A dentist is warning Britons about a simple mistake he believes could be wreaking havoc on people's oral health.
Dr Sahil Patel said he repeatedly sees his patients brushing their teeth wrong and has issued advice on avoiding errors.
According to the dentist one of the biggest mistakes is wetting your toothbrush before adding toothpaste.
He said: "If you do this, you're diluting it.
According to the dentist one of the biggest mistakes is wetting your toothbrush before adding toothpaste
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"Toothpaste already has the right amount of moisture.
"If it's wet, it makes it foam up faster and makes you spit it out sooner."
Dr Patel, founder of Marylebone Smile Clinic in London, added: "Often people hold their brush with a fist.
"You shouldn’t feel like you've had a scrub against the teeth, that’s too much.
"If the bristles splay against the tooth, it’s not doing a good job.
"Bristles should be straight against the teeth and you should have a soft touch."
Dr Patel also explained that brushing teeth is better than flossing, adding: "The bristles that clean between the teeth can get to corners and tricky areas that the toothbrush can't get to to clean our plaque.
"This makes them more effective than floss and they come in many shapes and sizes to ensure a good fit."
Dr Patel explained that brushing teeth is better than flossing
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When it comes to the order in which to clean your teeth, Dr Patel recommends working back to front.
"The back is often the hardest part to clean, so I'd recommend starting there first," he said.
"If you start at the front and do the back last, you're more likely to stop and put your brush down, missing the back or not cleaning the back properly."
He also said one decently-done clean a day is better than two half jobs. "It's quality over quantity," he added.
"I'd rather someone brushes once a day well, rather than twice a day slap dash.
