Dentists look after the whole mouth, not just teeth, so they talk about caring for the mouth and oral health, not just about teeth and dental health.

Together, you and your dentist can do a lot to keep your whole mouth healthy and prevent the two main dental diseases, dental decay and gum disease.

There are four simple messages for looking after oral health highlighted in the following information.

You can help prevent gum disease by brushing your teeth thoroughly, twice daily, to remove dental plaque, a sticky deposit of bacteria on the tooth surface. You may need to use other dental hygiene aids (for example, floss) but only after individual advice from a dentist or hygienist. Thorough brushing twice daily (going all round each tooth) is more effective than frequent incomplete brushing.

Regular tooth brushing by itself will not prevent all tooth decay but there is a definite benefit from regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride in toothpaste and in water helps teeth to become more resistant to attack, and also 're-mineralize' (re-harden) after attack by acids, produced by plaque when sugars are eaten

Use a soft to medium brush and a circular 'scrub' technique, with the bristles aiming where the tooth and gum meet. Your dentist or hygienist will show you how. Choose a brush with a small head which allows it to reach all parts of the mouth easily and comfortably. Don't keep a brush for more than about three months or after the bristles have started to spread out. If you have children, supervise their brushing up to age seven and use a small pea size amount of toothpaste.

Reduce the consumption and especially the frequency of intake of sugar-containing food and drink. The number of times that sugar enters the mouth is the most important factor determining the rate of dental decay. Try to avoid sugary snacks and drinks between meals.

Also, avoid the frequent consumption of acidic foods and drinks, such as both the regular and 'diet' types of fizzy drinks and fruit juices, as the acid they contain can attack the teeth.

For babies, try just to give them water or milk to drink.

Water fluoridation is a very effective way of reducing dental decay. This can mean up to 50 per cent less tooth decay in areas which have fluoride in the water. Sixty per cent of the population of the USA drink fluoridated water compared with only ten per cent in the UK. Support water fluoridation if its introduction is debated in your community.

There are three reasons for seeing a dentist at least once a year.

1. Studies show that thorough cleaning of teeth by a dentist or hygienist helps to control gum disease. Your own tooth brushing is important but you need professional cleaning as well.

2. Where a tooth has decayed to a point where it cannot use saliva and fluoride to mend itself, early detection and appropriate treatment is important.

3. Other disorders can occur in the mouth which are unrelated to the presence of natural teeth and may be life-threatening. Oral cancer is an example. Again early detection is important - even vital.

Dentists recommend regular dental check-ups for everyone, even people with no natural teeth. The whole mouth can be monitored and appropriate advice given. Children may need to be seen more frequently. Orthodontic treatment (straightening of teeth) may need to be planned, too. Frequent check-ups may be necessary for adults where there is a particular gum disease or decay problem and for people with certain medical conditions. Talk to a dentist about how often you should have a check-up - it will be different for each person.