Top 10 ways to look after your teeth

Should you bother with mouthwash? Do you need to floss?

And is an electric toothbrush better than a regular one?

We put these questions and more to Dr Omar Qureshi, a dental expert from the London and Cambridge Smile Studio to find out the top ways to make sure your teeth stay healthy and clean.

1.Visit your dentist regularly

Visit your dentist regularly - Dr Qureshi says: ?You need to go and see your dentist and hygienist every six months. Classically people would go for a routine check for gum disease and tooth decay and you may think you don?t need to bother, but these days your dentist is looking for many more problems, such as erosion, and can even spot signs of serious health problems.?

2.Avoid acidic drinks

Avoid acidic drinks - Many people think they are taking the healthy option when they drink a smoothie or fruit juice, but Dr Qureshi points out that this isn?t the best choice for your teeth. He says: ?Smoothies, natural juices, cordial, concentrates and diet drinks are very acidic and erode the enamel on your teeth, which is why your teeth feel sticky after you drink them.? The answer? Drink water.

3.Prevent night-time grinding

Prevent night-time grinding - Dr Qureshi says: ?You can?t wear your teeth down by eating as our diet today is so soft. If people come to me with worn down teeth then it?s because they grind them in their sleep. Go and see your dentist and if this is a problem for you they can give you various types of mouth guard that will solve the problem.?

4.Clean your teeth properly

Clean your teeth properly - Brushing and flossing is essential, but so is knowing how to do it correctly, says Dr Qureshi. ?Next time you visit your hygienist make sure they show you how to take proper care of your teeth. Flossing in particular takes practice but once you get the hang of it, it won?t take you any time at all. You should also find a mouthwash with an active ingredient that will kill bacteria.

5.Use an electric toothbrush

Use an electric toothbrush - Once again, these are great as long as you know how to use them. Your dentist can show you the right technique. Dr Qureshi says: ?If you don?t get it right then electric toothbrushes are little better than regular brushes. Though I prefer vibrating ones to the rotating ones.

6.Don't Smoke

Don?t smoke - There are few worse things for your teeth than smoking, says Dr Qureshi. ?There are myriad reasons to stop smoking, obviously, but there is so much evidence to say that smoking exacerbates gum disease. I?ve seen it so many times myself. Smoking really makes it more difficult to look after your teeth, not to mention the social disadvantages such as bad breath and yellowing teeth.

7.Don?t drink too much tea

Don?t drink too much tea - Once again the healthy option isn?t always the best for your teeth, says Dr Qureshi. ?I see a lot of people who lead a healthy lifestyle but have stained teeth. That?s because most herbal teas, though they won?t damage your teeth, are black and will stain them. Just look in your cup after a drink. Red wine and coffee can have a similar effect.?

8.Listen to your body

Listen to your body - Sometimes your dentist is just as likely as your doctor to spot the cause of problems such as neck, shoulder or head pain. Dr Qureshi says: ?Most people would never think these problems had anything to do with their teeth, but, for example, neck pain could be down to clenching or grinding of teeth.?

9.Work on your smile

Work on your smile - Dr Qureshi believes that being happy with your smile can improve your social life, job prospects and boost your self-esteem. ?You can tell a lot about a person just by looking at their smile and on all these makeover programmes on television the smile is the icing on the cake. It?s so important that you visit your dentist regularly and do all you can to keep them healthy.?

10.Don?t bother with whitening kits

Don?t bother with whitening kits - Dr Qureshi acknowledges the fact that not everyone can afford to have an expensive tooth whitening treatment, but stresses that kits sold in pharmacists and shops aren?t worth the cash. ?Whitening kits just don?t do anything and if you want your teeth whitened you need to do it properly. Start by talking to your dentist to find out what the options are."

11.Belive in tooth fairy...[ Just kidding.. ] lol..

Have a nice teeth good health and happiness........

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N'Anile....

just when I got bored with tf, you come along with tales of teeth and sexy healthcare tips. God bless you girl! I mean that!

oh.....that's much better, i thought i was having eye problems along with my bad teeth........lol......

too late for me :'( I have spent almost 40'000 Baht for my teeth... You should post it sooner... sob ***

I still have some milk teeth....(no kidding!)