Dentist reveals the two common brushing mistakes that turn your teeth yellow

A leading dentist has revealed the common mistake that causes many of his patients to end up with discolored, yellow teeth. 

In a warning issued to the public by Dr Ferakh Hamid, a UK-based dentist with more than 20 years in the industry has urged people to ensure they are properly wetting their brushes. 

Applying toothpaste straight on to your teeth without enough water as a lubricant is a leading cause of stained teeth, he said.

He also warned of another regular contributor to the problem – brushing too soon after eating or drinking acidic foods, like tomatoes and orange juice.

‘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, the head of Aesthetique Dental Care in the UK, said.

‘Dry brushing might seem good for getting rid of surface stains at first, but without water, toothpaste doesn’t spread well.’

If you’ve just eaten acidic foods – like citrus, tomato or soda – your teeth might be too weak to get the benefits of brushing. Your teeth are covered in a protective layer, called enamel. 

Acidic foods can eat at your enamel, so if you brush right after they’ve weakened teeth, you might move the acid around your mouth more and not get the benefits of brushing, Dr Hamid said. Brushing right after eating acidic foods ‘reveals the yellower layer beneath and makes your teeth look more yellow,’ he said. 

Other dentists, like Columbia University’s Dr Ezzard Rolle, whose an assitant professor of dental medicine, agree with Dr Hamid. 

‘We definitely recommend holding off on brushing after consuming anything acidic, whether it’s fruit, soda, juice, or sour candy,’ he said in a university press release. 

However, not everyone agrees with Dr Hamid on dry brushing. 

Adding water to the toothbrush softens the bristles too much, making them less effective against plaque, Dr Michael Formenius, a dentist based in Dubai, wrote in an online Q&A. 

For that reason, Dr Formenius said he recommends dry brushing to his patients.  

But Dr Hamid said that the softening of the bristles can actually be a bonus in terms of dental health. 

‘When you wet the bristles, they soften up. This means when you brush, it’s gentler on your gums and teeth, helping to avoid any irritation or damage,’ he said. 

Wetting the toothbrush before you brush makes it a more comfortable brushing experience Delta Dental, the largest dental insurance provider in America, said in Q&A.

However, they wrote, the wetness of your brush matters much less than how frequently and well you brush your teeth. 

In order to get your pearly whites perfectly clean Dr Hamid said that you should make sure to brush your teeth and for two minutes twice a day. 

You should also clean your tongue once a day and visit your dentist regularly. 

‘Keeping up with these steps will help prevent dental problems and keep your mouth feeling great,’ he said.