1 To make
yellowish teeth instantly look whiter, use a lipstick with
a bit of blue in it.
2 If teeth are gray, try a warm tone of lipstick like a coral
or rose.
3 Check out the latest at-home bleaching kits available from
your dentist. Some require only an hour of wear a day for
a couple of weeks.
4 For more stubborn stains,
including the type often caused by taking Tetracycline,
ask your
dentist about "power bleaching".
5 Don't assume you have to tolerate
those smile-dimming metal fillings. New and improved ceramic
materials are almost invisible.
6 A straw isn't just for slurping
watered-down diet soda from the bottom of a paper cup. It
can keep stain-causing liquids from touching your teeth.
7 Cracked,
peeling lips accentuate stains, and prominent gums make
your mouth look older. Exfoliate regularly with a washcloth,
toothbrush, or the Body Shop's Lipscuff.
8 De-emphasize a gummy smile
with a neutral lipstick just a shade darker than your lip tone.
9 Fix prominent gums permanently
by having a periodontist sculpt them (usually the gum line
is adjusted) so your teeth look longer.
10 Don't let stress wear down
your smile. About 25 percent of people grind their teeth.
Consult your dentist, who can fit you with a mouth guard.
11 Let a computer show you how
you'd look with straighter, shapelier teeth. Many dentists
now offer custom smile design at no cost.
12 Keeping stains at bay is even
simpler when you drink coffee or hot tea-- just add milk.
13 If your front teeth are slightly
crowded, or your incisors would do Dracula proud, the solution
may be as simple as having your dentist file away a bit of
enamel.
14 A gap that's more Alfred E. Newman than Lauren Hutton can
often be fixed with bonding.
15 Check out high-tech braces.
The newest materials, clear acrylic and tooth colored ceramic,
make them nearly invisible.
16 There's an even newer, faster
way to straighten your smile--veneers.
17 If your gums are seriously eroded, it's easier, quicker,
and less painful than ever to cover exposed roots so teeth
are prettier and healthier.
18 Don't assume a new smile
is beyond your budget. Taking a cue from plastic surgeons,
many dentists now offer installment plans or arrange "smile
loans".
19 In addition to your regular
brushing and flossing, drink lots of water, which stimulates
the production of saliva, your mouth's first defense against
plaque.
20 Forgot your toothbrush?
Chomp an apple, a stick of celery, or a carrot. Crunchy
foods get mouth juices flowing, so they're great natural
cleansers.
21 Pay extra attention to your
gums if you're pregnant. Hormonal changes may predispose
mothers-to-be to early-stage gum disease.
22 Ditto if osteoporosis or
diabetes runs in your family. New research suggests people
with either ailment have a high rate of severe gum disease.
23 CIean your tongue. It's
the best way of beating odor-producing bacteria that collect
there (more than 200 kinds). Use a toothbrush or a plastic
scraper.
This
article was written by Madeline Johnson, March 1999, Health Magazine.