A Few Handy Hints to Make Your Smile Look Brighter and Whiter

Fri, 1 June 2012 8:19AM

One thing we all notice with celebrities on the red carpet is their piercingly bright choppers grinning from their lacquered red lips. Most, of course, are the work of veneers or teeth whitening and brightening treatments. Since the majority of us mere mortals don’t really have the option (or the allowance) to partake in such methods, there are more than a few ways which we can use simple beauty tricks to get our pearly whites looking something a little like this Primpettes:

• When deciding which bright lipstick shade to bust out choose a pink or red with blue undertones to make your teeth appear whiter, which counteracts yellowing teeth and downplays the appearance any discolouration.
• The majority of us can’t survive without our skim latte in the morning, so I’m not going to say cut it out totally. That would be cruel. But try and make an effort to try and reduce the amount of other caffeinated drinks you consume, including soft drink, instant coffee and black tea. Because of its highly pigmented colour, the caffeine in these drinks can lead to permanent stains on your teeth. Other than regular brushing, another method to prevent marks is sipping your drink through a straw (which might not sound so appealing when it comes to coffee or tea), but try it with your soft drink, as it reduces the amount of liquid that comes in to contact with your teeth.
• Not to sound like your dentist here, but flossing is extremely important when it comes to getting whiter, brighter teeth. Once you have the build-up of plaque on your teeth, it attracts stains around the edges, leaving a rather unsightly discolouration. So flossing morning and night, or as often as you see fit, minimises the chance of build-up occurring.
• Use a whitening toothpaste like Colgate MaxWhite ONE Ice, $5.99, from supermarkets, which promises whiter teeth in just seven days.
• A sun-kissed, bronzed complexion can also make your teeth look brighter. Choose your favourite shade of bronzer, preferably one without shimmering golden flecks as this can draw attention to yellow. My number one bronzing tip that I’ve picked up is to apply it in the shape of the number 3, or two C’s if you prefer. Begin in the centre of your forehead and sweep it under your cheekbone and then continue along softly on your chin. Then, add a little illuminator along your high points to give your skin that little extra glow.
• Make an appointment to see your dentist every six months – and ensure that you actually do attend! Having your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis is extremely important, as it gets down to those hard-to-reach areas that we might miss with our cleaning and flossing.

Tell me Primpettes, do you have any tips for making your teeth look whiter?

Have you had your teeth whitened? Or do you use a whitening toothpaste?

Hayley x

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: colgate, dentist, floss, makeup, teeth, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, white teeth