Top tips for looking after your teeth

It is rare to find a person who actually enjoys going to the dentist. Even the mere thought of it can send shivers down people's spines and cause many to flinch in fear.\n\nYet no matter how much we hate these little trips, most of us are pretty relaxed when it comes to looking after our teeth.\n\nAccording to electronics company Philips - who have just released a new electric toothbrush - 43 per cent of Australians only floss a few times a year or never at all.\n\nThese findings suggest that we all have to up our dental care regime if we want to keep our teeth shiny, white and cavity-free.\n\nFortunately, taking care of your teeth is not as hard at it may seem. Here are a few tips.\n\nLimit your sugar intake\n\nSugar is pretty much your teeth's worst enemy. If you want to avoid a mouth full of cavities, then it's best that you limit your intake of soft drinks, fruit juices, lollies and other foods extremely high in sugar.\n\nHowever, that's not to say that you have to say goodbye to all sweet treats. You could try using a natural sugar replacement called Xylitol to sweeten your hot drinks or add to your baking.\n\nNot only is this alternative low in calories and delicious, it even has the added bonus of being good for your teeth - a sweet fix without the consequences.\n\nBrush, floss and wash\n\nRemember what your mum told you growing up - brush for two minutes, twice a day, every day.\n\nAnd no, brushing vigorously for 30 seconds does not give you that same thorough clean - aim to always hit that two minute mark.\n\nIt could also be a good idea to floss once daily before you go to bed and even use a mouth wash to fight away any extra unwanted bacteria.\n\nWhile this may seem like a bit of a chore, surely we can all agree that going to the dentist is much worse?\n\n