Give good oral

Give good oral. Photo: Getty Images

When was the last time you opened your mouth and flashed your dentist? Chances are it was around the time Lady Gaga was becoming popular.

“People take their car for a service more often than they get their mouth checked,” says Dr Ky-Anh Nguyen, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney. “Which do you think is more replaceable?”

The stats confirm it: Only 17 per cent of us book the recommended six-monthly dental appointment, new research from Oral-B shows. No wonder tooth decay is Australia’s most common health problem. Guard your fangs and health with these simple steps.

MORE: Nine scary ways alcohol affects your body

Fight with fluoride
Microgranules, whitening, bicarb…what’s best? The simple answer: there is no uber tooth-cleaner but you do want fluoride says Nguyen, “Organic toothpastes have none and avoid the gritty pastes as they can be abrasive.” For added protection drink tap over filtered water too, says Dr Sarah Raphael, Scientific Affairs consultant at Colgate. And to spit or swallow? “Rinse with a small amount of water so some paste remains between brushing,” she says.

Watch your diet
Eighty per cent of your dodgy breath comes from oral sources like gum disease, dry mouth and trapped food. “When bacteria comes into contact with sugars, and proteins in the mouth, sulphorous compounds are produced, causing bad breath,” says Nguyen. Eat saliva stimulating foods – raw veggies, dairy products and water, because they have a neutralising effect. Persistent stink breath could indicate an underlying health issue like sinusitis, so see your GP.

RELATED: 10 healthy eating myths busted

Two by two
The same research shows one third of us don’t brush our teeth for the recommended two minutes twice a day. Bacteria kick into overdrive at night says Dr Steven Lin, dentist and oral health educator. “Saliva is our natural mechanism for cleansing and protecting teeth. During sleep, saliva flow drops to its lowest levels, leaving you vulnerable to attack.” Divide your mouth into quadrants and spend 30 seconds brushing each. Be careful of over brushing and hard bristles though says dentist Dr Chris Ho as they can “wear down tooth enamel resulting in your teeth looking discoloured, not whiter.” Bugger.

Word of mouth
“Your dentist can take one look at your mouth and find signs of systemic health problems,” says Lin, “Uncontrolled gum disease can be linked to underlying diabetes. Pale gums can present when you’re low on iron or anaemic. Mouth sores indicate your immune system is struggling, while gastrointestinal disorders such as gluten consumption in coeliac disease can affect tooth enamel formation.” Dental disease is also linked to heart disease, diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis and problematic pregnancy. So find the time (and coin “every dollar spent in prevention amounts to about seven in treatment”) to say ‘aah’.

MORE: Six reasons to ban your phone from the bedroom

Finesse your flossing
Thirty five per cent of plaque builds up between your teeth which normal brushing can’t remove research from the Dental Hub shows. Paleos take note: It’s especially important to floss after eating meat says Ho. “Fibres impacted between teeth overnight may petrify, releasing an acid that causes decay and gum problems.” So which floss is best? A study published in the Journal of Periodontology compared waxed, unwaxed, woven and shred-resistant floss – there was almost no difference. Need reminding? Hire a flossing coach from app Coach.me.

Ditch your bad habits
There are obvious smile saboteurs: smoking, sugar, coffee, tea and red wine. But there’s another habit that makes dentists cringe: constant snacking. “The more frequently you feed the germs in your mouth, the more active they become, equaling more damage,” says Ho.

TOOTH PICKS

The complaint: Crooked smile
The fix: Invisalign, $5500 (upfront payment including dental visits and corrections)
WH reader, Elise Dubbelman, 26:
I planned to get my teeth straightened and overbite corrected before my wedding so when my dentist suggested Invisalign, a kind of clear braces, I went for it. Moulds of my teeth were sent away and back came computerised footage of what to expect from the treatment. You get a new plate every two weeks as your teeth are moving. I had 12 plates in total which I wore for 22 hours a day, removing only to eat, drink anything coloured and brush my teeth. Sexy. It’s also not totally invisible, the teeth that need to move have small nobs glued to them, which can be noticed. It was a long hard disciplined process, but 14 months later, I’m so happy with my teeth. I’d do it all again.

MORE: Science-backed ways to feel happier

The complaint: Discoloured teeth
The fix: Philips ZOOM WhiteSpeed, from $650 (including at-home kit)
WH Deputy features editor Melissa Shedden, 28:
If your DIY whitening kit is another beauty buy gathering dust, you’ll like this: 45 minutes for pearly whites and you just lay there (and pop two ibuprofen). OK, here’s the truth: Your choppers have to be in good nick – recently professionally cleaned and sans visible restorations as the hydrogen peroxide won’t work on them and you’ll be in the chair 90 minutes (prep plus three 15-minute treatments). My dentist Dr Abhishek Aggarwal from Sydney CBD Dental protects the soft tissue in my mouth using cheek guards, cotton swabs and tissue and applies whitening gel each round. By the third, I feel zaps as my nerves respond, but the sensitivity is bearable. In the same time a bikram yoga class takes, my teeth are off the charts white and I’m grinning like Nelly with a new grill (good thing because for 24 hours after, you have to eat a white-only diet!). Can’t afford this? Try White Glo.

The complaint: Grinding
The fix: Splint, $700
WH staff writer Ashleigh Austen, 25:
When my grinding got so loud my housemate thought I was eating cereal in the kitchen at midnight I knew it needed sorting. Dr Darryl Moses from Align Dental took me through the options. Turns out grinding isn’t just a teeth problem caused by stress, it’s a breathing one. After assessing my teeth, he went through my medical and dental history. But the examination didn’t stop there: my head, shoulders, pelvis, hands and feet all got the once over to see what’s narrowing my airways. A 3D X-ray reveals the culprit: a curve in my spine. Next step an overnight sleep study to see what goes on when I hit the pillow, with that data Moses fits me for a splint, which I’ll wear indefinitely, protecting my teeth from wear and tear, and correcting my tongue placement so I can breath easy.