It is all very well fending off bacteria from the mouth- with wonderful toothbrushes, pastes, flosses and mouthwashes, and never stop doing so either, as this will serve you well in the future. However, you really need to be wary of what you are putting in your mouth in the first place and maintain a quality balanced diet to keep your immune system strong and maintain high levels of saliva in the mouth at all times. But certain sugary and stodgy foods cause more havoc with your teeth and gums and can be harder to remove from around your mouth, so you will need to be aware of this. On the flip side of this though, things like celery, cranberries and raisins are incredibly good and healthy for your gums. It can be a bit of a minefield to tread, but the answer here is moderation, balance and education. Talk with your hygienist or a dietician so that you learn about the best nutritional foods for both your mouth and body. No-one is suggesting that you should abstain from a blow-out every now and then, but if you are putting in a strong core of food each day as well, you should keep your body and mouth strong throughout your life and give you the chances to fight off the evils that threaten your mouth each day in central Leeds.