Tips on how to achieve the perfect healthy smile
Looking after our teeth is something that we should all worry about and people often neglect and forget to remember that after the age of around 12 they're stuck with us forever.
Professor Eder is the main clinician and founder of the London Tooth Wear Centre, he dispelled the rumours that are constantly coming from our mouths and offers tips on how best to get that perfect, heathly smile.
Myth
It's best to stick to known brands when choosing what toothpaste to buy.
Truth
You must look at two things when buying toothpaste, it needs to contain fluoride and it's non-abrasive.
Myth
After you vomit, you should brush your teeth immediately.
Truth
When you vomit, acid is regurgitated into the mouth where it softens the outermost tooth surface. You must wait about an hour before brushing otherwise you can just rub off the softened tooth surface. Similarly, it's always best to wait an hour to brush your teeth after acidic foods and drinks.
Myth
Milk teeth aren't as important to look after because they will eventually fall out.
Truth
Caring for teeth as soon as they start to grow is essential and should lead to heathly teeth and gums later on. Sugary foods and drinks are the teeths enemy and should be avoided where they can be.
Myth
Yellow teeth are unhealthy.
Truth
A common cause of yellow teeth is that they have absorbed flouride as they have been developing, it doesn't mean that they are unhealthy. However, miscoloured teeth should be checked by a dentise as it can be a sign of worn away enamel which causes sensitivity in teeth.
Myth
Only unhealthy people suffer from tooth decay.
Truth
A number of factors contribute to tooth wear - erosion from acid damage is the most common, this is caused by eating highly acidic foods, like citrus fruits.
Myth
Teeth whitening is completely safe and does not harm your teeth.
Truth
Regularly using a whitening toothpaste increases the risk of wearing away tooth enamel permanently, especially if it has abrasive content. Newer over-the-counter products and in-surgery haven't been around long enough for us to discover what is actually in them and the effects that they could have on your teeth. Home bleaching, however, supervised by a dentist has 20 years of data to support its safety and is the most effective way of simply bubbling away the surface dirt without damaging the enamel on the tooth surface.
Myth
Diet fizzy drinks are fine for teeth, it's the sugar ones that are doing the most damage.
Truth
Even though they contain less damaging sugars, they are still very acidic, so will cause damage to the tooths enamel. The best thing to suggest is limiting sparkling drinks to special occasions as much as you can and dilute fruit juices in order to avoid both decay and loss of enamel.
Myth
Binge drinking won't harm my teeth if I use a straw.
Truth
Using a straw is recommended but excessive drinking can cause many dental issues including irritation of the gum, tongue and oral tissues, an increase of tooth decay and in the worst cases peridontal disease and oral cancer. The problem with binge drinking is that many people will then continue to finish the night off with sugary foods and being sick which coats the teeth in more acid.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies