Rotten British teeth are the laughing stock of the world, TV doctor says

We must end this tendency in Britain to tolerate "brown, foul teeth", Dr Chris van Tulleken says – or suffer the consequences

British people are too tolerant of bad teeth and should start shaming each other, a television doctor has said.

Dr Chris van Tulleken said Britain has become "internationally renowned" for having "really lousy" teeth.

While having stains and decay is frowned on in America and other countries, "it doesn't really bother us" in the UK, he said.

The result is much worse oral hygiene than elsewhere in the world, he concluded, with a both "subtle and very strong" negative effects on overall health.

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"In the past 50 years, the sugar and acid content of what we consume has increased dramatically, and we can see that impact on the nation’s teeth," Dr van Tulleken said.

"In the UK we’re OK with brown, foul teeth, it doesn’t really bother us, while in America it’s very socially unacceptable. And that means we tolerate much higher levels of decay."

His comments, made in the Radio Times, come amid a debate overwhether there should be a tax on sugary food and drinks. Dentists say that alongside fuelling obesity the prevalence of products high in sugar meant tooth decay was the foremost cause of hospital admissions among children.

_{People with good teeth tend to be more successful, Dr van Tulleken said}

Mick Armstrong, chairman of the British Dental Association accused food producers of "upping the dose" of sugar in their products "to aid bottom their line".

Dr van Tulleken argued that the issue of tooth decay could also be addressed by greater social pressures and attention on oral hygiene.

He said the findings from a two-part documentary to be broadcast showed "how little doctors know about a part of the body that massively affects overall health".

"Even if you brush your teeth correctly for two minutes twice a day, you will not be able to fully reverse the effects of a bad diet."

He advised against brushing within an hour of eating as it removes too much enamel and said it was better to avoid rinsing with water at all, to allow fluoride to remain in the mouth longer.

Because the mouth is acidic for roughly 40 minutes after eating, snacking was to be avoided. The best snacks would be fibrous vegetables such as cucumber, celery and carrots, which act as "Mother Nature’s mouthwash".

Peppermint tea should be preferred to red berry fruit tea, which is very high in acid, and fizzy lemon drinks avoided as they have "the same acidity levels as stomach acid".

Parents should use a two-minute timer when children brush their teeth and be taught to brush every surface, especially the back teeth as these are often missed.

dan.hyde@telegraph.co.uk