THE SMILE REVOLUTION

ALL MOUTH

THERE’S MORE TO A PERFECT SMILE THAN JUST BRUSHING TWICE A DAY…

MOUTH HEALTH 101

Since our baby-teeth days, we’ve been told that brushing is the most important thing for oral hygiene – but that’s just the start of it. If we want to keep our gums nice and pink as well as hang on to all of our teeth, we need to do more. Flossing is essential, as is brushing your tongue. But among the culprits wreaking havoc on our gums, a lack of sleep is up there with smoking. Stress can also result in mouth ulcers, bad breath and teeth grinding, and can lead to issues such as nail biting, which accelerates the erosion of tooth enamel. The takeaway? Yet another reason to sleep more, stress less.

GO ELECTRIC

“An electric toothbrush can deliver up to 48,800 strokes per minute, as opposed to 300 to 600 when you brush manually,” says Dr Sophie Alexandre. “It’s undoubtedly the most effective tool we have for removing dental plaque and other food residues while respecting your gums. Choose a brush with a small, round head to reach all areas, and fairly flexible bristles so as not to hurt yourself. And because it will pick