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A Brighter Smile We all want the pearly white gnashers of the movie stars, or rather we would all like to feel more confident about our smile. There is an absolute bucket full of products out there claiming to make us whiter, brighter and fresher than ever before, so here are a few things for you to try. • Brushing twice a day is still the most important thing in your dental routine. You should brush every morning and every night, don’t skip the evening brush as bacteria build up in the mouth all day! • Choose a good toothpaste – read the box and make sure it does the things you need; fights plaque, controls tartar build up, freshens breath etc. Most of the top brands come in ‘whitening’ variety which means you don’t have to compromise on protection to get a whitening product. • Floss. You don’t need to floss daily, a couple of times a week will benefit everyone. Flossing dislodges the bits between our teeth and helps protects the gums, they also make floss for sensitive teeth so no excuses! • Choose a good toothbrush and change it regularly. Choose one that reaches to the back of your mouth, so if you have a small mouth, choose a brush with a small head so that you can get to reach the hard areas. Some brushes even come with coloured ‘indicators’ that fade to let you know when it’s time to get a new brush. Don’t neglect you tongue either, some brushes even have a tongue cleaner on the reverse. • Use a mouthwash – your teeth don’t make up the whole of your mouth so using a mouthwash to gargle and rinse will help to clean between the teeth, the back and roof of your mouth and all around the tongue and gums. Making these simple things part of your dental routine, your pearly whites will be pearly bright in no time.                Do you take regular medication? If you take regular medication for a medical condition, or maybe you have more than one problem, you can have your medicines reviewed by a qualified pharmacist. They will talk you through each of your different prescription items and what it does for your condition. They can offer lots of help and advice on how to get the best out of your medicine and answer any questions about the medication that you may not have asked your GP about. What’s more this service is free and is available at Boots the Chemist stores and may be offered through other pharmacies.                Eat your way to better brain function! It’s often been talked about that oily fish is great for the bodies joints, but now they say that oily fish is great for the old grey matter too. Oily fish is rich in something called Omega 3 which many scientists believe is key to developing and maintaining a healthier brain. Not a fish lover? You can always take Omega 3 as a supplement. Lots of varieties are on the market today and Haliborange even do a chewable orange flavour supplement for the kids. You should always ask your pharmacist for advice if you are taking medication or other vitamin or mineral supplements to ensure you have the right combination for you.