Practical tips to help enhance your smile

Smile an everlasting smile

Smiles come in many different shapes and sizes and so do teeth. Even the tiniest, far from perfect smile is, however, hugely enhanced by a set of pearly white teeth. If yours is not, don’t despair. There are ways and means both natural and artificial to remedy the problem and help enhance your smile.

Look after your teeth

Scheduling regular visits to your dentist is the first and most important step in looking after your teeth. Regular dental cleanings are just as important. The rest, set out below, is common knowledge.

• • Floss first and then brush your teeth regularly

• • Replace your toothbrush regularly

• • Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper, not your toothbrush, to remove bacteria

• • Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash to prevent drying out the tissues in your mouth and making them more susceptible to bacteria

• • Don’t chew on ice or other frozen foods that may chip and break teeth.

Keep your teeth white and bright

There are both natural and more artificial but professional ways in which to whiten teeth. Over-the-counter chemical teeth whiteners come in many forms such as toothpastes, gels, rinses, strips and trays. Many work well over the short term but the results often don’t last and overuse can lead to other serious issues such as toothache, gum irritation and teeth becoming translucent over time.

Natural options include the following:

• • Eat a healthy, bone and teeth enhancing calcium-rich diet and foods that are firm or crisp such as apples, raw carrots, celery, cauliflower, nuts and popcorn. Eat cheese as it contains casein and whey protein that reduce demineralisation and therefore help keep tooth enamel in tip top form.

• • Brush teeth immediately after drinking red wine, colas, dark juices, gravies, coffee and black tea to prevent staining; or eat an apple.

• • Stop smoking.

• • Clean and whiten your teeth with coconut oil. Brush on or apply after brushing or simply put a spoonful in your mouth and swish it between your teeth for five to 20 minutes. Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it’s great for your gums too!

• • Gargle with apple cider vinegar to help remove stains, whiten teeth and also kill bacteria in your mouth and on your gums. A word of warning: acids can, over time, remove the enamel on your teeth so after using apple cider, brush your teeth with a regular non-fluoride toothpaste or rinse your mouth out really well after gargling.

• • Some reports claim that lemon or orange peel or mashed up strawberries wiped on the teeth will also help clean and whiten teeth. Do rinse well afterwards.

Professional options include teeth whitening systems and products, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures such as tooth bonding and porcelain veneers. They are more successful and last longer. Although more costly, they are well worth the expense. Not only will they help whiten teeth but they will also help mask a variety of other dental imperfections that may spoil your smile.

Make-up tricks

If all else fails or is too expensive, grab your make-up boxes, ladies, and try these tricks:

• • Avoid lipsticks with yellow undertones. Rather use berry, medium coral or light red coloured ones or those with blue undertones.

• • Apply a lip liner and gloss on the lips and a light concealer around the outer border of the lips to make lips appear fuller and teeth seem whiter.

• • Choose cooler shades of eye make-up such as purples and greens or blue eye liner to help deflect any yellow from the teeth.

 

Sources

Dental care for a beautiful smile. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-care-smile-10/teeth-whitening
Six ways to naturally whiten your teeth. Retrieved from: http://draxe.com/6-ways-to-naturally-whiten-your-teeth/
Ten tips for healthy, whiter teeth. Retrieved from: http://www.rd.com/health/beauty/10-tips-for-healthy-whiter-teeth/
Walansky, A. Six beauty tips to make your smile look brighter. 2014. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/makeup-tricks-for-whiter-teeth