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Expert Advice

A whiter-looking smile starts with a healthy mouth

Dentist David Cocker shares some useful advice for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

To prevent gum disease and have good oral health you need to remove plaque every day, especially last thing at night.

A common mistake people make is using too hard a toothbrush which can damage both teeth and gums. You want to remove the plaque to prevent dental disease but not beat-up the gums while doing it!

If you are right handed, it is easier to clean the teeth on the left side of your mouth, so try to spend even more time cleaning the teeth on the right side. The reverse applies if you are left handed.

Teeth can be discoloured/stained if plaque is allowed to remain on the tooth surface overnight. The soft plaque dries out and hardens leaving a rough surface that can pick-up stains easily.