5 Tips for Improving Your Smile

You only have a moment to make a first impression, and that moment is crucial for creating trust, building relationships and developing a business contact. The eyes are the windows to the soul, but it’s your smile that really welcomes people into your personal space and sets them at ease. Even, white teeth are always the goal. That’s what’s portrayed in fashion and the media, used to gauge health and considered to reveal something about your personality. But what if your smile isn’t as bright and shining as you would hope? Here are five tips to improve your smile that you can get started on right away.

First off, make sure you are flossing your teeth on a daily basis. Your dentist probably hounds you about this every time you see him, and for good reason. Flossing takes the plaque off of your teeth, which cuts down the chance you’ll develop gingivitis and cavities. It will keep your teeth healthier for a much larger chunk of your life, while also helping to guarantee that you won’t have any little bits of food hanging around when you flash that winning smile.

Flossing is great, but it won’t take the place of consistent dental care. You’ve got to make sure you go in for a dental cleaning and check up twice each year. Just set it up as part of your routine, so that every six months you’ve already got it on your calendar. With regular cleanings you won’t have to worry about your gums bleeding or receding. When you’re overdue for a cleaning your gums will be swollen and red, which obviously impacts your smile. But that regular meeting with your dental hygienist will also lower your risk of strokes and heart disease, believe it or not.

Now that you’ve got the basics covered it’s time to consider lifestyle choices. Although you might not want to hear it, you’ve got to quit smoking cigarettes. Nothing will impact your bright smile quite as much as smoking. It stains your teeth yellow, and over time can actually stain the enamel itself, becoming permanent. Smoking will hurt your gums as well, reversing a lot of the work your dental hygienist does during those twice yearly cleanings.

You’ll also have to avoid certain drinks if you want a bright smile, specifically tea, coffee and red wine. All three are fine in moderation, but they each darken and eventually stain your teeth. It will start as superficial coloring, but might remain forever if you overdue it. If you simply cannot imagine giving up any of these, consider using a straw instead of just sipping through a glass. This will cut down on the staining, as well as the risk of tooth decay you’ll face with these drinks. You can also swish water around in your mouth after these drinks, so the coffee, tea and wine don’t sit on your teeth for that long.

If you’re desperate to change your smile, you could use a product to whiten your teeth. These whiteners come in all sorts of forms, from gels to strips to toothpastes. Just make sure you research each product and understand which one is right for a particular result. And don’t overuse whitening products. They can erode your teeth over time, forcing you to shell outdental implants in Bismarck when all you wanted was a white smile. The majority of the products out there are safe, however, as long as you follow the directions on the package.