Health
One Month to a Brighter, Healthier Smile
See the surprising culprits that are sabotaging your teeth, and find out how to reverse the damage and brighten your smile in just 30 days
I recently decided that it's time for me to face the cold hard truth: I do not look like Sofia Vergara, nor will I ever look like Sofia Vergara.
I will never have her Jessica Rabbit-like figure or her sultry eyes, no matter how many hours I log at the gym or in front of my bathroom mirror with the best eyeliner.
But just for kicks, I decided to figure out what it would take to attempt to look like her. Let's just say I subjected my body to the torture device that is the P90X system. Even if I stuck to the regimen religiously, it would take at least three months to get to the ideal weight, then another year for it to stabilize, according to a study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine."
Hair grows two inches per month, so I would reach Sofia's luscious length in a couple years -- if I skipped all haircuts. And even if I got rhinoplasty or a boob job, the swelling would take a year to fully dissipate.
Skip ahead to see how to get a healthier, brighter smile in 30 days now.
The bright spot? There is one Sofia asset I can attempt to copy quickly and without dropping a few months' pay: her pearly whites. Dentists across the country say a mere month is plenty of time to transform your smile -- if you know the right tips.
I'm not talking about the stuff you've heard a million times before -- brush twice a day, floss, and head to the dentist twice a year. I talked to dentists and periodontists to find out all the other things you should be doing for your teeth, and how to avoid the biggest dental health saboteurs.
So if you, too, want to look like Sofia Vergara (or insert your celeb girl crush here), here's a little hint: Focus on copying her smile. Here's how.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Week 1: Monday
I will never have her Jessica Rabbit-like figure or her sultry eyes, no matter how many hours I log at the gym or in front of my bathroom mirror with the best eyeliner.
But just for kicks, I decided to figure out what it would take to attempt to look like her. Let's just say I subjected my body to the torture device that is the P90X system. Even if I stuck to the regimen religiously, it would take at least three months to get to the ideal weight, then another year for it to stabilize, according to a study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine."
Hair grows two inches per month, so I would reach Sofia's luscious length in a couple years -- if I skipped all haircuts. And even if I got rhinoplasty or a boob job, the swelling would take a year to fully dissipate.
Skip ahead to see how to get a healthier, brighter smile in 30 days now.
The bright spot? There is one Sofia asset I can attempt to copy quickly and without dropping a few months' pay: her pearly whites. Dentists across the country say a mere month is plenty of time to transform your smile -- if you know the right tips.
I'm not talking about the stuff you've heard a million times before -- brush twice a day, floss, and head to the dentist twice a year. I talked to dentists and periodontists to find out all the other things you should be doing for your teeth, and how to avoid the biggest dental health saboteurs.
So if you, too, want to look like Sofia Vergara (or insert your celeb girl crush here), here's a little hint: Focus on copying her smile. Here's how.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Week 1: Monday
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