They say the eyes are the windows into the soul, but when you first meet someone, for me, the smile is the welcome mat out front that says hello and makes you feel at home. So, it would stand to reason that since that is our first impression to people we meet, we should absolutely strive for the most awesome smile possible.
Here are a few helpful tips that I’ve picked up from my dentist over the years.
Sip don’t slurp. If you are like me; coffee, tea, Diet Coke and all things red wine are your Mommy BFF’s. Go back to your little girl roots and drink those staining drinks through a straw. You may feel silly at first but ask yourself, what is sillier than a grown woman with stained teeth?
Wait a minute or 20. I know that we were all told, when we were wearing braces, to brush our teeth immediately after eating to prevent staining. Guess what? If what you just ate or drank was acidic then you run the risk of permeating your enamel with that acid if you brush immediately. Instead, rinse with water and wait about 20 minutes before brushing.
The electric toothbrush is your friend. Since my trauma that was braces, I developed a nasty habit of brushing the gums right off of my teeth. Seriously, I have been so concerned with dental hygiene that I brush them with such force that nearly all of my teeth have recession.
My dentist recommended using an electric toothbrush to alleviate that issue. No, I didn’t listen and I will probably need another cell transplant for regrowth but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from my mistakes.
Whitening strips are good for your smile. We all want a beautiful bright smile but if up until this point you have been drinking coffee, soda and red wine like a normal person, you probably have some staining. Professional whitening can cost quite a bit.
My dentist told me that if your teeth are just slightly yellowed, the “professional†whitening strips that you buy over the counter can work just as well as having your teeth professionally bleached. It’s something to think about.
How do you keep your smile awesome?
Photo Source: Worldizen
