A beautiful smile is often the first thing people see. When first impressions matter, it's time to put your best smile forward. This list ranges from oral hygiene products to cosmetic products that will get your gorgeous mouth the attention it deserves.

For Your Mouth

Whitening Strips or Professional Whitening

If you’re embarrassed of your yellowing teeth, use whitening strips once a day for 30 minutes and you'll see a noticeable difference within just a few days. Results, depending on the brand and quality, will last for around 6 months—so touch-ups will be required. If white strips just won’t do it for you, we recommend getting in to see a dentist. Why? Because they have more intensive and longer-lasting options for teeth whitening such as ZOOM! which is “a common in-office whitening procedure,” according to Hoosier Dental, which results in “dramatically whiter teeth that will last for years.”

Activated Charcoal Powder

If you’re struggling with stains, charcoal is the tool to use. It's safe if you accidentally swallow some and less harsh than bleach. Charcoal is also known to reduce mouth odors. Charcoal works by binding to surface stains and removing them from the tooth's surface when you rinse. They keyword here is surface stains; 123 Dentist explains that “activated charcoal does not change the colour of teeth that are deeply stained or naturally yellowing.” Activated charcoal powder is not a miracle worker; it is a means to lift recent stains and to prevent stains from building up over time.

Electric Toothbrush

Using an electric toothbrush over a manual one has been proven to clean teeth much more efficiently. In one study cited by Consumer Reports, electric brushes reduced plaque by 21% and gingivitis by 11% in individuals that brushed with them consistently for 3 months, as opposed to those who used regular brushes. Of all the different kinds of electric brushes, the ones that appeared most effective were heads with rotating, oscillating brushes. So if you’re looking to really boost the appearance of your teeth and the health of your mouth, electric is the way to go.  

Mouthwash

Using a mouthwash is proven to lead to better overall gum and tooth health. Not only does mouthwash kill bacteria and plaque responsible for halitosis, or bad breath, did you know that it also strengthens your tooth enamel and prevents cavities? Always look for a mouthwash with fluoride and without alcohol to get the best benefits from your mouthwash.

Floss

You've heard from your dentist how important flossing is to your overall mouth hygiene. Flossing between the teeth is important for preventing plaque buildup and yellow stains. If you find it hard to stay motivated to floss, then floss picks are an easy solution for you. They are cheap, they make reaching the spaces between your teeth so much easier (especially the ones in the back of the mouth), and they are easy to carry on-the-go.

For Your Lips

Lip Scrub

Your beautiful, white smile isn't going to impress anyone if you've got crusty, dry lips surrounding it. Using an exfoliating lip scrub followed by a balm or oil treatment will save your dry lips. Adore Beauty says “Excess dead skin and dryness on the lips can also cause premature ageing. If you want a youthful complexion, you need healthy-looking, youthful lips to boot. Hydrating efficiently after a good lip scrub is the best form of anti-ageing care for the lips, aside from sunscreen, of course.” Using a lip scrub regularly will help keep your lips looking plump and youthful for a long time.

Lip Primer

If you’re going out for a night-on-the-town or you have a long hard day of work ahead, then lip primer is your new best friend. It helps the texture of your lipstick stay natural and beautiful, it makes liquid lipsticks feel more comfortable, and plus it gives the vivid color of your lipstick stamina (even after meals and snacks). Be warned: not all lip primers are created equal. Make sure to read the review of a primer product before you purchase.

Red lipstick

There are more shades of lipstick available today than ever before, but we recommend sticking with a sultry red. There’s hardly a look more stunning. To give the illusion that your smile is whiter than it really is, try a blue-based red, a beautiful classic that will have a whitening effect on the appearance of your teeth. If possible, avoid peach-based colors as they will make any yellow hues in your smile stand out.  However, you should also take into account the color and undertones of your skin in order to find a shade that is flattering.

Whether it's a job interview or your first date, try these tips to give your smile that boost it needs. And don’t forget: smile with confidence!

White teeth are an important way to enhance your beauty and demonstrate that you take care of yourself. If you notice that your teeth aren't as white as you'd like, follow these simple tips to help bring out your teeth's natural pearly white color.

Quit Smoking

As if there weren't numerous health reasons to quit smoking, it also turns your teeth yellow, even if you are regularly brushing your teeth. Smoking will undo any work you put into keeping your teeth clean and white, so it's important to stop the habit before starting your teeth whitening regiment. If you have been smoking, it will take a while for the yellowing to fade, so don’t expect immediate results.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling can be used to remove plaque and bad bacteria from your mouth. To oil pull, you place a small amount of oil, usually coconut, in your mouth and swish it around for twenty minutes. The oil essentially pulls the stains out of your teeth, but it could take some time to see drastic effects. The other huge advantage of oil pulling is that it does not hurt your teeth. It won't ruin the enamel on your teeth, and it has actually been proven to help prevent gingivitis.

Teeth Whitening

If you want faster results, teeth whitening can help you get a brilliant smile almost immediately. However, before you get your teeth whitened, you need to make sure that they are healthy. As Markham Dental points out, teeth whitening doesn’t improve your dental health, so your teeth need to be healthy enough to complete the procedure when you start.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has a lot of uses and providing quality teeth whitening is just another one. The acidic properties allow it to kill the bacteria in your mouth that cause stains on your teeth, but you need to be careful not to use too much at once or use it too often. The acidic properties that help remove stains can also cause your enamel to break down, so make sure you dilute it before using.

Healthy Snacks

What you eat can significantly affect the color of your teeth. Processed foods are usually high in acid, which eats at your teeth. Soda and other soft drinks will do the same thing, so it might be a good idea to cut back on sugary drinks. You should also consider limiting the amount of coffee, tea, red wine, and blueberries that you eat, as these have all been shown to contribute to teeth stains.

White teeth allow you to smile more and portray beauty and confidence. Follow these tips so that you can smile at anyone with confidence.