Many of us are careful when it comes to keeping our teeth clean and healthy. Regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups are vital for preventing decay, cavities and gum disease.
However, there are some common mistakes we could be making that could actually be stripping the enamel from your teeth.
According to one expert, these could not only cause your smile to yellow, but also make our teeth more susceptible to cavities and decay, while also increasing our tooth sensitivity.
Dentist Dr Surina Sehgal took to social media platform TikTok to share a warning to viewers.
Speaking to her more than 100,000 followers she revealed three common habits that could be damaging to our teeth.
Her first piece of advice concerned the type of toothbrush you use.
“Don’t use a manual toothbrush,” she said. “It’s so common to over-scrub and brush too hard.
“This aggressive brushing will actually wear down the nice white enamel layer and expose that yellow dentine layer underneath.”
Dr Surina also urged people to avoid snacking where possible, explaining that every time we consume food our mouth goes into an “acidic state”.
She said: “The more times you eat in a day, the more your teeth are under acid attack.
“This can erode your white enamel layer and expose that yellow dentine layer underneath.”
The third habit that could cause teeth to yellow is drinking fizzy drinks without a straw.
Without a straw your teeth are exposed to high levels of acidity.
Dr Suinra added: “If you use a straw, you limit the contact between your teeth and the drink and will cause less enamel erosion.”
To protect teeth from decay, the NHS recommends you:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss between your teeth
- Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through
- Get children into a teeth-cleaning routine
- Straighten crooked teeth with braces
- Have regular dental check-ups.
You should also cut down on sugar and follow a healthy lifestyle, the health body says.
It advises: “Have a healthy lifestyle, including eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol and sugar intake.
“It’s good for your whole body, including your teeth, gums and mouth.”