Occasionally I stand-in at red carpet events for a journalist girlfriend of mine who finds it difficult to physically be in two places at one time (lazy), and one of the most glaring trends that I’ve noticed on all the fancy Hollywood types is white teeth. White. Seriously, seriously white. W-H-I-T-E. (Have I made my point?) I actually hesitate to call it a trend, I mean when was dental hygiene out-of-fashion (“Oh…um… ‘Hi British Citizen’… I um… didn’t see you standing there. This is awkward.), but it seems to me that over the last several years red carpet teeth just keep getting whiter and whiter and veneerier. And while I’m not personally into blinding the masses every time I flash my fangs, I do like my pearlies to gleam like the heavenly stars they are.

Of course, the number one path to a ravishing smile is tooth care. In an article entitled ‘Reason’s To Smile’ in the February issue of Good Housekeeping, NYC dentist Michael Apa, D.D.S. says, “Your teeth control the lower third of your face.” And before we call in ol’ Captain Obvious – what he means is this: teeth gradually wear down and shift with age, contributing to the formation of frown lines and the hollowing of the cheeks. These horrors are exacerbated by tooth decay and loss. Like this guy:



Cliff notes version: If your chompers fall out of your face, your face will also fall, just like that stupid cake-out-in-the-rain song. So do the right thing: brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, and see a dentist regularly. But wait folks. That’s not all.

There are a few other things to keep in mind when it comes to tooth care. Supersmile creator and famed dentist Irwin Smigel, D.D.S. suggests rinsing your mouth after every meal or glass of wine to help minimize residue, staining and tooth decay. Calm down! We’re not talking a full-out swish and spit at the table (although this would be a great way to end a crap date) – just take a little sip of water, swish and swallow. Subtlety, while not my strong suit, is key.



Dr. Smigel also suggests chewing on delicious sugarless gum, which – I think – is very exciting! “As you age, your salivary glands shrink and produce less saliva, which is a natural antimicrobial that helps prevent decay,” says the good Dr., “But gum chewing restimulates the flow.” Delicious. I love you, Dr. Smigel.

Outside of the generals, there are a whole slew of whitening products available to make your smile all gleamy-glowy. Your dentist probably offers a range of laser- and light-activated bleaching as well as the aforementioned veneers – but if you’re just looking for a little lift after a few years of hitting the red wine and coffee train, you can try one of the onslaught of over-the-counter bleaching and whitening products. From whitening strips, gels and pastes or a fancy at-home light-activated whitening system – there really is no excuse for a less than ravishing smile.

If you can’t run out for a quick bleaching with your hygenist, or if your teeth are so sensitive by your incessant use of White Strips that they just can’t take another round, there are a few tips to help camouflage any unsightly stains.

FAKE IT TIL’ YOU MAKE IT:

1.) Bake It. Not for real, folks – tanning is so passé as is the orange skin/white teeth scourge that seems to ravage the Jersey Shore cast. Maybe just try a little bronzer. While her skin is anything but bronzed, for some reason InStyle magazing quoted Scarlett Johansson’s makeup artist Gianpaolo Ceciliato for this little tip. “The more tan you are, the whiter your teeth will look.” He says while suggesting dabbing a brown-based bronzer on your face, or if you’re already darker complected, a pink highlighter. “Stay away from yellow or gold tones.” – Obvs, Gianpaolo. Obvs.

2.) Rock some rocks. I’m not talking a full-out tooth Grillz people. However, a nice pair of sparkly diamond studs in your ear-ular region (CZ are equally sparkly) can make your teeth appear whiter. And, not to beat a dead horse (This is a horrible phrase. Who came up with this?), L.A. makeup artist Fiona Stiles takes another pot-shot at the color ‘yellow,’ “Avoid gold jewelry, which tends to exaggerate any yellowish tones.

3.) Gild the lily. Painting your pout a glorious matte red is a sure-fire way to amp up the voltage on your smile. If the look is “too dramatic” (as if there were such a thing) for everyday, Stiles also recommends a cool pink or sheer cherry gloss. The important (if redundant) note is: do not choose a color… any color… with an orange-ish or YELLOW base. Blue-based reds, ladies. Blue-based.



Apparently the color ‘yellow’ is the anti-christ.



'til Next Time!"