Avoid Chips and cracks ? Some tooth cracks can become so large that they let bacteria into the teeth leading to nerve problems or tooth breakage. Prevent these cracks from building up in your teeth over time by following our simple advice. The things that do the most damage are, crunching ice cubes, biting fingernails, using teeth to bite open crisp packets, chewing pens and pencils and biting threads. Avoid these and you will reduce the chances of extra cracks forming in your teeth.

The best time for your Childs first visit to the dentist is at or before 6 months writes John Booth a dentist in Edinburgh with nearly 20 years experience of family dentistry. He says, ?Children often take some time to get used to new places and faces, the sooner your child starts to become familiar with the dental team the more relaxed he or she will be in later life.? Remember that their first teeth are called Milk teeth among other reasons because they are whiter than the adult ones that follow.

The best painkiller to use for toothache is Ibuprofen. It is available over the counter at most corner shops and at all chemists. It acts directly at the site of the pain to reduce inflammation. Just remember that if you need Ibuprofen for a toothache, you really do need to see a dentist urgently. Remember always read the label before taking any medications and consult a pharmacist to make sure that they are safe for you to take. If you do need to take ibuprofen at any time for tooth pain please pick up the phone and arrange a visit SOON!

If you or a member of your family takes prescribed medication, a surprise side effect is often a dry mouth. In older patients, this effect can be quite dramatic. Why not check and see if a member of your family is experiencing this problem. If so, try SUGAR FREE chewing gum, or ask the dentist about artificial saliva. A fluoride supplement is also useful to help protect the teeth. Avoid boiled sweets or strong citrus fruits at all costs, as these can cause very rapid damage in the absence of saliva.

Watch out for whitening toothpastes. They should really be called stain-removing toothpastes. Many of them are more abrasive than regular toothpaste and can actually do more harm than good. Your dentist or hygienist can advise which ones are best.

If you get mouth ulcers frequently, try this simple 30-day experimenting, looking for toothpastes with no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (sometimes written as SLS) and use this instead of your regular toothpaste. While anecdotal, this simple tip has provided relief from mouth ulcers for many patients over the last few years.

When whitening your teeth makes sure that, a dentist is supervising the procedure and that you are using safe tooth whitening gels that are subjected to stringent quality controls when they are made. Choosing the right product and receiving professional supervision is the key to achieving that younger brighter whiter smile that you dream of.