May 15 marks the beginning of National Smile Week. Reporter Jenna Towler looks at how to achieve and maintain a healthy mouth.

MOTHER Teresa said, of a smile: "Every time you smile at someone, it is a gift of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

Smiles are infectious, and they are a brilliant way of communicating with strangers and friends alike, so keeping your teeth pearly white is the key to maintaining one of your best assets.

Research by the British Dental Health Foundation has found that an incredible 49 per cent of people see clean teeth as the first thing they look for on a first date.

So people in south Bucks should use next week, National Smile Week, to take a few easy steps to keep their smile in tip-top condition.

Dr Nigel Carter, the chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, says with regular brushing and sensible eating your smile will stay whiter than white.

He says: "Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Twice-daily brushing is vital to maintaining good oral health. Use a soft brush to allow you to reach the gaps between the teeth.

"Hard brushes can wear down the tooth enamel, the protective layer around the teeth, causing sensitivity.

"Clean your tongue to avoid bad breath. Most bad breath is caused by bacteria on the tongue so use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to remove bacteria."

Changing your tooth brush is also very important, he says: "You should change your toothbrush every 2-3 months."

Research by the foundation shows that only 22 per cent of people change their brush every three months.

Another simple tip to keep plaque to a minimum is avoiding too many sugary foods and drinks.

Dr Carter says: "Many people don't realise that the important thing is not how much sugar you have, but how often you have it.

"This is because every time you eat or drink something sugary, your teeth are put under acid attack for up to one hour."

Regular trips to the dentist, and flossing are also recommended by Dr Carter.

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals also cuts the risk of decay.

He adds: "Chewing sugar-free gum after meals increases the flow of saliva the mouth's natural defence mechanism.

"Your saliva will then neutralise plaque acids, restoring your mouth to its natural balance.

"You might like to substitute cheese for sugar-free gum if you have had something sugary or acidic, such as fruit.

"Cheese is alkaline, unlike fruit or fizzy drinks, and will return the acid levels in your mouth back to normal."

Dr Carter also says being aware of your own mouth is the most important thing of all.

He says: "It may sound obvious but not many people are!

"If you notice anything suspicious visit your dentist.

"You should keep a particularly close eye on bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.

Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease which is the number one cause of tooth loss, and has been linked to heart disease and lung disease."

He adds: "Non-healing mouth ulcers or red or white patches in the mouth can be the first sign of mouth cancer. If you have an ulcer that hasn't healed after three weeks you should visit your dentist.

"Mouth cancer kills one person every five hours in the UK and the number of new cases is growing faster than any other cancer.

"The most common causes of mouth cancer are smoking, drinking alcohol to excess and poor diet so give up, cut down and eat healthily."