* Be very careful about the way in which you brush your teeth. There is a right way to brush your teeth in order to both protect them from decay and avoid damaging the enamel.

Firstly, you should avoid buying toothbrushes that have hard bristles. These can actually wear away the enamel on your teeth, so make sure that you select a soft-bristled toothbrush instead.

Secondly, slowly move your brush in wide circular motions.

*Take action to limit the damage that can be caused by grinding your teeth. Not everyone knows that they grind their teeth, as it most often occurs during the night. However, it is a reasonably common response to stress and it can cause extremely painful damage to your teeth and gums while you sleep.

If you find out that you do grind your teeth, the main thing you should do is visit your dentist to acquire a custom-fitted mouth guard that can be worn to cover your top or bottom teeth. These mouth guards help to cushion the blows that your teeth receive when you grind them.

Some people also find that hypnosis can effectively help them to stop unconsciously grinding their teeth.

*Take steps to break the habit of chewing your fingernails. Most people bite their nails as a response to nervousness or stress, so find a healthier outlet for your anxiety (such as breathing exercises, or going for a walk).

When you put your fingers in your mouth, the bacteria on your skin are transferred onto your gums and onto the surface of your teeth. This can cause serious bacterial infections.

*Think twice before you decide to get a lip or tongue piercing. For one thing, having metal jewellery around and inside your mouth leads to cuts and grazes on the surface of your gums which are then more susceptible to infection.

Further, it is easy to bite down on your mouth piercing by accident, and this commonly leads to chipped or damaged teeth.

*If you like to drink wine, try to be diligent about brushing your teeth after you have finished. Red and white wines both contain acid that can damage your teeth, and red wine has the additionally unappealing property of dying your teeth a shade of gray or purple.

*If you enjoy iced drinks, do not crunch or chew the ice, as this can cause numerous dental problems. It may damage your jaw joint, crack a tooth, or cause irritation to the soft and easily damaged tissue that exists deep inside your teeth.

*Watch your coffee intake. One reason for this is cosmetic, while the other is much more serious. The more superficial concern is that coffee drinkers often develop yellowed teeth, but, of course, this can be rectified with expensive whitening procedures. More importantly, coffee is acidic and promotes serious levels of tooth decay over time.

*Do your best to snack on foods that are not too high in starch or sugar. Your saliva makes starchy foods break down into acids that can slowly damage your teeth, while sugar causes cavities. If you do eat particularly starchy or sugary foods on occasion, brush your teeth as soon as you can.

Dr Sharon Robinson DDS has offices at the Dental Place Cosmetix Spa located at Shop #5, Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. Dr Robinson is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, School of Oral Health Sciences. Dr Robinson may be contacted at 630-4710 or visit the website www.dentalplace4u.com.