7 Things You Didn't Know About... Your Dental Health

Keep teeth and gums in check with these top tips approved by dentists

- Ali Horsfall

Bad oral health not only causes tooth decay, cavities and gum disease, it’s also linked to serious conditions such as heart disease, respiratory infections, diabetes and dementia. Although it’s difficult now, seeing your dentist regularly and taking on board healthy teeth tips is important. Here’s what the oral experts want us to remember when we leave the chair after a check-up...

1 Are you going enough?

Research* reveals that adults aged 55-plus are the worst dentist dodgers, with more than 26% admitting that they haven’t been to the dentist for at least a year or more. The NHS advises that you should have a routine check-up every six months to a year, to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums, and to spot potential problems before they arise.

2 Take the breath check

The biggest cause of bad breath is gum disease, says dental surgeon Dr Guy Barwell (theimplantcentre.com). ‘To tell how bad your breath smells, lick your arm, let it dry and then have a sniff,’ he says. ‘This will give an indication of any odour-producing bacteria in your mouth.’

3 Good gums