Is it ever OK to brush your teeth with hot water? Top dentist reveals his tips for a stunning smile

CARING for your teeth is so important for your oral health, but it can be hard to know where to start.

There is so much conflicting advice that even just brushing your teeth every day can be a bit confusing, so The Sun asked an expert to get to the bottom of one burning question: Should you ever brush your teeth with hot water?

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Celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques, who is known as "The King of Smiles" for his work helping celebs getting their pearly whites, said that while cold water is the most usual way to brush your teeth, you might want to try warm water if you've got sensitive teeth.

The London based dentist said: "Cold is the normal type of water to use when brushing your teeth as it has that refreshing and clarifying feeling, although warm water can be good if you have sensitive teeth (as the cold affects teeth). "

But Dr Marques added that you should probably avoid using very hot water when you brush.

He said: "Very hot water can however damage the bristles of your toothbrush in the long term, as well as the added risk of burning your mouth."

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To keep your smile looking as stunning as possible, Dr Marques has shared his top tips for brushing your teeth:

1. Use an electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes are the most thorough method of cleaning and stop you from brushing too hard because they do the movements and pressure for you!

2. Brush twice daily

Make sure you brush for two to three minutes, once in the morning and once in the evening. Any more and you can wear the teeth away, but any less the teeth and gums may suffer.

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3. Perform interdental cleaning

Ensure you are cleaning between the teeth at least once a day. You can use interdental brushes or electric flossers.

4. If you're manual brushing, do it right

If you do use a manual brush, make sure that your brush using small circular motions at a 45-degree angle pointing towards the gum to ensure no areas are missed.

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5. Brush with a medium hardness of pressure

It’s really important not to brush too hard because this can wear your tooth enamel away. But on the other hand, if you brush too gently you won’t remove the plaque.

6. If your gums bleed continue to brush them

They will eventually heal and change from being inflamed and bleeding to being healthy and pink.

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7. Use a mouthwash after brushing

Use a non-alcoholic fluoride containing mouthwash. This is far better than rinsing with tap water which washes the toothpaste and fluoride away!

8. Rinse with coconut oil

Coconut oil is great as it removes plaque and toxins from between the teeth.

9. Use a natural whitening paste

If using a whitening toothpaste ensure it is 100% natural. I highly recommend my Super Strong Teeth Whitening Paste as it contains calcium carbonate and silica for a natural experience.

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10. Visit your dentist

See your dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning because you cannot remove the scale (tartar/calculus) yourself once it hardens.

Celebrity Dentist, Dr Richard Marques is known as ‘The King Of Smiles.’ For more information on Dr Marques and his London based dental practice please see

Recently, researchers claimed that a crooked smile is a sign of stress in the first three months of life, while scientists have also claimed that the number of teeth you've lost can determine how long you will live.