WE all want a pearly white smile and know that brushing and flossing is the best way to keep our nashers in tip top condition.
But one dentist has revealed that you’ve actually been brushing your teeth all wrong and could be damaging them.
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Cosmetic dentist and Real Housewives of Cheshire star, Dr Hannah Kinsella said while the food and drink you eat can stain your teeth, the way you’re brushing them could make a difference.
She said: “Instead of brushing teeth aggressively with a hard grip – which can be a natural response – try to hold your toothbrush at the very end and use a grip as if you’re holding a pen.
“This will reduce pressure to the brush and the teeth, therefore protecting them from damage. All of these things can contribute to whiter teeth!”
Dr Kinsella, who is also the founder of Kiln Lane Dental Clinic & Icy Bear Dental Care said that using a sonic toothbrush – rather than a manual brush, will help whiten teeth.
“Using a sonic electric toothbrush can provide a powerful dynamic cleaning action that helps to keep teeth and gums healthy by removing plaque, as well as effective stain removal which helps to brighten teeth and restore them to their natural whiteness”, she added.
When it comes to keeping your teeth gleaming, you don’t just have to look to traditional oral care products.
Dr Kinsella explained that there are alternatives and highlighted that keeping an eye on your diet can help.
She said that strawberries are actually a natural teeth whitener.
“Strawberries contain malic acid which is actually a natural tooth whitener. Obviously don’t go too hard on the strawberries, and don’t rub them on the teeth or keep them against the enamel for too long, but a healthy amount of them can help with whitening!
“In the same vein, apples are a great way of cleaning the teeth (in some form!) as long as not eaten too aggressively.
“The rough edges of crispy food like apples can help to remove bacteria from the teeth.”
While these popular fruits can help, Dr Kinsella said there are some food and drinks that can make your teeth worse.
Health issues like diabetes, oral cancer, anaemia and some eating disorders can also cause damage to the tooth enamel and oral health
Dr Hannah Kinsella
She highlighted: “Coffee, tea and red wine can quickly cause yellow or brown stains to form, so small things like being aware of avoiding these drinks if possible, or drinking these through a straw may help to keep teeth white and avoid stains.
“The nicotine in smoking can also stain teeth so it goes without saying to avoid cigarettes too for whiter teeth.”
For most people, keeping an eye on what we put into our bodies will help with teeth whitening.
However, Dr Kinsella said that people who suffer with certain health conditions will likely also be more prone to yellow teeth.
She added: “Something most people don’t know is that health issues like diabetes, oral cancer, anaemia and some eating disorders can also cause damage to the tooth enamel and oral health, which can result in yellow teeth.
“Always seek help from a professional if you are experiencing any of these, and your teeth will benefit too.”
VISIT YOUR DENTIST
Dr Kinsella said that one of the best ways to keep on top of your oral health is to see your dentist every six months.
“They will be able to talk to you all about the colour of your teeth if you’re not seeing any improvement with your own dental health.
“You can always consider professional teeth whitening, veneers or composite bonding to whiten the teeth artificially.
“If done by a medical professional, the results can be hugely confidence boosting.”
While this might be tough due to a backlog caused by the pandemic, Dr Kinsella said you can always consider at home whitening, but added that brushing and flossing twice daily, as well as drinking enough water each day would also help keep teeth healthy.