A dentist has warned that scores of people have been brushing their teeth incorrectly and it could be making them more yellow
When you reach adulthood, there are a few things you hope you have nailed, your ability to take care of yourself being a pretty important one.
However, a dentist was warned that many people have actually been brushing their teeth wrong, and it's having a rather undesirable impact.
UK dentist Dr Ferakh Hamid has more than 20 years of experience he has called on people to make sure they are doing this one thing before they even put their toothbrush to their mouth.
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Admittedly, if you are getting yellow teeth you can always go get your teeth cleaned or whitened but changing this habit might be a lot easier and cost effective.
According to Dr Hamid, you need to be wetting it correctly and with enough lubricant, as if you apply toothpaste straight to your teeth and there’s no water, it’s going to stain your teeth.
This is actually a leading cause of stained teeth, which is insane.
He also warned that if you brush your teeth too soon after eating or drinking acidic foods, it’s going to make them yellow too.
He said, as per the Daily Mail: “Brushing your teeth in certain ways, like without water or right after eating acidic foods, might actually make them look less white over time.”
Doing these things can make your teeth 'dull', and he added: “Dry brushing might seem good for getting rid of surface stains at first, but without water, toothpaste doesn't spread well.”
If you’re brushing right after eating acidic foods, your enamel might be too weak to handle brushing, and there’s the risk that you’re just moving the acid around your mouth instead of cleaning it.
Dr Hamid said that softening the bristles can be a bonus when it comes to keeping your teeth shiny and white.
He said: “When you wet the bristles, they soften up. This means when you brush, it's gentler on your gums and teeth, helping to avoid any irritation or damage.”
On top of wetting your toothbrush, you should also make sure to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and not skimp out on the time.
Then, make sure to clean your tongue once a day and visit your dentist at regular intervals to keep on top of your oral health.
“Keeping up with these steps will help prevent dental problems and keep your mouth feeling great,” he said.
While it might come as a surprise to many that you need to drench your brush, you might just see a difference when you start to take on Dr Hamid’s tips.
Gerrard Kaonga