The Hour

A person’s smile is generally thought to be their best asset and is often the first thing we notice in others; particularly in prospective partners. But bacteria in the mouth can cause bad breath, so poor oral hygiene can create a bad impression in our day to day lives and even be a big turn off for potential suitors.

Jamie explains that 'most people don’t know how to brush their teeth properly and that makes the fact that they’re trying to keep their mouth nice and clean and breath fresh difficult.'

Jamie believes that, 'You need to brush every single surface of the tooth, so what should happen is you should brush around the outside of the top jaw, then around the biting surface, and then around the inside, and most people will brush the bit that you see at the front because if you didn’t you’d turn up at work with a bit of lettuce or something and attract attention, but most people forget to brush the inside and that’s key to preventing decay and keeping your teeth healthy.'

There are proven links between a healthy mouth and general body health improvements. There is much to do to improve the nation’s oral health. One person in 10 is unaware of the threat of mouth cancer while poor dental health has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Direct links have also been established between bacteria in the mouth and heart attacks.

Jamie wants brushing and flossing regularly to 'become part of your daily regime and it’ll make a big difference to how the mouth feels, how fresh your breath while reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay."

"Most people have brushes that are too firm, and they brush too hard and that can lead to gum recession and lead to wearing your teeth away and exposing sensitive parts of your teeth."

Jamie's top tips are,

1) Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes.

2) Reduce your sugar consumption.

3) Visit your dentist regularly.

For more information about Jamie Newlands or to contact him please visit the Berkeley Clinic website. Find out more about National Smile Month and oral hygiene here.