3 ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy*

**This is a sponsored post commissioned by Colgate. The product was gifted by Colgate but all views are my own.

Dentists in the UK are now open, but most are running on a limited service. Taking care of our teeth at home has never been more important. And ever since I had two root canals (NOT FUN) I’ve taken oral health and fitness as seriously as I take my general health and fitness. Mainly because I want to avoid any more root canals. So here are some things you can do to keep your teeth clean and healthy from home:

Brush & floss
I could never get the flossing habit, until I started using a water flosser and now I do it twice a day. Alongside this I use an electric toothbrush (the Philips Sonicare) and change the brush head every 3 or 4 months.
Check your toothpaste
Toothpaste is one of those products that changes and innovates all the time, so it’s worth changing up the type of paste you buy so you’re getting the latest benefits. Recently I’ve been using Colgate Max White One (RRP £3.99 from Waitrose). It promises to lift teeth a shade whiter within a week, if you use it 3 times a day. I’m almost a week in and definitely seeing a difference. In the interests of testing it out thoroughly I was on the red wine over the weekend, but no stains got a chance to linger. This is a new formula which is also enamel safe for daily use. It’s minty but not wildly so, so it’s a good choice for people who like a gentler tasting toothpaste.

Check your diet
It’s no surprise that sugary stuff isn’t great for teeth, but what should you be eating? Best foods to keep your teeth healthy include: Fibre-rich fruit and veg (promotes saliva which protects teeth); dairy products (for calcium); and green and black teas (containing polyphenols which can fight off plaque).

And here is a bonus tip – lift weights to help build bone density. You’ve seen me talk about my love of working out with weights. I actually got a compliment from my dentist for my good bone density the last time I had an x ray. I could only put it down to the weights I had been lifting. Never thought that lifting a barbell would improve my teeth but there you go.