I've always considered looking after my teeth an important part of my beauty regime.

But I was alarmed this week to read a study which made me realise how easy it is to forget about our oral health when we are away from the bathroom.

Research by the Eastman Institute of Oral Health revealed that a person's tooth enamel can be eroded by acidic drinks such as sodas and fruit juices.

So while I may make a point of buying eco products such as natural toothpaste, I could be undoing all my hard work by drinking just a bit too much of these every day.

"Orange juice can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth," said lead researcher YanFang Ren, who added that sipping drinks slowly over a 20-minute period can be more damaging than finishing it quickly.

He recommended that oral health can best be maintained by brushing teeth twice daily.

However, I personally don't favour the average fluoride toothpastes that most shops sell, as I find eco products without articificial whiteners and preservatives to be much better.