There are plenty of occasions where you’d want a gorgeous smile. Birthdays, weddings and graduations are just a few of the celebrations in which you should beam confidently. When looking back on photos, you might feel so much happier knowing you smiled with your whole heart instead of hiding it away.
Luckily, there are quite a few ways you can boost your grin. You should love your smile no matter what it looks like, but you can make it even better with simple tasks and lifestyle changes.
- Drink Water
Water doesn’t leave stains like other liquids, nor is it bad for your health. It can help free your mouth of any food debris left in it, and it’s the best liquid option for your teeth by far. Sugary drinks can increase the rate of tooth decay, while water can contain the fluoride you need to promote healthy teeth.
Make sure to drink tap water if you want a dose of fluoride. Because it occurs naturally in tap water, it’s easy to get the recommended amount to protect your teeth. You should be aware of the levels of fluoride in your water, though. Too much isn’t a good thing, but too little of it can lead to weaker teeth and more cavities.
- Quit Smoking
In addition to being bad for your lungs, smoking can impact your smile by staining your teeth. If you’re smoking often enough or don’t tackle the stains when you can, the pigments can go deeper and root permanently on your teeth.
Smoking can also give you fine lines around your mouth. Procedures such as injecting Botox can help reduce these wrinkles. If you don’t want to undergo a process, quitting smoking now is the best way to reduce the appearance of those lines.
- Improve Your Overall Health
Consider your overall health when looking for a way to improve one area of your body. Taking proper care of yourself means you’ll be able to devote more attention to your teeth.
You’ll also likely feel happier, healthier and more confident in yourself if you focus on more than just your teeth. Adopt healthy habits, like exercising and eating right, and you’ll find that improved oral health will follow.
- Watch What You Eat
While sugar is a definite food group to avoid if you want an effortlessly beautiful smile, plenty of other substances can affect your teeth, too. Salty snacks can stick to your teeth. Since there are a lot of starches in processed foods, you’ll likely find more plaque buildup if you eat them constantly.
Fibrous foods can increase your saliva production, which in turn protects your teeth. Eating foods that are higher in fiber can keep your teeth cleaner and, potentially, whiter. After snacking on any kind of food, make sure you brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water to rid yourself of anything that remains.
- Use the Right Toothbrush
Make sure the toothbrush you use daily is optimized for your teeth. Soft bristles are a great option because you don’t want too much force to affect your tooth enamel and gums. Buying an electric or angled brush can guarantee you can clean your teeth thoroughly.
Many electric toothbrushes have settings for whitening or sensitive teeth. However, they can be expensive, so you might want to opt for an angled brush if you’re on a budget. Make sure the bristles are firm enough to remove debris and plaque from your teeth yet soft enough to treat your enamel and gums with the care they need.
- Try at-Home Whitening
Choosing a whitening toothpaste might be the most effective way to treat yellow teeth or stains on a budget. While you have to use it often to work, you should ensure it’s not too abrasive on your teeth. Toothpaste that is too abrasive will break down your enamel, which leaves your teeth vulnerable.
At-home whitening kits can also help you achieve a flawlessly white smile. Different kits may require various steps. Some may include whitening strips you leave on your teeth, while others might require you to use gel. Whichever you choose, make sure to follow the directions to avoid weakening your teeth while whitening them.
- Go to Regular Checkups
Make sure to visit your dentist regularly. Periodic cleanings can help you keep a benchmark on your oral health and identify any problems before they escalate. Most insurance plans cover basic cleanings and some treatments, so it could be in your best interest to schedule an appointment sooner rather than later.
You should visit your dentist at least twice a year to keep up with your regular health checkups. Depending on your personal needs, you may have to go more frequently to maintain the smile you love. Routine cleanings mean you shouldn’t have to worry about something out of your control happening inside your mouth.
- Limit Alcohol Intake
Wine, along with coffee and tea, has the potential to stain your teeth. Stains can be challenging to remove, but you shouldn’t see much of a problem if you keep your alcoholic intake in check. Staining liquids can be mitigated by using a straw. It can also slow down tooth decay because the liquid won’t be touching your teeth if you do it correctly.
- Use the Right Makeup
If you’re worried about yellow teeth ruining your night out, consider wearing lipstick with pink or blue undertones. These colors will make yellow less apparent, so your teeth will appear white even if you might have some discolored areas.
If drawing attention to your teeth in general makes you squeamish, make up for it by playing up other features. Maybe you can add more color to your cheeks, or perhaps you can create a gorgeous eye look that will bring people’s attention elsewhere on your face.
- Keep up With Your Hygiene
Brush and floss your teeth daily, if not more than that. You should brush your teeth after you eat a meal. If your toothbrush and toothpaste aren’t available to you after you’ve eaten, consider rinsing your mouth out with water to remove any food debris that’s been left behind.
Keep up with your daily oral hygiene, and you’ll find it’s an easy habit to stick to over time. As long as you work toward it every day, you can follow your routine without even thinking about it.
Smile With Confidence
No matter who you are, your smile is one of the most extraordinary things about you. It draws people in and conveys when you’re happy. Treat your mouth right, and you’ll have a grin that lasts for years. Ensure you care for your teeth and gums correctly, like using the right toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste, and you’ll gain the confidence you need to beam at the world.
