Daily Mail - UK - How taking SELFIES while brushing your teeth could lead to a brighter and whiter smile

Lance Vernon is a professor of dentistry based in Cleveland, Ohio

Oral hygiene can prevent gum disease and protect against tooth decay

Taking pictures while brushing can help to learn new oral hygiene tricks

Technique should then be assessed by an oral hygienist or a dentist  

Teeth have been big news lately. 

First, there was the issue of whether flossing really helps lower the risk for tooth decay and gingivitis.

And now, questions about how often we really need to get dental X-rays have made the news.

The bottom line is that, clinically, these are complex issues that can't easily be reduced to a simple soundbite.

Maybe it's time to take a step back and talk about something we can all agree on – toothbrushing.

As a dentist, educator and clinical researcher, I was involved in a very small study, conducted in India, that examined whether taking a smart phone video selfie might help people learn to brush their teeth in a more effective manner.

Well, can it help? Short answer: Maybe. Longer answer: It's complicated, too..........................