster and blood circulator. For those of you who are ‘mouthwash and go’ in the morning, just no. Nothing beats brushing as they say at the BDA.

3) Get flossing.

You may think it’s something you only see in American movies but take a tip from our US friends, flossing is where it’s at. It’s really important to be getting in between your teeth and shifting any food or plaque that might have escaped the sweep of your electric toothbrush. Food packing between the teeth (especially if you’ve had a dental implant or crown) can build up and cause bad breath (no one wants that) and bacteria in the mouth which can lead to gingivitis and inflammation. If you can’t stand the stringy type of floss then go for interdental brushes instead, they’re so easy to use, you can even do it while watching tv – so there’s no excuses!

4) Sharing is not caring.

According to research by the Oral Health Foundation, a whopping ‘one in four (26%) Brits seem openly-willing to share their toothbrush with others’. While the word ‘ewww’ might spring to mind there’s quite a few other things that could spring up as a result of sharing your toothbrush – blood-borne illnesses, bacteria, periodontitis, food from a previous meal (oh yes!), viruses and fungi. Yep, I bet you’re going to now (hopefully) think twice about sharing your brush with your best mate or other half.

5) Have your dentist on speed dial.

We’re kind of joking here but in all seriousness, it’s a good idea to have regular appointments with your dentist scheduled into your diary in advance. Prevention is better than cure, right? So don’t leave it till you’re in pain or a tooth has fallen out(!) to go and see your dentist. Show your mouth and teeth some love by having regular appointments with the hygienist.

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