Having a bright and white Hollywood smile is something many of us long for.
And although many of us may think that it takes Hollywood money to achieve such a smile, as it turns out, a large chunk of us are making a simple yet significant blunder that’s keeping our teeth from being as dazzling as they could be.
In the world of pearly whites, a study conducted last year revealed that 64% of participants were self-conscious about their smile when posing for photos, per Dental Nursing.
What's more, 57% of those asked believed their smile had a negative impact on their love life.
As more and more people turn to cosmetic solutions to help brighten their teeth, Dr. Ferakh Hamid - an experienced UK-based dentist at the helm of Aesthetique Dental Care - says that people could be making a simple mistake that's causing yellowing teeth.
Dr. Hamid claims that one of the biggest culprits behind those not-so-white teeth is something most of us wouldn't even blink an eye at: dry brushing.
Yes, you heard it right. Slathering your toothbrush with toothpaste but skipping the water might be doing more harm than good - despite what you may have been told in the past.
Dr. Hamid, with a solid 20 years of dentistry under his belt, is pointing out that neglecting to add water to your toothbrush before going to town on your teeth can lead to yellowness over time. This is because, without enough water, toothpaste isn’t spread as evenly or effectively, which means it’s less able to do its job.
“Brushing your teeth in certain ways, like without water or right after eating acidic foods, might actually make them look less white over time,” Dr. Hamid shared with the Daily Mail.
He highlighted that acidic foods and drinks, like tomatoes, citrus fruits, meat, and alcohol, can exacerbate the problem.
But it’s not just about keeping your teeth looking good. Wetting your toothbrush bristles before brushing doesn't just help with even distribution; it also makes the bristles softer and gentler on your gums and teeth.
"When you wet the bristles, they soften up," he added. "This means when you brush, it's gentler on your gums and teeth, helping to avoid any irritation or damage."
Dr. Ezzard Rolle from Columbia University also shared his thoughts on the matter, with some extra advice: hold off on brushing immediately after consuming acidic stuff.
Why? Because these acids can weaken tooth enamel.
“After eating or drinking something acidic, I always recommend rinsing with or drinking water, which starts the remineralization process of the enamel,” he explained.
And when you do brush, Dr. Rolle advises positioning your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums to ensure optimal cleaning. He recommends brushing and flossing twice a day, and ideally, one of those times should be right before bed.
Despite being something we do every day, it turns out that so many of us are still getting it wrong.
