The unexpected habits ruining your smile’s shine
Achieving a pearly white smile requires not only using the right products but also maintaining good habits in daily oral hygiene. The dentist advises when to avoid brushing.
Pursuing a dazzling white smile is a goal for many people who dream of perfect teeth. In the quest for ideal oral hygiene, we often invest in expensive whitening toothpastes and modern toothbrushes.
Unfortunately, few of us realise that certain habits can work against us, causing our teeth to become increasingly yellow. Dr. Ferakh Hamid, a dentist with over 20 years of experience, highlights the most common mistake affecting the appearance of our smile.
What mistakes do we make when brushing our teeth?
Many of us take care of our teeth by using specialised whitening toothpastes, but that's not enough to achieve a bright smile. The key to success is not only choosing the right products but also knowing how to use them. Dr. Ferakh Hamid points out that a frequent mistake impacting dental health is the way people brush their teeth—for example, doing so without water or right after eating acidic foods—which can gradually reduce their whiteness.
Many people brush their teeth without moistening the bristles of the toothbrush first or right after eating acidic items, such as citrus fruits, which does not help in maintaining a healthy, white smile. It turns out that a crucial element is the proper preparation of the toothbrush before use.
Proper toothbrush preparation – How to do it?
Dr. Hamid stresses the importance of dampening the toothbrush bristles before brushing – they should be moistened both before use and after applying toothpaste to ensure even distribution
Without water, the toothpaste does not spread well, which can lead to uneven cleaning of tooth surfaces. This can result in the buildup of toothpaste residue, which promotes discolouration.
Another mistake affecting the health and appearance of our teeth is brushing them right after consuming acidic or spicy products. Dr. Ezzard Rolle, an expert from Columbia University, explains that acidic substances in the mouth can weaken enamel if teeth are brushed immediately after consumption.
Instead of brushing teeth right away, it's better to rinse your mouth with water, which helps in the remineralisation of enamel.
