Dr. Jerry Joseph

1. Clean in between your teeth using interdental brushes or floss. This will help to clean a higher portion of the tooth and prevent the build-up of plaque
2. A diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fresh fruit and vegetables can help to prevent gum disease
3. Eating and drinking naturally weakens the enamel on your teeth, and brushing straight afterwards can cause tiny particles of enamel to be brushed away. It is best not to brush your teeth until at least one hour after eating
4. Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva to help prevent your mouth from drying out
5. If you are a nervous patient, make sure your dentist knows this, including what you most dislike about treatment
6. To test if you have bad breath, simply lick the inside of your wrist, let it dry and sniff. If the smell is bad, you can be fairly sure you have bad breath
7. Always tell your dentist about changes to your health, as it may help them prevent gum disease from developing
8. A glass of water is the best drink to give your child after eating sugary foods
9. Brush your teeth just before you go to bed and before you have anything to eat or drink at breakfast
10. Use a mouthwash containing anti-bacterial to help control gum disease.

Soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices should be consumed in a limited quantity because they are acidic in nature. Acidic food or drinks often soften the tooth material which leads to the dissolution of minerals into the tooth enamel, resulting in cavities (holes).