Next to breathing, smiling is one of the things we do non-stop! Its one of the first things people see when they interact with you. Smiles are one of the most important things that are taken into consideration with friendliness, first impressions, and an overall idea of how well you take care of yourself. So why not increase your money maker with a smile booster or two?

Taking care of your teeth can become expensive at times but it is well worth the cost! From regular cleanings to implants and veneers to teeth whitening, making sure your smile is healthy can be tedious at times.

Researchers found that strangers are more likely to underestimate a person’s age if she is smiling! Also, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), a smile soured by damaged or yellow teeth has the exact opposite effect and tends to make you appear even older than your years. So not only will a lack of smile booster affect your health, but it will also cause you to look OLDER! No one wants that!

But have no fear! These smile booster tips will surely help the process of keeping your teeth sparkling and clean!

Smile Booster Tips!

Maintain your flossing everyday

Basic hygiene is the first smile booster that has to be done at least TWICE a day. Skipping this step will definitely keep you off the path of a vibrant smile.

“It sounds boring, but plain-old basic oral hygiene is where one starts,” says Thomas Connelly, DDS, New York City-based cosmetic dentist and weekly contributor to the Huffington Post.

Dr. Connelly recommends brushing your teeth after every meal — and even packing a toothbrush for an “after lunch” work brush. “Flossing every day will also go a long way in making your smile look good.”

Because even the best toothbrushes and mouthwash can’t reach every crevice between your teeth, proper flossing is a sure way to prevent bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth that, if uncontrolled, make it easier for foods, drinks and tobacco to accumulate and stain your teeth.

2. Increase Your Calcium & Vitamin C Intake

Since a healthy mouth and white smile are so closely correlated, maintaining strong teeth is another way to keep your smile looking bright.

Eating a balanced diet filled with certain teeth-fortifying nutrients will help fend off oral health problems that can detract from a pretty smile, such as tooth decay, erosion, and periodontal disease. 

Calcium is needed to grow and develop both baby and adult teeth and even strengthens your jawbone. If you’re looking for some of the best foods to maintain a strong, healthy bite, go for calcium-rich low-fat and fat-free milk, cheeses, cruciferous vegetables (green leafy vegetables like cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, and cauliflower), and calcium-fortified juices, breakfast cereals, breads, or soy products.

Vitamin C is another nutrient that helps maintain strong teeth by working as an antioxidant to repair tissue and prevent disease-causing bacteria from penetrating the gums, so  veggies like broccoli — will do double duty, since they’re rich in both calcium and vitamin C.

In addition, any crunchy fruits and veggies, like apples and carrots, are good for your teeth, since chewing them increases levels of saliva, which can help protect the teeth from plaque-causing bacteria by breaking down food caught between teeth.

3. Food and Drink Choices

We have all heard of the certain foods that can harm our teeth such as sodas — even diet ones –, sugary foods like gummy/sticky candy, and acidic foods like citrus.

These are harmful because they can weaken tooth enamel and create an opportunity for cavity causing bacteria to thrive. If the bacteria thrives then tooth decay will follow and this is definitely not helpful in the case of maintaining tooth health for that smile booster!

Also some foods and beverages stain the teeth. Beverages such as red wine, tea, and coffee are the biggest culprits. These are some of the popular drinks that we all drink and completely cutting them out is close to impossible. So the best thing you can do is brush and use mouthwash after you consume these. It won’t give the substances a chance to sit on the tooth surface and begin to stain.

4. Professional Bleaching 

Teeth whitening by a skilled dentist is a faster and more effective way to get a white smile than over-the-counter products.

Professional chairside bleaching treatments like Zoom! or BriteSmile use a much higher concentration of whitening ingredients than OTC whiteners and incorporate laser technology that is thought to penetrate teeth and facilitate a deeper whitening effect — and usually only take about one hour.

There are also treatments where you get the first dose of the whitening in office and then you do follow up sessions at home.

However, prices for in-office treatments vary, but can easily set you back $500-1,000. So even though this smile booster is a definite winner in getting that smile brighter it is also costly. But the next smile booster tip can help off-set that if this is not affordable.

5. Do-It-Yourself Whitening

As stated before, getting a professionally done whitening or bleaching can be quite pricey. So there is an alternative that will still get you some nice results without breaking the bank!

Many home whitening kits are sold in Wal-Mart and Target for an average of about $25-$45. Some of these work more effectively than others, one of the recommended ones are the Aquafresh trays. Another way to get a smile booster is to combine the at home kits with a whitening toothpaste.

“The whitening toothpaste removes the external surface stains, whereas whitening strips penetrate the deeper tooth layers to actually bleach the teeth.” according to Dr. Connelly. He recommends the GO SMiLE brand of toothpastes and whiteners.

6. Make-up

Make-up is of course used to enhance the facial features of many but you can also use this great tool to create an illusion of whiter teeth.

“One way to make teeth ‘appear’ brighter instantly is by wearing shades of lipstick that have a blue undertone, as well as makeup, such as bronzer, to darken the skin tone so there is a greater contrast to the teeth,” says Gregg Lituchy, DDS, of Lowenberg & Lituchy of New York.

Lipstick is a top solution to make that smile sparkle. In a way, the lips are a broadcaster of the smile, so adding a pop of color that will contrast with your teeth is a no brainer! The key color is RED! Shades of red from candy apple to a darker more berry-like tone will give that smile booster a run for its money! Stay away from oranges yellow-toned reds!

With these smile booster tips your smile’s wattage should increase greatly! Remember that the basis of all of these are DENTAL HYGIENE! If you have no teeth, you can’t really do any of these!