According to dentists, brushing your teeth twice a day and not eating too much sugar are the most important things for good dental health.
But, despite being seemingly simple advice, there are a number of mistakes you may be making when trying to keep your pearly white teeth in optimal condition.
Here, a dentist tells MailOnline the common mistakes to avoid.
Dentists have revealed their best tips and tricks for keeping your pearly white teeth in tip-top condition.
Use mouthwash
Many Britons have the habit of rinsing with water or mouthwash after brushing their teeth.
But Dr Praveen Sharma, a Birmingham-based specialist in restorative dentistry and scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, says using mouthwash immediately after brushing will dilute the benefit of the fluoride in toothpaste.
Fluoride remineralizes tooth enamel, reverses early cavities, and stops the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. Reduces the risk of cavities by 25 percent.
It’s common practice to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth, but dentists recommend spitting instead of rinsing after each cleaning.
Using mouthwash or rinse immediately after brushing your teeth can remove fluoride residue left on your teeth, which helps protect them from harmful bacteria.
Dr. Sharma said, “After brushing, spit and do not rinse, or you will dilute the benefits of fluoride.”
“If you use mouthwash, the same principle applies, make sure you use it at a different time than brushing.”
Eliminating fluoride can increase the risk of gum disease and cavities.
Brush less than an hour after eating
If you want to keep your smile white and maintain perfect dental hygiene, experts suggest waiting at least 60 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Cleaning too soon after eating can damage the enamel layer of the tooth.
Your teeth need time to remineralize naturally, especially after eating something acidic, like a soda drink.
“Ideally, you should allow 30 to 60 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth, because the mouth needs a little time to clean itself and allow the tooth surfaces to reset,” added Dr. Sharma.
“You might think that soft drinks, fruit juices and ‘diet’ smoothies are safe alternatives, but they are not: many of them contain an acidic component that attacks the surface of the teeth, increasing the risk of erosion. eliminates tooth surface and cavities.’
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria create a sticky layer called plaque on the teeth and damage the surface over time.
Around 27 per cent of adults in England suffer from cavities.
Do not use interdental brushes
Over time, food debris and plaque can build up in the spaces on your teeth.
If left, it can slowly rot your teeth and cause gum disease: they become painful, swollen, and may also start to bleed.
Interdental brushes have small bristle heads that you can use to clean any hidden food or plaque.
Dr Sharma said: ‘Try to clean the spaces between your teeth (where there is space) with interdental brushes at least once a day.
Interdental brushes have small bristle heads that you can use to clean any hidden food or plaque. If they are too large, it is recommended to floss twice a day.
‘It is advisable to do this before brushing. If the spaces between your teeth are too narrow to insert a brush, use dental floss.
‘When brushing, point the brush bristles downward toward the gum for lower teeth and upward toward the gum for upper teeth at 45 degrees.
“This allows the bristles to go slightly below the gum line.”
Recommends brushing in small, circular motions to avoid a “scrubbing motion” that can damage teeth and gums.
Not brushing your teeth before going to bed
Although brushing your teeth before bed may seem obvious, investigation suggests that more Brits brush their teeth in the morning than at night.
Britons who brush their teeth twice a day are more likely to do so in the morning (87 per cent) than in the evening (72 per cent), according to a YouGov survey.
Of those who say they only brush their teeth once a day, 70 percent say they do it in the morning and only 23 percent do it at night.
Not brushing your teeth at night allows bacteria to feast on food sugars and oral acids while the body’s saliva defenses are down.
Saliva helps remove sugar from the mouth into the stomach and helps fight bacteria.
Dr Sharma said: “Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes to thoroughly clean all tooth surfaces, especially last before bedtime, when saliva production is highest. low: saliva helps eliminate bacteria. that cause cavities.’
