Tips and advice Smile-friendly eating habits Your eating habits, such as frequent consumption of sweets, are one of several factors that can lead to tooth decay. Eating soft, sticky foods that are difficult to remove from the teeth means prolonged acid attacks. Saliva rinses and neutralises acids but needs time to work. If you don’t give your mouth a break between meals, cavities will form. • Try to limit food and drink intakes to five a day (1) , and avoid snacking between meals (2). • Drink water between meals and when you are thirsty. • Try to stay away from unnecessary sugar. 1) 2) The rule of five It’s important to clean all five sides of your teeth. Oral disease often starts between the teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. Use dental floss, dental sticks or an interdental brush daily. You may need more than one brush size as the spacesx2 between your teeth vary. A good fitted interdental brush fills the space yet offers some resistance when inserted – but never force it. Use a straight brush between your front teeth. Move it back and forth a few times. Bend the brush to improve access betwx2een the 2h back teeth. Master your brushing Br2uhsh your teeth morning and evening for at x2 least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the 2h gumline. Using light pressure and short strokes, brush the inside of teeth first, then the outside. Finish with the biting surfaces. x2 2h Avoid eating or drinking for two hours to get the most benefit from the fluoride. Change your toothbrush regularly – at least every three months.
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