Three Easy Ways to Take Your Smile From Dull to Divine

When you meet someone, what are the first physical things that you notice about them? You probably notice their stature, their handshake, their hair, their clothes, and, of course, their teeth. A smile can be worth a thousand words (or so they say), and a nice set of radiant teeth helps a smile right along. It’s easy to get into a simple teeth-cleaning routine; you brush your teeth once in the morning when you wake up and once more in the evening before bed and, BAM! Clean teeth. Here’s the thing, though- your teeth may feel clean, but if you really want those noshers to sparkle, you’re going to have to invest a bit more time and effort into them. This doesn’t mean that expensive, in-office whitening procedures are necessary, either. Here are a few easy and inexpensive tips for getting your teeth noticeably whiter:

#1: Cut back on certain foods and beverages.

While there are certain foods that can actually help to keep your teeth nice and clean (apples, citrus fruit, dairy products), others may stain your teeth that lovely yellowish hue. While it’s probably not feasible to cut these things out from your diet altogether, aim to cut back on darkly pigmented foods and beverages such as tomato sauces, soy sauce, red wine, and coffee. Also, you should try to avoid guzzling energy drinks, as the high acid content in them can potentially erode your teeth, leaving them dull and stained.

#2: Make sure to swap out your toothbrush when necessary.

Once your toothbrush’s bristles are worn down, they are no longer effective at cleaning your teeth properly. Furthermore, the more you use a toothbrush, the more germs it collects (as many as ten million on a single brush head. I know- gross.). Manhattan-based dentist, Dr. Glossman, says, “replace a toothbrush every three months, or as soon as you see the majority of the bristles begin to bend and look worn down”.

#3: Become friendly with dental floss.

Flossing is pretty much an insurance policy for your toothbrush. While brushing can remove most of the surface gunk and spare food that you’ve been collecting on your teeth, flossing can get all the stuff that is stuck up in hard-to-reach spots between your chompers. A lack of flossing can lead to an excess of plaque and proteins left behind by your saliva, causing discoloration and potentially gum disease, as well. Aim to floss once each day in order to keep your pearly whites clean, healthy, and sparkling.

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