Did you know that white wine can be worse for your teeth than red wine? Or that strawberries have teeth-whitening powers? Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to your pearly whites.

1. White wine can actually stain teeth worse than red wine, as white wine is generally more acidic. It is the high acidity in white wine that make teeth more susceptible to stains from tea, coffee and anything else you eat or drink at the same time that has colour.

2. Brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic foods is a big no-no. The tooth enamel has now been weakened from the acid and sugar, and brushing can erode the enamel even further and create more of a problem. It’s best to wait about 30 minutes after eating and drinking to brush.

3. Strawberries are one of the best natural at-home whiteners. The malic acid in strawberries acts as an astringent to remove surface discolouration and help whiten teeth.

4. 80% of most bad breath is caused by bacteria left on the tongue. Brushing your tongue with a toothbrush does not remove the bacteria, but rather just moves it around the mouth. Using a tongue cleaner is the most effective way to kill the bad breath that causes plaque and gum disease.

5. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals will stimulate saliva flow, which acts as a natural detergent to remove some of the stains on the teeth.