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Oral health 101

7 August 2017
Expert advice to keep your mouth healthy
Soft toothbrush or hard? What's the best way to floss? We asked our dental experts for their advice on keeping your mouth healthy.

Brushing

  • Brush for at least 2 minutes, every morning and night.
  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head to ensure effective cleaning without causing damage to your teeth and gums.
  • Use a toothpaste containing fluoride to help strengthen your tooth enamel.
  • Brush your tongue can help to reduce oral bacteria and freshen your breath.
  • Change your toothbrush every 3 - 4 months (sooner if the bristles start to fray).

Oral health tips from our experts

Flossing

  • Clean in-between your teeth, with floss or interdental brushes, at least once a day to remove the plaque from between your teeth to help prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath
  • Take your time to get the technique right. Watch our 'Oral Health tips' video above, to see our experts demonstrate how to floss.

Diet and nutrition

  • Choose tap water over bottled water. Tap water contains fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.
  • Avoid sugary food and drinks which cause acid attacks on our teeth.
  • Limit snacks between meals to give your teeth a break from the acid attacks that occur when you eat.
  • Chew sugar-free gum after eating. This helps produce the saliva needed to neutralise acid attacks.