12 Useful Tips to Have a Better Smile in Pictures

Photos tell a story of the past and are a great way of looking back at old memories. If you are insecure about your teeth, you won’t give a broad smile to the camera. Keeping your oral health in check will make it easy to perform mundane tasks such as chewing and talking. It will also give you the confidence to show off your pearly whites during photo sessions and random snaps. Well, here are some valuable tips for that perfect smile.

Hydrate thoroughly

Make a habit of drinking plenty of water to discourage tooth decay and flush leftover food particles from your teeth. Leftover food will stick to your teeth easier if your mouth is dry. We recommend drinking tap water, which contains a healthy dosage of fluoride. Bottled water may not be a good choice as the manufacturers might not be keen on monitoring fluoride levels. It would be best to sip water throughout the day and not wait until you get thirsty.

Schedule a dental checkup at least twice a year

Even though you maintain a regular oral hygiene routine, you still need to see your dentist at least twice a year. Regular dental checkups will help detect serious issues such as cancer early on and prevent them from getting worse. Your dentist will also deep clean your teeth and get rid of accumulated tartar and plaque.

Stop grinding and clenching your teeth

In some cases, clenching and grinding of the teeth are involuntary, and you might not realize how you started this habit. However, clenching puts unnecessary pressure on your teeth and jaws. Grinding your teeth wears down your enamel and increases your likelihood of chipping or cracking your tooth. If you suspect doing either of these things, ask your dentist to give you a night guard to keep you from grinding your teeth further.

Brush and floss your teeth every day

Experts recommend brushing your teeth in the morning and before you go to bed to get rid of plaque on your enamel. It would be best to floss your teeth at least once a day to remove leftover food particles and plaque that is wedged between your teeth. Failure to brush and floss your teeth properly results in periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Never share your toothbrush

If you sleep over at a friend’s house and forget your toothbrush at home, you would rather skip a session or ask them if they have a spare, unused toothbrush. If you need to freshen up, swish a mixture of mouthwash and toothpaste in your mouth for a few seconds to get rid of the morning breath. Sharing toothbrushes facilitates the transfer of bacteria and germs from the other person’s mouth into yours, which is detrimental to your oral health.

Replace missing teeth with dental implants

Smiling with a missing tooth can be quite a challenge. The teeth surrounding the gap might also migrate inwards in a phenomenon known as the domino effect that could change your bite for the worst. For instance, if you are in Mexico, you should schedule an appointment to get dental implants in Cancun and restore your missing tooth. We also recommend seeing a dentist if you have a loose permanent tooth to seek treatment before it comes out.

Get braces if your teeth are crooked

Crooked or misaligned teeth might lower your self-esteem and discourage you from smiling in photos. Crowded teeth are also more challenging to clean and cause more food to be stuck between the teeth. Schedule an appointment with your dentist, who will recommend traditional braces or plastic aligners to straighten your teeth and fix your smile.

Reduce your intake of foods that could stain your teeth

Red wine, coffee, and tea are some of the beverages that could stain your teeth. Fortunately, your dentist could polish the stain off only if the stain has not reached the inner part of your enamel. To keep your smile radiant and bright, avoid beverages that could stain your teeth or drink using a straw to reduce the risk of staining and tooth decay.

Avoid using your teeth to open things

Chewing on pen caps or using your teeth to open bottles is a sure way to crack your teeth. Worst case scenario, you might even lose your tooth in the process. Resist the urge to chew on things that are not food, especially if you focus on a challenging task. It would help if you also used the right tools to open bottles and tin cans instead of your teeth.

Steer clear of sugary foods

Your mouth is home to many types of bacteria, some of which are detrimental to your oral health. Some harmful bacteria in your mouth will digest the sugar in your diet and produce an acid that eats away at your enamel. These bacteria also remove essential minerals from the surface of your enamel in a process known as demineralization. Even though your saliva helps in remineralization, it would be best to keep off sugary treats and carbonated drinks to prevent common dental problems in the future.

Quit smoking

Heavy smoking causes your gums to recede and form significant pockets. Tobacco also stains your teeth, causing you to have an unpleasant appearance. Though your dentist can polish off the stain from cigarette smoke, heavy smoking can cause the stain to penetrate deep into the enamel.

Moisturize your lips

Dry and chapped lips can draw attention away from your beautiful smile. The skin on your lips could potentially crack and start bleeding. An excellent way to have a better smile in photos is to ensure you moisturize your lips with petroleum jelly or a nourishing balm to make your lips look supple. You could also wear lipstick or a lip tint that accentuates your lip shape.

Wrapping up

Your smile is one of the first things people will notice about you. Therefore, you must create a regular oral hygiene routine and stick with it if you want to keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy. We hope this article has helped show you how to improve your smile.