BRUSH BLEEDING GUMS . . .

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It may look like there's a Hammer horror flick playing on your bathroom mirror, but have a bloody good scrub. "Bleeding gums are caused by plaque and food particles accumulating," says James Goolnik, Vice President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. "Until all of that gunk is shifted, your gums will keep bleeding. Use a small-headed, medium-bristle brush to lift the plaque. If bleeding doesn't lessen after a few days, see your dentist."

MILK'S GOOD BEFORE BED . . .

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Sesame Street taught us many things, like vampires being great accountants, it was wrong about milk before bed. "It's loaded with vitamin D and calcium, which build strong teeth, but it's also packed with natural sugar lactose," says the British Dental Health Foundation's Leigh Greenwood. "Drink it before bed and your teeth will be coated with it. Over time, this will cause cavities. Drink your dairy at least an hour before bed so you have time to brush before hitting the hay."

A SMILE IS CAREER-PIVOTAL . . .

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Bad teeth can really leave you down in the mouth. Researchers from King's College London found that the whiter your smile, the more attractive and successful your colleagues rate you. The dentally challenged likes of Shane MacGowan are apparently perceived as less clever, less popular and less well-adjusted than their well-capped peers.

CLOVES SOOTHE TOOTHACHE . . .

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Your nan was right. Research published in the Journal of Dentistry found that cloves relieved pain as effectively as anaesthetic gel. "Eugenol in the clove acts on the nerve of a tooth," says cosmetic dentist Tif Qureshi. Put a clove next to your aching gnasher - don't chew it - or dab on some clove oil using cotton wool. "But remember you're masking the pain," says Qureshi, "not curing it, so go to a dentist. The longer you leave it, the more painful it could get. For your tooth and your wallet."

LEMON JUICE WHITENS . . .

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Forget those money-saving tips; lemon juice won't do as cheap substitute for teeth-whitening treatment. "Lemon juice is an acid," says Goolnik. "So as it takes away stains it'll be taking a bit of your tooth with them." Making them just below picking a fight with Ricky Hatton on the dental risk scale.

ALWAYS USE MOUTHWASH . . .

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In a reversal of one of life's key maxims, if it contains alcohol, steer clear. "Alcohol in mouthwash dries out your mouth so the bacteria can't be washed away," says microbiology professor Philip Tierno. And according to scientists at Israel's Tel Aviv University, the sugar-loaded alcohol can actually feed surviving bacteria, causing bad breath. Avoid mouthwash containing alcohol - roughly 90 per cent of them do - and use an alcohol-free alternative such as Dentyl (pharmacydirect.com.au; 500ml/$6.95). Or simply floss and swill with water instead.

SOFT DRINKS HIT HARD . . .

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The tooth-dissolving-in-cola rumour is not true, but University of Birmingham researchers did find that CO2 in fizz erodes your enamel. Worse still are sports drinks, causing 30 times more erosion than still water. "Erosion leaves teeth sensitive, exposing the hard dentine and pulp, and causing infection," says lead researcher Dr Tony Smith. To protect your teeth, the scientists recommend using a straw and rinsing with water afterwards.

FRUIT MEANS FILLINGS . . .

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It's bad-mouthed for harbouring more acid than the crowd at a Pink Floyd reunion gig, but not all fruit's bad for your pegs. Research at Colorado State University found that the fibre in apples cleans teeth and massages gums as you chew. Plus, a compound in cranberries stops bacteria clinging to teeth, cutting plaque deposits by 80 per cent, according to the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York. If you can't get fresh, go for sugar-free dried cranberries.

CHEWING GUM HALTS DECAY . . .

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Chewing gum improves dental hygiene up to 35 per cent by dislodging plaque and food, according to research at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco. Another study by the UK's International Association for Dental Research found that xylitol - a sweetener used in gum - reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth, again fighting decay. The Association's Dr Paula Moynihan recommends chewing a piece of sugar-free gum for 20 minutes, three times a day. No, not the same piece.

FLOSS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE . . .

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Boston University scientists found flossing cuts heart-disease risk. Bacteria enter your bloodstream via damaged gums and then attack your heart. "The bacteria can activate an inflammatory response in the heart that causes disease," says study author Dr Caroline Attardo Genco, adding that you need to floss once a day for the heart-protecting benefits. And use proper dental floss. A British Dental Health Foundation study found that 60 per cent of people "flossed" with "whatever came to hand" resulting in injury, gum disease and no cotton left when some was needed to sew a button back on.

BRUSH AFTER EATING . . .

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It's not good to wear breakfast as a gum-shield, but a diligent post-scoff scrub could be doing you a disservice. "It's one of the worst things you can do," says dietician Sarah Schneker. "It takes half-an-hour after eating for your mouth to go from acid back to alkaline. Brushing before then strips teeth's protective coating." So you should really brush before eating. "Fluoride coats your enamel, strengthening it before you eat," says Greenwood. "After eating, drink water to neutralise the acids in your mouth."

UNLIKE SNOW, YELLOW IS BETTER THAN WHITE . . .

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A Hollywood smile may look good in holiday snaps, "but yellow enamel is actually stronger than white," says dentist Peter Vaughan. The yellow tones come from mineral content, which is what keeps them strong." Over-bleaching particularly weakens enamel. "And the best way to strengthen enamel is making sure that your toothpaste contains at least 1000 fluoride parts per million [ppm]," says Greenwood. Colgate Sensitive Fresh Stripe has 1500ppm (cincottachemist.com.au; 110g/$5.50), the maximum amount before toothpaste is classed as medicine. If you do use a toothpaste with this level of fluoride, make sure you spit it all out or you may develop white marks caused for fluorosis, an excess of fluoride.