The following tips can be passed onto customers to help maintain their oral health:

• Practise good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing twice daily
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damage to tooth enamel
• Change manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrush heads every three months
• Start brushing children’s teeth as soon as they start coming through and get them into a good routine from a young age
• Consider fluoride supplements or mouth rinses for children at risk of dental decay
• Get regular dental check ups – how regular will depend on a dentist’s recommendation, but usually every six months
• Don’t delay dental treatment, as it may make problems worse and harder to treat later on
• Dentures and braces should fit well, be checked regularly and cleaned thoroughly
• Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can help ease dental pain
• Limit snacking, particularly on sugary foods and drinks, between meals
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Chewing sugar-free gum after eating helps to stimulate saliva – one of the body’s natural defences against the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque
• Stop smoking.