The latest advice on cleaning your teeth is not to rush to brush immediately after eating as you could be brushing away vital tooth enamel. The acid found in fruit, wine and many food groups can soften tooth enamel, so wait at least an hour after meals to give saliva a chance to neutralise the acid.
Cut down on snacking. The enamel on your teeth is softened every time
you eat or drink and takes around an hour to recover. Constant snakcing
does not give teeth long enough to revert to their natural state.
Dentists now advise brushing before breakfast and before you go to bed. Use a soft or medium toothbrush with a small head for two minutes, twice a day. Brush carefully, getting into all the back corners, but don't brush too hard.
Toothpaste for children under three should have fluoride at 1,000 parts per million; for everyone else fluoride at 1,350 to 1,500 parts per million is fine.
Spit - don't rinse, to let fluoride act on the teeth. Then floss gently (or use an interdental brush if recommended by your dentist) to remove plaque and bacteria.
Chew sugar-free gum after eating. Your teetch are at more risk of acid attack after food, and chewing gum helps produce more saliva, your mouth's natural defence against acid.
Finish your meal by chewing a cube of cheese to counteract the acidic effects that eating has on your teeth. It helps stimulate saliva flow and the calcium will help strengthen the tooth surface.
Electric toothbrushes can harbour bacteria, which can spread to your mouth. So after every use, remove the detachable brush head and rinse the body and head under cold water to remove debris. Allow it to air dry before re-attaching.
Good Housekeeping June 2013, April 2016 and January 2018
