• We are encouraged to brush for 2 minutes, twice a day with a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

• Change your toothbrush every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are tatty.

• Don't brush your teeth straight after a fizzy drink, this can cause the acid to eat away at the enamel. Instead drink water, or rinse and if you do need to brush, wait about an hour.

• Choose a brush with a smaller head as this will be able to reach all your teeth, including those at the back of the mouth.

• Brush your tongue too, this will help to keep your breath fresh. You can even get tongue scrapers specially designed for the job.

• Go for regular check ups with your dentist. You can join a dental or health program like HSA to spread the cost of any treatment you may need. This is what I do, and it is so easy.

• If you want to avoid stains the worse offenders are tea, coffee, coke, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, cranberry juice and tomato sauce. And worse than all of these is smoking! Extra visits to the dentist to clean the teeth will help.

I recommend Beverly Hills formula toothpastes as good, everyday whitening products. It will not reverse stubborn stains, but is great at prevention. Also try Dentyl mouthwashes, expensive, but you will feel the difference.