1. One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay is by brushing your teeth thoroughly before bedtime and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
2. Make sure that you brush the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth. Using ‘interdental' brushes, or dental floss or tape also helps to remove plaque and food from between your teeth and where they meet the gums. These are areas an ordinary toothbrush can't reach.
3. Visit your dental team regularly, and take your children, as often as your dentist recommends. Your dental team is better equipped to spot problems before they develop into something more serious. This makes treatment quicker, easier, less invasive and less costly.
4. Try replacing sugar-containing foods with healthy and nutritious alternatives that are lower in sugar or even better sugar-free. Avoid snacking between meals, to limit the number of times your teeth are under attack from acids.
5. Always check ingredients. Generally, anything within a product with ‘ose' in the name is sugar, for example sucrose, maltose, fructose, glucose, lactose and dextrose. If any food or drink you pick up contain these ingredients, steer clear.