A new study by University College London unveiled that best brushing way is still unknown. Dental associations and toothpaste companies do advice on how one should brush. But it has been found that their advice is 'unacceptably inconsistent'.

For the study, researchers evaluated the brushing advice given by dental associations in 10 different countries. They also looked at brushing advice given by toothpaste and toothbrush companies and advice mentioned in dental textbooks.

After assessing the suggestions given by all of them, researchers reached at a conclusion that no advice of any association, company or dental textbook is matching with each other. Aubrey Sheiham, emeritus professor of dental public health at UCL, was of the view that public should be aware of the best method of brushing their teeth.

Most common suggestion for brushing teeth is to brush in back and forth motion, so that food particle does not remain stick with teeth. But, no large-scale study has unveiled that this method is more effective than basic scrubbing.

"If people hear one thing from a dental association, another from a toothbrush company and something else from their dentist, no wonder they are confused about how to brush", affirmed Sheiham, senior author of the study.

Prof Sheiham suggested that people should brush their teeth in a gentle and simple horizontal motion. To get to the dental plaque, the brush should be at a 45 degree angle. It has also been suggested that people should hold their brush with a pencil grip. Using this method, people would avoid brushing too hard.