A beautiful smile can light up a room and boost your confidence, but it takes more than just regular brushing to achieve oral beauty. Maintaining good oral health is crucial — not just for the appearance of your teeth, but for your overall well-being. In this post, we’ll share some pro tips for achieving oral beauty and a healthy mouth.
In years past, most people didn’t consider oral care as part of their normal beauty routines. Although we have long recognized healthy gums and bright smiles as markers of physical beauty, many people still gloss over just how significant the consequences of good oral beauty habits can be for their appearance, self-esteem, and confidence.
If you’ve been looking for ways to improve your smile, you’ve come to the right place. Beverly Hills Orthodontics has provided Los Angeles area residents with excellent oral beauty services since 2008, and in this blog, our team reviews the best ways to enhance your look with:
- A well-developed daily routine
- Tooth whitening services
- Orthodontic care
Keep reading to learn more—and if you’re interested in any of BHO’s orthodontic or cosmetic services—call one of our locations today to schedule a consultation.
Oral Beauty Care: Daily Best Practices
The easiest way to maintain a healthy and attractive smile is by diligently following the American Dental Association’s recommended oral care routine. Proper brushing, flossing, and dietary habits not only keep your teeth and gums healthy, but they can also prevent staining, plaque accumulation, and tooth loss.
Chances are that you probably know some of the ADA’s recommendations already, but you may not be following them 100% correctly.
Take brushing, for example. We all know that twice-daily brushing is essential to keep teeth in top shape. However, many people don’t use the correct technique and stop brushing well before the recommended 2-minute mark. As far as flossing goes, half of the American population fails to floss once a day, and 20% don’t floss at all.
I’ll start with some of the things you’ve already heard…
1. Brush and floss regularly
The foundation of good oral health is regular brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes each time, with fluoride toothpaste. Using small circular motions, gently brush the outer, inside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth — and don’t push too hard. Finish by brushing your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Make sure to floss at least once daily to remove plaque and food particles that get stuck between your teeth and cause cavities. Use about 18 inches of floss. When it reaches the gums, curve it into a C-motion and slowly move it up and down along the tooth. Clean in between all your teeth — don’t forget your back molars! If you struggle with traditional flossing, you might try using a water flosser, an interdental brush, or floss picks instead.
2. Use mouthwash
Mouthwash can help freshen your breath, prevent cavities, and kill bacteria that cause gum disease. Choose a mouthwash with fluoride and antiseptic properties for the best results. You can use mouthwash after brushing and flossing, or between meals for a quick refresh.
3. Eat a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates can contribute to tooth decay, so try to limit your intake of sugary drinks and snacks.
Many fruits and vegetables (e.g., apples, carrots, celery, etc.) naturally clean your teeth and help remove plaque. Similarly, water rinses away food particles and promotes saliva production, both of which help keep smiles bright and white.
4. Drink plenty of water
Drinking water helps keep your mouth hydrated and can help wash away food particles that can cause cavities. It’s also a good idea to rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking sugary or acidic foods to help neutralize the acids in your mouth.
5. Visit your dentist regularly
Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can detect and treat problems early before they become more serious. You should visit your dentist at least twice yearly for cleanings and checkups, or more often if you have specific dental concerns.
6. Consider teeth whitening
Teeth whitening can help improve the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence. There are many different teeth whitening options available, from at-home kits to professional treatments.
7. Massage your gums
Massaging your gums is a great way to improve blood circulation and promote healthy gum tissue. You can do this by using your fingertips to gently rub your gums in circular motions. This can also help to reduce inflammation and sensitivity.
8. Use warm salt water rinses
Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help to reduce inflammation, heal wounds, and promote healthy gums. Salt water can also help to neutralize acids in the mouth and kill bacteria. Mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out.
9. Use a tongue scraper
Cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper can help to remove bacteria and debris that can cause bad breath. This can also help to improve your sense of taste and promote better digestion. You can find tongue scrapers at most drugstores or online.
10. Use a lip scrub
Just like the rest of your skin, your lips can benefit from exfoliation. Using a lip scrub can help to remove dead skin cells and leave your lips feeling soft and smooth. You can make your own at home by mixing sugar and coconut or olive oil, or you can purchase pre-packaged lip scrub at a beauty supply store.
11. Get a tooth polish every 3 months
A tooth polish is a professional cleaning treatment that can help to remove surface stains and plaque buildup. This can leave your teeth looking brighter and feeling smoother. You can schedule a tooth polish with your dental hygienist every 3 months to help maintain your oral health and beauty.
12. Limit your intake of acidic foods and drinks
Acidic foods and drinks can lower the pH level in your mouth and erode your tooth enamel. Try to limit your intake of citrus fruits, soda, sports drinks, and other acidic foods and drinks.
Candy, soda, and even citrus fruits can erode tooth enamel if not consumed in moderation. Coffee, tea, wine, and other dark-colored beverages can also stain your teeth if you don’t drink water or brush them afterward.
13. Drink alkaline water
Drinking alkaline water can help to neutralize acids in your mouth and promote a healthy pH level. Alkaline water has a pH level of 8 or higher, which can help to counteract the effects of acidic foods and drinks.
14. Chew sugar-free gum
Chewing sugar-free gum can help to stimulate saliva production, which can help to neutralize acids in your mouth and promote a healthy pH level. Look for gum that contains xylitol, which can also help to prevent cavities.
15. Use pH-neutral oral care products
Using oral care products that are pH-neutral can help to maintain a healthy pH level in your mouth. Look for toothpaste and mouthwash that have a neutral pH level of around 7.
EXTRAS
In addition to these daily best practices, collagen supplements, whitening toothpastes, and other products can improve your smile as well. For more information on these extra products, read our blog on Oral Beauty Trends in 2023.
By following these tips, you can help your mouth maintain a healthy pH level and promote good oral health. Remember to keep a healthy overall diet and lifestyle, as this can also impact the pH level in your mouth.
Incorporating these additional tips into your oral beauty routine can help to improve the health and appearance of your mouth. Be consistent with your oral care routine and visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. A beautiful smile starts with a healthy mouth!
In summary, achieving oral beauty and maintaining good oral health requires regular care and attention. By following these tips, you can keep your smile looking beautiful and your mouth healthy. Remember to brush and floss regularly, use mouthwash, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, visit your dentist regularly, and consider teeth whitening if you want to improve the appearance of your smile.
Boost Your Look With Professional Teeth Whitening Services
While good care habits are essential to oral beauty, they don’t always prevent discoloration. Tooth staining occurs for a variety of reasons. Some causes are preventable (e.g., smoking, food choices, etc.), while others are not (aging, medication). The most common causes include:
The Usual Tooth-Stain Suspects
- Poor oral hygiene
- Unhealthy diet
- Aging
- Physical trauma
- Color-saturated food or drinks
- Tobacco products
- Certain prescription medications
Many people with stained teeth attempt to brighten their smiles with over-the-counter whitening toothpastes, rinses, and strips. However, these drugstore products can take weeks to show results, and even then, most results are lackluster at best. Fortunately, professional tooth whitening services offer a faster and more effective route to whiter teeth.
At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we offer a few different tooth whitening options. For the quickest and most dramatic results, we recommend Zoom! in-office bleaching. In-office bleaching is a simple treatment that only takes 1-2 hours and can brighten teeth by 5-10 shades in 24 hours.
During a Zoom! appointment at BHO, we perform the service using these steps:
- Clean the patient’s teeth
- Apply a whitening gel to the teeth.
- Shine a UV light on the teeth for 20 minutes to accelerate the whitening process
- Reapply whitening gel for 20 more minutes of bleaching
- Reapply whitening gel again for a final round of bleaching
In addition to in-office bleaching, we offer custom-made whitening trays for at-home use and our own brand of whitening pens[LINK: At Home Teeth Whitening Pen]. If you are an Invisalign patient, we also have a foam product called “BHO Cloud”[LINK: Teeth Whitening and Aligner Foam Cleaner Combo (LP)] that both cleans aligners and brightens teeth.
Orthodontic Treatment: Permanently Improve Your Smile’s Appearance and Your Overall Oral Health
If you’ve been struggling with a misaligned bite or crowded teeth, orthodontic treatment really can give you a perfectly-straight smile!
Since BHO first opened its doors, we have been helping people across Los Angeles eliminate alignment problems and enjoy the benefits of better oral health and an improved appearance.
As a Sapphire Invisalign provider, BHO is recognized as one of the top Invisalign practices in the country. Thanks to the expertise of our team and founder, Dr. Monica Madan, we can use Invisalign to correct simple-to-complex issues, including:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crowded teeth
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Smile gaps
Using the latest digital tools and innovative care methods, BHO can even use Invisalign to treat severe bite issues. If you are uninterested in Invisalign, we also offer conventional braces, too.
Beverly Hills Orthodontics: Your Home for Oral Beauty Care
Oral beauty is about more than just looking good. Good oral beauty habits set the foundation for healthy gums and teeth, prevent cavities, and boost your self-esteem so you can smile, laugh, and live life with confidence. #loveyoursmile
At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we take oral beauty seriously. From treating mild alignment issues and whitening teeth to correcting severe bite problems, BHO specializes in crafting holistic care plans that honor the schedules and lifestyle preferences of each patient.
To learn more about our treatment options, schedule a consultation at one of our offices in Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, or Downtown LA today.
Looking for the best oral beauty care in Los Angeles? Call or text us at (310) 785-0770 or request a free consultation.