1. Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth first.

Going to bed without brushing your teeth is the same as leaving all your leftovers from dinner on your dining room table. If left overnight, it is more than likely to have attracted insects and other harmful bacteria! The same applies to your mouth. While a person is asleep, saliva production decreases. This allows bacteria to flourish undisturbed, giving you that “furry” feeling when you wake up. The same bacteria that makes your mouth feel furry also leads to gum disease and holes in your teeth. To stop bacteria before it has a chance to cause any harm, make sure it is all removed before you sleep.

2. Floss or find an alternative to floss.

Brushing only does half the job. Flossing is just as important as it removes any hidden bacteria from in between your teeth – one of the most susceptible areas to fillings. Nowadays, there are a range of different alternatives to floss that you may find much easier than your regular string floss, such as flossets and pixters. Your dental professional can help you find one best suited to you.

3. Drink lots of water.

Drinking water in between meals and throughout the day helps to remove food residue that accumulates. It can also help to reduce staining effects from coffee, tea and red wine.

4. Brush your tongue.

Your teeth aren’t the only area where bacteria can grow. To ensure you give your mouth a full clean, use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from your tongue. One of the most reported causes of bad breath is from the bacteria that grows on the tongue.

5. Maintain regular dental visits.

Your dental professional at Sensational Smiles Dental may advise a 6 monthly interval or less for regular maintenance. This allows problems to be detected early, or better still, prevents them from occurring before treatment is even required! A regular maintenance interval may be the difference between a tooth that can be remineralised and a tooth that needs to be filled, or a tooth that needs a filling and one that needs root canal therapy.