While we all begrudge going to the dentists for a number of different reasons - from scary needles to invasive procedures - it's something that must be done to keep oral hygiene at a stellar standard.
And while your personal orthodontist might reveal some mistakes you're making between visits, did you know that there are a couple of big no no's directly before and after appointments?
Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist at Impres, told The Mirror about things you should do before your next appointment, as well as what to avoid altogether afterwards.
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The expert pointed out obvious courtesy measures one should take - for example brushing your teeth and avoiding smelly and pungent foods. He said: "It's really important that you brush your teeth and avoid eating certain types of food beforehand, like garlic.
"Before coming in, you should also avoid drinking beverages like coffee, tea, Coke and red wine as these can all stain your teeth."
Immediately after your appointment, when your pearly whites are polished and primed, there are also a number of things you should refrain from doing. He added: "Try to avoid having acidic drinks like soda as these can really affect the teeth."
The biggest mistake you can make according to the Dr is drinking an acidic drink such as orange juice, before brushing your teeth straight after. This can lead to essential mineral loss, and weakened enamel - both of which are highly detrimental to the mouth.
Dr. Kasem warned: "Try to avoid brushing your teeth after drinking an acidic beverage because this would be like brushing the acid from the drink into your teeth. There is a phase when you drink an acidic beverage, this is what we call demineralisation and this is where minerals are removed from the teeth.
"Following this, the saliva would then do what we call remineralisation and this will help put back the minerals in the teeth. If you brush your teeth before the remineralisation stage takes place, you'll avoid this phase, so usually it's a good idea to wait for half an hour to an hour after consuming acidic food and drink before brushing your teeth."
The dentist also urges people to brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time, but for even longer at night if possible. This is so that the fluoride in your toothpaste, which helps prevent tooth decay, can work all through the night while you're asleep.
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