Take care of your teeth

Don't
1. Have a lot of sugary foods and sweet fizzy drinks - sugar actually speeds up the rate of dental decay.
2. Eat sweet foods between meals ? if you do eat sweet things have them as part of a main meal, ideally finished off with something savoury like cheese.
3. Eat too many acidic foods and drinks like regular and 'diet' types of fizzy drinks and fruit juices, as the acid they contain attacks the teeth.

Best ways to brush
For adults a small to medium size brush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round- ended nylon filaments is best. Choose one that is small enough to reach the back teeth easily. Children should use smaller brushes but with the same type of filaments. Buy a new brush as soon as the filaments are worn - about every two to three months.

Actual brushing should take two minutes, twice a day - the best time is morning and evening. Go around each tooth in a circular movement with the bristles concentrating on where the gum and tooth meet. Also brush teeth on the outside, inside and on the chewing surfaces. Try to hold the brush gently so that you don't use too much pressure. Electric toothbrushes are also good at getting rid of plaque as they're useful for manoeuvring your way around those awkward areas like the back of the mouth and the backs of teeth. Always use a fluoride toothpaste, which helps prevent tooth decay as well as helping to re-harden teeth after they've been exposed to an acid attack that's produced by plaque when sugars are eaten.