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Most of us learnt it at home. If not, they probably caught us at school. Brushing your teeth, at least twice a day, is how you’ll keep your pearly whites healthy. Oral hygiene isn’t just about teeth. It also includes your entire mouth; teeth, gums and tongue. If you don’t have a decent oral hygiene routine, you’ll risk bad breath, red and swollen gums, bleeding when flossing or brushing your teeth, receding gums and tooth loss. Not a pretty picture, eh?

So how do you keep your teeth nice and strong?

So to avoid the fate mentioned above as well as plaque and tartar build-up, keep some good habits.

Firstly, your teacher was right: brush your teeth at least twice a day. Ideally in the morning and before bedtime. It would also be best to brush after each meal taken during the day, but this is sometimes not possible.

Secondly, you should floss regularly. This a good way to remove any small particles stuck between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach easily.

A fluoride rinse is also a very good idea, after you have brushed your teeth thoroughly and flossed.

You should also avoid carbonated drinks and replace them with water, milk and fruit juices. They are less acidic and less damaging to your teeth. Other things to avoid as much as possible include tobacco and alcohol which stain teeth and also corrode them.

Another good idea is to stock up on foods which are high in calcium content such as dairies and green leafy vegetables. Examples include cheese, celery, green tea, kiwi, onions, parsley, sesame seeds, shitake mushrooms, and wasabi.

Finally, you cannot avoid it. You should visit your favourite dentist at least twice a year for a check-up. The NHS website has a handy tool to help you locate one easily

Tags: teeth