Claiming Your Smile Back

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

There isn’t anything as heartwarming as a big smile. It is something that we all do. We smile for photos, having giggle fits with our friends and families, and we greet our children with our pearly whites as they run towards us from the school gates. 

So it makes sense that we want to make the most of our smile for as long as possible.  Here are some ways to claim your smile back, and make sure it is something you’re never shy to show. 

Hygiene

There is nothing worse than giving a big beaming smile, only to find later that you had a wedge of spinach in there. Brushing and flossing daily, and using mouthwash is the easiest way to help take care of your teeth for as long as possible. We all need a little extra help with our teeth from time to time, which is where having a good dentist like https://bestdentistinhouston.com/blog/wisdom-tooth-pain/ is ideal. 

Most people don’t brush their teeth for as long as they should, because busy people try to do things as quickly as possible. If you struggle with knowing how long two minutes is, then set a timer on your phone, so you really make the most of the brushing. 

Whiten

Coffee, red wine, and many other foods can leave our teeth a little bit stained. Those stains can have an impact on how you feel about your teeth, and the chances of you smiling become less. There are several whitening treatments that your dentist might recommend to you. 

Whitening kinds of toothpaste can help lift many of the stains from your teeth, and combat any future ones from happening. Sometimes professional whitening treatments are the best idea, they last the longest and are done by a professional. 

Lips

Having cracked, dry, or peeling lips can make it painful to smile. Chapped lips are pretty common in the winter months, and more so with people who lick their lips often. Luckily there are lots of things you can do to help your chapped lips. Make a gentle exfoliating lip scrub with olive oil and sugar, and a little bit of honey can give moisture while removing dead skin. Making your own lip scrub is a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive store solutions, and it will always be fresh and ready to use. Keep up the good work by making sure that you apply lip balm or chapstick every few hours. Medicated balms are usually a good option if you have chronically chapped lips. Most people lose their balms and chapsticks, so it might be a good idea to have some in your car, handbag, and more. 

Colors

If you are a firm lover of lipstick, then the chances are you have a range of colors, and some might even be your ‘go-to.’ There are a few shades of lipstick that can make your teeth appear more yellow. True red with blue undertones look stunning but have the ability to make your teeth appear whiter. However, not everyone likes a bright pop of color on the lips. 

If you want to make a quick impact with little effort, you can take a gold liner and draw a gentle line under the fullest part of your lip. This will make them look even plumper. 

Here are some lip color choices that can whiter your smile

• Nudes – The ‘my lips but better’ nude shade, you’ll likely find that your lips look plump, glossy, and your smile will look brighter. 
• Raspberry Pinks – darker pinks usually have a blue tone, which will make teeth appear whiter. Even the slightest tint in a lipgloss will work
• Plums – like the true red and the dark pink, they have those darker blue tones and are great in the autumn and winter. 

Satin finishes tend to have more of an impact on the whitening of teeth, so try that before reaching for a matte. 

Breath

This isn’t so much about your smile, but if you feel like your breath isn’t fresh, you will be much more reluctant to smile and enjoy a conversation. If you have been skipping out brushing your tongue, you will be at the mercy of the possibility of bad breath all the time. Bacteria builds up pretty quickly, and even if you don’t notice, the smell will be there. The tongue is very textured and has plenty of crevices for bacteria to hide in. So give your tongue a good brush every day too. As well as that, have some breath mints or gum nearby.