In our quest for the perfect pearly whites, our bathroom cabinets are stocked with whitening toothpastes, floss and mouthwashes.

为了追求一口珍珠般洁白无瑕的牙齿，我们的浴室柜里囤满了美白牙膏、牙线和漱口水。

But when it comes to oral health, a top dentist has revealed our best intentions could in fact be potentially damaging to our teeth.

但是，就口腔健康而言，一位顶级牙医告诉我们，我们良好的意愿事实上可能对牙齿有潜在危害。

Dr Tariq Idrees, dentist and owner of Carisbrook Dental Clinic in Manchester, said millions of people are unwittingly destroying their teeth with everyday habits, they think would be beneficial.

曼彻斯特卡里斯布鲁克牙科诊所的老板、牙医塔里克•伊德莱斯博士说，数百万的人都以为自己每天的习惯是有益的，却在不知不觉中损害着牙齿。

He said electric toothbrushes can prove 'useless' if they are not used correctly, and you can harm your teeth by rinsing¹ too soon with water after brushing, brushing too much, at the wrong times or in the wrong way.

他说如果不正确使用，电动牙刷就“没什么用”，刷牙之后马上用清水漱口、刷牙太用力、在错误的时间或以错误的方式刷牙，都有可能损伤牙齿。

Here, he reveals the ten things which you make think are good for your teeth but are not.

这里他列出你可能觉得有益于牙齿的十件事，但实则不然。

1. Electric toothbrushes

电动牙刷

Electric toothbrushes - yes, this may sound strange but if you are not using the right technique, they can be useless.

电动牙刷——是的，也许听起来奇怪，但如果你方法不对，它们就没什么作用。

With most electric toothbrushes you only need to touch the tooth with the bristles².

使用大多数的电动牙刷，你只需要把刷毛碰到牙齿就行了。

If you push too hard the bristles bend and are not effective.

如果你按压太用力，刷毛弯曲，就没效果了。

Take your electric toothbrush with you and ask your dental hygienist for a demonstration³.

带上你的电动牙刷，让牙医给你做下示范。

2. Whitening toothpastes

美白牙膏

Abrasive⁴ tooth pastes such as bicarbonate or whitening pastes.

那些含有碳酸氢盐或美白成分等有研磨作用的牙膏。

They are abrasive and can wear your enamel⁵ away and in the long-term lead to sensitivity and darkening of your teeth as the enamel wears and the inner amber-coloured dentine becomes visible.

它们都有研磨作用，会磨损牙釉质，长此以往会导致牙齿敏感和发黑，因为牙釉质磨损会暴露出里面黄褐色的牙质。

3. Rinsing too soon with water after brushing

刷牙过后马上用清水漱口

We all use water to clean our teeth but swishing water in your mouth too soon after brushing washes away much of the fluoride with it and minimises your toothpaste's effectiveness.

我们都用水清洁牙齿，但一刷完牙就漱口，就会漱掉很多氟化物，极大降低牙膏的功效。

If you feel the need to rinse⁶ out your mouth after brushing, use a (non alcohol-based) mouthwash.

如果你刷牙之后需要漱口，就用（不含酒精的）漱口水吧。

You shouldn't eat or drink for at least half an hour after brushing your teeth.

刷完牙之后至少半小时之内不能进食或喝水。

4. Brushing your teeth too hard

刷牙太用力

Poor tooth brushing techniques can harm your teeth - if you really scrub your teeth too hard, you will wear the sides of your teeth down, leaving V-shaped defects near the gum margins⁷.

不恰当的刷牙方法会损害牙齿，如果你真的太用力刷牙，就会磨损牙齿边缘，在牙龈缘附近形成V字形缺口。

Also, don't always start brushing the same place.

而且，不要总是从同一个地方开始刷牙。

If you always start on the top right side, that section is going to get the most attention.

如果你总是从右上方开始刷，那个地方就得到最多关注。

Most people get bored as they are brushing, so the areas covered last get the least attention.

大多数人刷着刷着就厌烦了，所以最后刷到的区域得到的关注最少。

Mix-up your brushing technique so all areas are covered adequately.

多使用一些刷牙技巧，这样所有的区域都能得到充分清洁。

You should brush in a circular motion - rather than from side to side.

你应该以划圆圈的方式刷牙——而不是从一端刷到另一端。

5. Mouthwash

漱口水

Alcohol-based mouth washes can be harsh and long-term use has been linked to development of oral cancers.

含酒精的漱口水刺激性较强，长期使用有患口腔癌的风险。

Studies have found that excessive use - three times a day - presents a health risk.

研究发现过度使用漱口水——一天三次，也对健康不利。

6. Flossing

牙线

Again the wrong technique such as a sawing motion can cause damage and recession of the gums.

再强调一次，错误的方法，比如拉锯式的动作，会导致牙齿损伤和牙龈萎缩。

You should slide the floss gently up-and-down between your teeth.

你应该轻轻地在牙缝处上下滑动牙线。

7. Brushing at the wrong times and too much

刷牙时间不当且刷牙太频繁

This can cause damage as well. Do not brush straight after eating citrus/acidic fruits or after wine.

这也能引起损伤。不要一吃完柑橘类（酸性）水果或喝酒后就刷牙。

The tooth enamel is softened⁸ by the acid and brushing straight after will wear the teeth down.

酸性物质会软化牙釉质，立即刷牙会磨损牙齿。

Instead wait for 30 minutes for the acids to neutralise before brushing or even use a fluoride mouthwash to help neutralise the acid.

你应该等30分钟让酸性物质中和后再刷牙，或使用含氟的漱口水来中和酸性物质。

8. Holistic⁹ toothpastes

全效牙膏

They are becoming more and more popular.

它们现在越来越受欢迎了。

However, I see patients using these suddenly developing tooth decay or gum issues.

然而，我看到使用这种牙膏的病人在突然之间就出现了牙齿退化或牙龈问题。

Unfortunately they tend to have little science behind them. If a toothpaste is fluoride free I would not recommend it.

不幸的是，它们往往没有科学依据作支撑。如果牙膏不含氟我是不会推荐的。

Fluoride has been proven without doubt to prevent tooth decay.

氟已被确凿证实可以预防蛀牙。

A holistic toothpaste without fluoride may help with gum disease prevention but not tooth decay.

不含氟的全效牙膏也许有助于预防牙龈疾病，但不能预防蛀牙。

9. Hard toothbrushes

牙刷太硬

Hard toothbrushes can cause excessive wear and recession of the gums.

刷毛硬的牙刷会引起牙龈过度磨损和萎缩。

10. Brushing your teeth for 45 seconds

只刷45秒

Surveys show that as many 43 percent of patients brush their teeth for just 45 seconds.

调查显示，多达43%的牙病患者刷牙只刷45秒。

This is not long enough to give them a proper clean.

这个时间太短，不足以做充分的清洁。

You should clean your teeth for at least two minutes.

你的刷牙时间应该至少是两分钟。