If asked, most people
would gladly tell you that the very first thing they notice when meeting anyone
for the first time is his or her smile. Not only is it important to smile with
sincerity but it is also essential to boldly show those pearly whites. This is
why it is essential to keep your teeth as white and healthy as possible,
enabling you to offer up a smile sure to dazzle anyone you encounter. There are
just 7 steps to a beautiful smile that can give you
the best first impression
ever.
1. Quit Smoking
Not only is smoking
bad for your health and known to cause any number of diseases and illnesses, it
is also devastating for your teeth. Have you ever seen anyone who has smoked
for any length of time? Their teeth are sure to be that ugly shade of
yellow-brown and even worse, the skin around the mouth also tends to discolor
from smoking. Want to bring those nasty teeth up several shades of white? Quit
smoking!
2. Limit Foods and Beverages that
Stain
Just as smoking
cigarettes is known to discolor your teeth, so too are there some common
beverages that stain the enamel on the upper layers. Coffee, tea, wine and even
grape juice are common culprits but even some foods such as curries and beets
can cause a hard-to-get-rid of discoloration if you are not careful.
3. Drink Plenty of Fresh Water
Instead of those
beverages that are known to contain way, way too much sugar for good oral
hygiene, it is recommended by dentists such as Dr. Russell Cureton DDS, a renowned Salinas
family dentist, that you drink
plenty of fresh water daily. Not only does this help to flush toxins from the
body that can promote tooth decay, but drinking several glasses of fresh water
also helps to keep them clean of any particles of foods left behind even after
brushing.
4. Practice Proper Brushing
Techniques
Speaking of brushing,
there are proper ways to brush your teeth and unless you are careful to follow
a few commonsense rules, you could be doing just as much damage as good. Did
you know that dentists are now recommending that you avoid using abrasive
toothpastes? There was a time when these were thought to literally ‘scrub’ debris
from the surface of your teeth but research and experience have proven that
abrasive toothpastes also scrub the enamel off the surface as well.
5. Floss Regularly
In addition to proper
brushing techniques, it is recommended that you floss regularly. Flossing helps to remove food particles that
lodge themselves in the spaces between your teeth, causing a buildup of
bacteria that leads quickly to decay.
6. Avoid Certain Drugs
There are both legal
as well as illegal drugs that are known to promote tooth decay, the leading
substance is methamphetamine that leads to something often referred to as ‘meth
mouth.’ The highly acidic composition of this illegal street drug quickly
causes the teeth to literally rot out of the mouth but meth is not the only
drug with devastating effects like this. Some often-prescribed pharmaceuticals
are also known to accelerate tooth decay so it is incumbent upon you to learn
the side effects prior to agreeing to take any medication/drug whatsoever.
7. Regular Cleanings and Dental Exams
Finally, it is
recommended that you have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year but if
that is financially unfeasible, then once a year is the bare minimum. A dental
hygienist could be the professional to do the procedure but you should visit
your dentist annually for a thorough exam and perhaps a set of x-rays if
indicated during the exam.
These seven steps to a
beautiful smile should put you on the road to the most winsome smile imaginable
for that all-important great first impression. This may be the only opportunity
you have to impress a potential boss on a job interview or the only chance to
strike up a conversation with that good looking guy at the local club. Take
these steps seriously and soon you’ll be smiling your way to success.
