<p>Tooth Brushing:  Brush at least twice daily with a fluoride containing toothpaste for 2 minutes – your dentist will advise the right type for your individual needs.  After brushing, as long as you spit out all the toothpaste you don’t have to rinse. This leaves the important ingredients in your mouth to help strengthen teeth.  Until children can tie their own shoelaces they don’t have the skills to brush thoroughly so supervision by an adult is always advised.  Use a small-headed toothbrush with medium firmness bristles.  Brush systematically using a circular motion with the bristles gently angled to be pointing towards the gums. To help reach back teeth, half or fully close your mouth.  Your dentist will advise you as to whether you need to do anything alongside your brushing to help maintain a health mouth. This may include the use of:  Floss/Flossettes  Tepe/Flexi Interdental brushes  Brush sticks  Single-tufted brushes  Other  It is very important that you visit your dentist for regular check-ups. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions or would like further help or demonstration with the above information  Fizzy drinks are bad for teeth – this includes ‘diet’ versions, sports & energy drinks plus fizzy waters.  Fruit juice has benefits such as vitamins but you shouldn’t drink too much (especially between meals) as they can be Snacking: acidic & fruits also contain a natural sugar. Never brush  3 main meals + 2 snacks = 5 snack attacks. your teeth straight after eating fresh fruit/drinking fresh  Try to eat ‘treats’ like chocolate & sweets as part of a main fruit juices as your teeth become soft for around 1 hour so meal, for example, instead of a pudding. brushing will wear them away.  Safe snacks include:  Added sugars in tea & coffee, especially if drunk between meals can affect your teeth.  Raw vegetables such as carrot sticks.  Safe drinks to have between meals include:  Cheese.  Water  Unsweetened popcorn.  Milk  Nuts.  Well-diluted sugarless squashes.  Try not to eat or drink anything 1 hour before going to  If trying to reduce high sugar drinks, the following may sleep. help:  Dilute the drink with water  Use a straw  Make sure you don’t ‘swish’ the drink around your teeth.  Drink when having a main meal as it does less Drinks: damage.</p>