Love is in the air this month, but just how kiss worthy is your smile?
If you’re dreaming of finding ‘the one’, you might be intrigued to hear that love is much less of a fairy tale than we’re led to believe. In fact, according to the scientists, the laws of attraction are more influenced by physical features than they are by fate.
Top contenders on the attraction list include hair, lips, teeth, smile and facial symmetry – meaning the pressure is on for the headshot you post as your profile picture!
Want to increase your chances of puckering up this Valentine’s Day? Here’s how to guarantee you have a kiss worthy smile…
#1 Check your breath
Research by the Oral Health Foundation reveals bad breath as the number one reason first dates fail.
Caused by all manner of problems – poor dental hygiene, gum disease, diet – keeping a check on breath is one of the best ways to ensure a second date stays on the cards.
#2 Don’t over share
Despite being bad for your health (and let’s face it, a bit gross) 26% of British adults are reportedly happy to share their toothbrush – and not just with their partners. Friends, family, neighbours (not the dog, thank goodness!) all qualify to share but this leaves you extremely vulnerable to picking up germs.
The mouth is home to hundreds of different bacteria, which can be easily passed from one person to another if you share your toothbrush. This also increases the risk of picking up colds, viruses and a kiss’ biggest enemy – cold sores!
#3 Use fluoride toothpaste
Regular brushing is one of the best ways to protect your teeth. But you can go one better – brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride actively helps to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health, which is why it’s added to many off-the-shelf toothpastes. Check your tube to make sure you’re benefiting. Pastes with 1350 – 1500ppm (parts per million) are the most effective.
#4 Floss
No matter how well you brush, it’s impossible to get in between all the gaps of your teeth, which is why flossing is so important.
Flossing prevents trapped food particles and plaque from building up – one of the biggest causes of bad breath. It also helps to keep teeth looking and feeling clean by avoiding yellowing and stains from forming in all the nooks and crannies.
#5 Brighten things up
In the same way that a healthy tan can make you look and feel more attractive, so too can the colour of your smile.
Yellow, stained teeth are a sure-fire turn off for many people, so a little lift will go a long way to boost your smile appeal.
The easy way to do this is by engaging in a thorough oral routine. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing and making sensible diet choices (how much coffee do you really drink?), will all help. So too will using toothpaste with active whitening agents. Alternatively, for truly impressive results, professional whitening treatment is also worth considering.
#6 Get regular check-ups
The best way to preserve your smile and avoid nasty problems? Regular check-ups with your dentist. Covid-19 has disrupted many people’s normal routine but it’s important to get things back on track. Even if you think things are looking and feeling ok, it’s still essential to maintain regular appointments to help prevent problems before they start and keep your smile in peak condition.
#7 Cheat
Want to make sure cupid’s arrow strikes with you? Then why not show your smile some extra love and get great results – fast!
How? With a cosmetic dental treatment.
Discoloured teeth, gummy smiles, chips – at the Harley Street Smile Clinic we have a great range of fast, affordable and highly effective treatments to combat them all.
Send us a photo of your smile for a free e-consultation and personalised quote.
