4 Steps to a Beautifully Brighter Smile
Ever heard the saying
your smile is your best accessory? We can think of some Latinas who rock their's to the fullest like Sofia Vergara and Shakira. Believe it or not, having a stunning smile like these celebs isn't impossible. The only thing holding you back are the food and drinks your teeth come in contact with everyday. It's time you take back control of your smile and get the pearly whites you've always dreamed of with these whitening tips!
By Thalía Ortiz
Stay away from dark food and drinks
Ladies, everyday dark food and drinks are wreaking havoc on your chompers. What sucks is that blueberries, coffee, tea, soda, wine and cranberry juice, just to name a few, fall into this category. Let's be real though, it's unrealistic to give up your morning coffee cold turkey.
The best thing you can do is use a straw so that these stainers don't get all over your teeth. When you drink that glass of wine after a long day of work, swish your mouth out with water after. When you eat or drink something acidic, tooth enamel becomes sensitive to immediate brushing, so hold off for an hour until the enamel hardens again.
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Eat crunchy exfoliators
Mom was right when she said that fruits and veggies are good for you, especially since apples, carrots and celery all have teeth cleaning benefits. Next time, pop one of these into your mouth for a tooth exfoliation as you chew. Think of it as a natural toothbrush. The extra saliva that they bring out also cleans your teeth. Gum has a similar effect because the excess saliva re-builds tooth enamel. Go for one that uses Xylitol as an ingredient to help prevent cavities, a double win!
Use an at-home whitening treatment
Our jaws dropped when we found out that yellow teeth age age you faster than wrinkles, according to findings by dentists and studies. Before you go running off to the dentist for professional whitening treatments, consider trying out at-home whitening system.
Break away from conventional white strips and step up your game with a long term solution, like Iconic Pearl's Brilliant White mouth tray. In a time crunch? In just five minutes you get visibly whiter teeth! After five days of use, you'll start to notice long-lasting professional results. Scared about sensitivity? Don't be, the whitening gel used in the mouth tray contains Enamel-safe ionic technology to protect your teeth against pain.
Our editors also love Opalescence whitening products, a system that you can get from your dentist which contains everything from toothpaste to whitening trays and gels. With so many options to choose from, you'll find a whitening product for any occasion whether it's drinks with your favorite girlfriends or just another Monday at the office. Check out Opalescence's website to find a participating dentist near you.
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Use blue-based lipstick
Getting ready to go on a date soon? It turns out that a gorgeous smile could rank at the top your guy's list of must-haves. A recent survey for Match.com showed that 59% of single men judge women based on the look of their teeth over anything else. It's even more important to women, with 71% who check out teeth in a potential partner.
Before meeting up with that guapo you've been eyeing, get your hands on a brightening lipstick. To minimize yellow stains, slap on a blue-based red or pink shade. This will make a huge difference in bringing out the best tones in your smile.
Related: The Best Bright Lipstick For Your Skintone
Trust us when we say that anything that's beige or brown isn't doing your smile any favors if you already have discoloration. Instead, glam it up with Loreal's Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in Ravishing Red. It packs a major punch of color with moisturizing Vitamin E that's sure to keep your lips smooth and hydrated while cruising the dating scene.
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