Take care of yout teeth

Brush straight after jumping out of bed

Uchenna says: “You should brush your teeth for two minutes as soon as you get up, have breakfast and then rinse with a mouthwash.”

Never brush immediately after eating. She explains: “The acids and sugars in food soften tooth enamel and by brushing immediately after eating you are washing away the enamel protection.”

Use an electric toothbrush

This is essential, says Uchenna, adding: “It’s like cleaning a floor with a vacuum cleaner compared to a dustpan and brush.”

However, in these credit crunch times, electric toothbrushes are not at the top of everyone’s wish list.

Uchenna adds that if you use an ordinary brush and its bristles are too hard, run them under hot water to soften them.

Floss

This is crucial to getting that Hollywood smile.

Uchenna explains: “Not flossing is like keeping your socks on while you have a bath. Bacteria are clever critters and the gaps between your teeth are great places for them to hide and multiply.”

Use a straw

Fizzy drinks are bad for your teeth because they attack a tooth’s protective enamel, causing decay.

The solution? “Drink them through a straw,” says Uchenna, “because it will reduce the damage.”

Eat cheese after wine

Uchenna says: “Red wine causes ‘purple tooth syndrome’ where sediment from the wine lingers around the edge of the tooth – a most unattractive feature for anyone.”

Chew a piece of sugar-free gum or, if you are out with pals having a boozy meal, opt for some cheese as dessert – it neutralises the acid from the alcohol.

“If you know you are having a few glasses of wine, brush your teeth about an hour before your first tipple,” says Uchenna, adding: “This removes the plaque which attracts the wine.

"Then at the end of the night either clean with water or use a mouthwash.”

Source from thesun.uk