Deep in the midst of the days of incessant social media updates, the frequent "selfie" or group photo-op moment is quite common.
A person's smile is like a welcoming introduction, unfortunately, not everyone is born with immaculate picture perfect smile; however there are a few common tips to help you make the best of what you have.
Brushing You've heard it all throughout your childhood.
Echoes of instructions from your parents, grandparents, dentists, and every toothpaste commercial ever put into production reminds you of the importance of daily brushing.
A good toothpaste will contain baking soda as an active ingredient for extra whitening ability.
Brush twice daily and avoid sugary treats to beat harmful foods from affecting your pearly whites.
A Healthy Lifestyle You are what you eat reins true in more than one area of life.
A high fat, high sodium, high sugar diet will react to teeth more than your waistline.
Sugar increases the chances of tooth decay.
Excessive caffeine and nicotine intake will lead to unsightly stains.
Professional procedures such as a simple scaling and polishing can free your smile of minor stains.
For stubborn discoloration, you may want to consider a professional teeth whitening.
A diet high in fruits and vegetables will give you the necessary fiber and calcium needed to maintain a Kodak smile for the rest of your life.
Vitamin C and iron are also vital minerals in keeping your teeth nice and healthy.
Natural Issues As previously stated, most people are born with some sort of debility in their teeth.
Be it crooked placement, overbite or underbite, although these issues are out of your control, they can be the cause for self-esteem issues.
Braces are the common route for corrective measures.
However, for many reasons, some people may not have had the privilege of having their smile perfected in their years of adolescence.
Having braces as a child is difficult in itself, getting them as an adult can make a person even more self-conscious.
Fortunately, advances in dental technology have paved the way for less invasive alternatives such as Invisalign braces.
Special translucent plastics are molded to correct the wearer's smile in stages.
No one will ever know that you're wearing them.
Protective Measures Maintaining routine dental appointments is the best way to keep your smile at its best.
Your dentist will be able to detect the onset of any decay or potential issues long before you'll ever notice on your own.
Being proactive about taking care of your health is always more effective than attempting to correct the damage once it's done.
Flossing and brushing the tongue and gums are also overlooked by most people.
Acid, bacteria, and plague buildup in these areas will eventually make its way to your teeth, thus brushing the tongue and softly the gums will alleviate plaque buildup.
The body operates as a well-oiled machine, every component must function in perfect harmony with the other.
With that being said, the final tip is to make sure to get a good sleep.
This doesn't have a direct effect on your oral health, but a well-rested person is always ready to flash a big, beautiful smile.