Get a picture-perfect smile!

There's a month designated for everything nowadays, but this month was new one for me... May is National Smile Month! And considering I'm always working to make my coffee and wine tinted teeth look like they belong on the front page of a celebrity magazine at home WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY. So when I got a few tips from a dentist to make my teeth look great without a treatment or service, I was excited to share these with you. But after I did a little more research on this dentist office, I found out this was no normal dentist and it's possible to get those pearly whites - looking a lot more white at home with a home kit!

First, because I can't keep a secret, I had to share the juicy stuff. After a little Googling I discovered this dentist was in CHICAGO...so immediately, I started to delete her info since I wouldn't be traveling out of state just to do a crown. However, it was the words "SPA" in Mitchell Dental Spa that really peaked my interest. While you get your dentistry, you can get a facial, massage or botox while you are laying horizontal in the chair waiting for your cavity to get filled. BRILLIANT! So the question remains, when are these guys coming to DFW? 

Second, the free way to get your teeth picture-perfect for National Smile Month, check out these great tips: 

A great smile can go a long way when it comes to making a first impression. White, bright teeth and a wide smile convey an air of confidence that is important in any situation, from a job interview to a first date. Teeth whitening procedures are certainly effective, but small daily steps can also be helpful and less expensive.  

1.) WEAR LIPSTICKS THAT CONTAIN A HINT OF BLUE—Blue tones around the mouth can make teeth appear whiter, so when shopping for new makeup, consider red lipstick with blue undertones.  These will make your smile appear brighter by offsetting any yellow coloration in the teeth.  Coral and orange based lipsticks can make the teeth appear more yellow, so avoid these if you are self-conscious about your pearly whites.

2.) SNACK ON CRUNCHY FRUITS AND VEGGIES –Mildly abrasive fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots or celery not only provide the body with essential nutrients, but also act as a natural toothbrush by gently scrubbing off small bits of plaque that have gathered on the teeth and gums.

3.) SWISH WITH WATER AFTER DRINKING TEA OR COFFEE—Coffee, tea and other dark liquids can stain the teeth and leave them looking dingy. To prevent discoloration, simply swish water around in your mouth immediately after consuming a staining liquid.

4.) CHEW SUGARLESS GUM CONTAINING XYLITOL—Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, has been added to many sugar-free gums as a sweetening agent, but it also has healthful properties. Chewing a gum containing xylitol, such as Trident, has been shown to reduce the levels of harmful oral bacteria, reducing the likelihood of developing cavities.

5.) BRUSH TEETH BEFORE GOING FOR A RUN—Running dries out the mouth and any plaque that already exists on the gumline will tend to dry out and calcify, resulting in discoloration and even gum disease. A quick brush before leaving for a run can help solve this problem.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 

While I have tried some reasonably good teeth whitening systems at home, it always seems after I wear the trays or gel on my teeth for an hour, the next morning when I turn on my friend Keurig that it seems like I just wasted the treatment from the night before. So when the IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit system appeared on my doorstep, I figured it would end up in the drawer with the other products. But in addition to the bumpers that keep you from getting the ointment on your tongue this kit gives you an eraser pen to use after your coffee, wine and any other foods that stain your teeth. And best of all, the actual IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit (retailing online for $70 for two packages - buy one, get one free) seems to work well and I give it a pretty good challenge!

 No matter what, remember the best way to celebrate Smile Month is to SMILE! Besides, it increases your face value.

Looking for a better way for a picture-perfect celebrity smile? May is SMILE MONTH so make sure you give those teeth a little extra love!

DISCLAIMER: I received IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit for consideration of a review. However, all the comments listed here are my own.