HALLOWEEN this week means lots of sugary treats that are bad news for mouth health.
When sugar mixes with bacteria in your mouth, it forms acids that attack tooth enamel.
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The World Health Organisation warns that bad oral health is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory disease and even dementia.
Today I look at ways to keep your tongue, cheeks and gums healthy.
Minty mouthwash
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THE Breath Co’s clinically proven formulas come in Icy Mint and Mild Mint flavours, which both promise long-lasting minty freshness and a reduction in acidic attacks that can damage teeth and gums.
The best thing about this mouthwash is that it can fight bad breath caused by bacteria for 12 hours, so it is perfect for a hot night out!
But the Icy version was almost eye-wateringly minty, so I preferred the milder version.
It is not for the whole family as its ingredients include sodium hydroxide, which can aid tooth-whitening but can cause sensitivity.
£8.99 at amazon.co.uk
Sustainable floss
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THIS is from a new London-based start-up company called Waken, which claims to be looking to redefine the ritual of flossing, brushing, swooshing and gargling.
It aims to do this by creating a new range of more sustainable oral care products which use real, fresh mint and are free from added colours, alcohol and artificial dyes.
I love that this product comes in a box instead of a plastic tub and the floss is made from recycled milk bottles.
It has been clinically tested to reduce interdental plaque by 70 per cent.
It is coated with vegetable wax and the sweetener xylitol, and the floss expands to fill the spaces between your teeth when you use it. Clever.
With a lovely flavour from natural peppermint extract.
£3.50 per 25m, boots.com
Citrus toothpaste
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THIS is different – a toothpaste which tastes like a sweet.
In fact Biomed Citrus Fresh tastes like my favourite Quality Street orange-flavoured chocolate.
And oddly, with the minty aftertaste it works and still leaves your mouth feeling refreshed. The new range also includes coconut, pine and grape flavours.
The citrus one contains essential oils of grapefruit, mandarin and lemon, plus pineapple extract, which helps to break down dental plaque.
It also has plantain, birch leaf and juniper extracts for healthy gums, plus the amino acid l-arginine, which helps to prevent cavities and bad breath.
It is 97 per cent natural, and suitable for children aged over six too.
From £3.41 for a 100g tube, from amazon.co.uk
