Give your teeth the brush off

This will put a smile on your dial: the two minutes you spend brushing your teeth every morning and night help prevent both gum and heart disease.

How? Brushing reduces the bacteria build-up

(plaque) in your mouth and studies show this heavy plaque can also build up in your arteries, causing them to harden. The other nightly ritual that helps? “Flossing, to get into areas where brushing can’t,” says Dr Henry Chan, principal dentist at Perth’s

South Street Dental. “At least once daily, preferably before bed,” adds Lanny Budimuljono, the clinic’s dental therapist.