Dentist warns people about the one main mistake they are making that makes their teeth go yellow

A dentist has shared the one common mistake which often leads to yellow teeth, and is easily fixable.

Having discoloured teeth is not something most of us want, with a reported 40 percent of Brits being unhappy with the appearance of their dentals.

According to a 2018 study by Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors - consisting of a 666-person sample size - a whopping 47 percent of them underwent some form of cosmetic surgery like tooth whitening, reports dentistry.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Dr Ferakh Hamid, a UK-based dentist, has revealed a leading cause of stained teeth that is worth looking out for.

Yellow teeth can be a sign of poor dental hygiene which can lead to serious issues (Getty Stock Images)

With 20 years of experience, the head of Aesthetique Dental Care explained why people need to be wetting their brushes.

By applying toothpaste to a dry brush, it can actually cause more harm than good.

If there's not enough water, which acts like lubricant for your teeth, they are more likely to go yellow.

"Brushing your teeth in certain ways, like without water or right after eating acidic foods, might actually make them look less white over time," he told the Daily Mail, with examples of acidic foods and drinks being tomatoes, citrus fruits, meat and alcohol.

"Dry brushing might seem good for getting rid of surface stains at first, but without water, toothpaste doesn't spread well," he said.

Dr Hamid stressed that wetting the bristles can seriously protect your 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."

It's important to keep your teeth healthy (Getty Stock Images)

Dr. Ezzard Rolle, from Columbia University, agreed: "We definitely recommend holding off on brushing after consuming anything acidic, whether it's fruit, soda, juice, or sour candy.

"The reason for that is that when acids are in the mouth, they weaken the enamel of the tooth, which is the outer layer of the tooth.

"After eating or drinking something acidic, I always recommend rinsing with or drinking water, which starts the remineralisation process of the enamel."

When brushing, he also suggested to position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.

Rolle said: “Ideally, you would brush and floss after each meal, but that may not be very realistic for people with busy jobs or hectic schedules.

“So we recommend at least brushing and flossing twice a day, and ideally one of those times will be before bed.”