There’s nothing worse than having a beautifully relaxing facial and having it interrupted by a gust of death-breathe or incessant intrusive thoughts of that piece of food stuck in the therapist’s teeth. Here are some helpful tips to keeping those pearly whites in pristine condition on a beauty therapist’s salary: 

1. Not only should you start off by brushing twice a day with a fresh smelling fluoride toothpaste, such as Colgate’s original, but also what you brush with and how is so important. Oral-B has come out whit, what I feel in the greatest invention since tampons, a disposable, electric toothbrush. It’s called the Pulsar and will cost you around R40. This is in comparison to the range of R150 electric brushes to those priced in the thousands. The brush is battery powered and will last around two months, you’ll know its dying away when you no longer experience the joyful vibrations on your expectant teeth and gums, first thing in the morning. Remember to brush high and low to remove plaque from teeth and gums, twice a day. You really will see and FEEL the difference in your mouth.

2. Be sure to brush your teeth before eating breakfast. This will give the teeth a fluoride coating and prevent cavity forming food acids from causing holes (holes which fill with food debris if not treated and cause chronic halitosis

3. If you are a smoker, coffee drinker or just genetically unlucky, and are unhappy with the colour of your teeth, do not fear. It is now unnecessary to fork out thousands at the dentist or hygienist for a white smile, all the leading oral care brands make tooth whitening kits that you can buy at your local dischem or pick n’ pay. My favorite is Colgate’s brush on whitener and will cost you in the region of R150. Just use this nightly and wait to see the unbelievable different a white smile can make to your appearance and confidence.

4. If you suffer from jaw pain and stress grinding in your sleep. Seek medical help. Your dentist will be able to make a bight plate for you to sleep with which has a multitude of benefits. Your days will be happier and that subtle, headache causing, jaw pain will no longer bother you; also your teeth will not chip away due to grinding during the night, preventing cavities and other related calamities (see benefits above). All of this is even sweeter as your medical aid or benefits program should cover this as it is a purely medical necessity.

5. Finally, there’s a ridiculous new mouthwash on the market called Dentyl which will change your life. Is looks like a delicious pink and blue, two-tone cocktail, but really, it’s so much more. I really can’t tell you about the chemical technicalities of it but I can tell you that you can actually see the plaque and germs it has removed when you spit! All you do is: shake the bottle to mix the two different liquids together, this activates the ingredients, as rinse as you would with a regular mouthwash. When you spit all those sugar eating, cigarette smoking, coffee drinking sins are revealed.

6. I know I said finally, but for those of you who don’t floss, remember: you only need to floss the teeth you want to keep! ;)