Nothing beats a smile! Yes, hair, make and style are important, but a perfect smile? There’s nothing better! With all the gimmicks out there, many people fall into the spending trap when it comes to their teeth: professional whitening, cosmetic dentistry, drugstore whitening products…
Not to say that none of those options mentioned above work, but they can become extremely pricey. Luckily, if you take care of your teeth, those treatments shouldn’t be required. And let’s get real for a second: taking care of your teeth should be a priority! Below are a few tips that will help keep your teeth lookin’ good and your gums healthy:
Have a Routine
Brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. This should be happening at least twice a day! All three are essential when it comes to having a great smile. They’re great for your gums too! When it comes to brushing, I highly recommend using an electric toothbrush. They get to all the parts that you might forget if you brush manually. I have a friend that is a dental hygienist and she recommends them as well.
After brushing, floss your teeth and finish off the routine with a good mouthwash. I like the alcohol free mouthwashes best.
Watch Your Intake of Staining Foods
Many of our favorite things aren’t good for our teeth: coffee, red wine, and sugar all have bad effects. Sugar causes cavities, while coffee and red wine cause stains. Unfortunately, if you’re a daily coffee drinker, whitening toothpaste and drugstore treatments will only do so much. That’s why you really need to think about the things you’re eating. I personally drink my coffee with a straw so it doesn’t touch my teeth too much.
If you can’t get the stains out on your own, Cosmetic Dentistry might be a must.
Chew Gum
I love gum. It prevents me from snacking and I love the minty fresh breath it leaves me with. Chewing gum after meals is also a great way to protect your teeth, especially if you’re unable to brush your teeth then and there. Chewing gum after meals is also great for your gums! Scientists have even proven that this helps to keep the mouth healthy. Just make sure you’re chewing sugar-free gum, otherwise you’ll be causing more harm than good.
Get Regular Dental Check-Ups
Let’s face it, not everyone likes to visit the dentist. It can be costly as well, but don’t let that prevent you from going. According to Colgate, we should all be going to the dentist twice a year. That way, you can help correct issues (if any) ASAP. If you are pregnant, you should probably visit a little more regularly too. Pregnancy can really affect your teeth and gums.
Personally, I really want to try teeth whitening. Unfortunately, I have very sensitive teeth, and I’ve heard that teeth whitening can cause tooth sensitivity, so it makes me hesitant to try. I don’t want to make my sensitivity worse! I have noticed extremely pricey teeth whitening devices at places like Sephora that claim they don’t cause sensitivity, but I think I’m going to go to a pro for my first time.
Have you ever had your teeth whitened? If so, tell me about your experience in the comments below!
