Kuala Lampur, May 1 -- When my dentist told me I only needed to see him once a year and not the usual every six months, I had mixed feelings.

The Malaysian in me was like, "You don't want money, ah?"

Apparently my oral hygiene is so good that I didn't need to go as often.

My dentist even sent me photos of my teeth pre-and-post scaling and the difference was minute, with just some traces of tartar that could be seen (if you squint).

It seemed the extra effort I'd been putting into caring for my teeth paid off.

At the same time there were a lot of things I wished I'd known about tooth care and that more people should know.

1. Brushing your teeth first thing in the morning is good actually

For years I would usually brush my teeth afte...