Brits are now better kissers, with Australia a dental disaster-zone

THE Brits are renowned for having terrible teeth, but it turns out Aussies have even worse smiles. Here’s what you’re getting wrong.

Australia, your smiles need some work

THE British are renowned for having terrible teeth.

But new research shows Australian oral hygiene is now worse in every category.

We’re risking cavities, gum disease and bad breath — not to mention becoming far less appealing kissing partners.

Here’s how you’re courting dental disaster, and how to turn it around.

Brush up your act and switch to a power toothbrush.

BAD BRUSHING

A third of Australians brush their teeth less than twice a day, while only 21 per cent of Brits miss the target.

To make matters worse, only 23 per cent of Aussies brush their teeth for the minimum two minutes.

Three-quarters of us are also making the mistake of thinking manual toothbrushes are just as good as electric.

“A power toothbrush removes twice as much plaque,” Dr Christopher Ho, an Australian Dental Association member dentist, told news.com.au. “They’re much more effective.”

He recommends a medium-priced power toothbrush rather than the cheapest battery-powered ones, which don’t have the rotating, oscillating technology that sweeps away bacteria.

Flossing is fun. (OK, it’s boring — but vital).

FAILURE TO FLOSS

“A lot of Aussies are not brushing and not flossing,” says Dr Ho. “Flossing is very important because a lot of bacteria sits between the teeth.”

Dentists are seeing a serious increase in gum disease because patients are failing to floss once a day.

“The major issue is plaque, a sticky residue that sits on the teeth, and decay is the other big problem,” adds Dr Ho.

As for mouthwash: “It’s an adjunct. Brushing and flossing gets rid of most plaque, but mouthwash can help remove it from additional areas, such as the tongue.”

Tell your smug friends: hot water and lemon is bad for you.

ACID ATTACKS

Our sugar-rich diets are responsible for a lot of the damage to our once-sparkling smiles.

Acidic foods and drinks are eroding the enamel on our teeth, which makes them more sensitive and yellower in appearance.

And if you’re dutifully cleansing your system with hot water and lemon every morning, think again.

“Lemon juice in water can actually cause a lot of damage,” says Dr Ho. “It’s hot acid, and then often you’re brushing your teeth straight afterwards.”

If you brush your teeth too hard after an acid attack, it can wear away the softened enamel. Wait half an hour for your saliva to bring your mouth back to a normal pH.

You may dread the dentist, but avoiding him will make matters worse.

SKIPPING THE DENTIST

More than half of Brits have visited a dentist in the past six months compared to just one in three Australians.

Just 17 per cent of Aussies see the dentist twice a year or more, a Galaxy Research study for Oral-B revealed.

“People wait until there’s a problem,” says Dr Ho. “Dental problems don’t really rear their heads until it’s something major.”

Not seeing the dentist also makes us lazy about looking after our teeth. “If we haven’t seen the dentist in a long time, we slacken off,” says Dr Ho.

Too much whitening toothpaste can have the opposite effect.

THE WRONG TOOTHPASTE

Not all toothpastes are created equal, so it is worth getting a decent one.

Scientific advances mean we can choose improved types of fluoride that kill bugs and inhibit plaque growth before it starts.

And go easy on the whitening variety. “Some whitening toothpastes can be very abrasive, “ says Dr Ho. “If you’re too aggressive with the toothbrush, they can remove enamel.

“They may be good at removing surface stains but aren’t good to use too regularly.”

Professional teeth whitening is safe, however, because it uses a peroxide-based material that breaks down into water, hydrogen and oxygen.

So if you feel it would boost your confidence, go for it.

Just start cleaning up your act on a daily basis too.