While teeth whitening is generally safe, some people go overboard with it, becoming addicted to the power of bleaching, says dentist Bill Dorfman, DDM, one of the creators of Zoom whitening. Too much of a good thing is not always good, agrees Toscano. "There are many different whitening materials out there, and if they're used improperly or too often, it can result in damage of the gums and teeth."
It's also important to be wary of teeth whitening pop-up shops in your local mall, says Toscano. "These places don't exactly know what they are doing and patients don't know what they are getting themselves into," he says. You can end up walking out with burned lips or gums when a shop like this isn't managed by a licensed professional, warns the doc.
Your quest for a thinner waistline may be negatively affecting your teeth, says Singh. "Certain diet pills may contain chemicals that can cause a decreased salivary flow, which results in a higher risk of tooth decay and oral problems," he warns. Remember, the saliva in your mouth not only naturally washes away food particles that cause decay, but it also helps to neutralize acid levels, which if too high can "thin the enamel, making the teeth appear darker, not to mention more brittle and prone to chipping and cracking," says Singh. So before you start popping pills to lose weight, make sure to consider how it might affect your smile.
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Schedule regular dentist appointments
The Orbit girl knows what's up -- that mouth of yours is filthy. While her cure is a stick of gum, doctors say it takes more to clean up your act. "Really, the most common mistake women make is not getting to the dentist frequently enough," says Toscano. "Patients come in two years apart and they expect to keep their teeth white and bright, and it just doesn't work that way."
A regular patient should be in every six months for a cleaning in order to keep gums healthy and teeth free of cavities. "Your mouth is a very dirty place, and if you don't give it attention you're going to get gum disease -- period." So sure, pop some gum, but keep up the doctor visits too.
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Reconsider lip injections
Your teeth aren't the only things that affect your smile. Your lips are a big part of the equation. As we age, the collagen in our lips starts to break down, causing our lips to thin and flatten, making the corners of our mouth start to droop, says Singh. While lip injections or fillers can successfully plump and shape thin lips, giving a more youthful appearance, they can also give you the dreaded "duck lips" stars like Lisa Rinna and Meg Ryan have fallen victim too. Over injecting your lips will ruin your smile no matter how perfect your teeth are.
Whether you dread going to the dentist or eagerly open wide every six months, here's some news that may shock you: You currently have a few habits that are ruining your smile.
And no, we aren't talking about the glaringly obvious no-nos, like smoking and drinking gallons of Franzia. No judgment, but you're on your own with those beauty-busting behaviors.
The bad-teeth habits we uncovered are far more shocking (as in, your favorite workout could be wrecking your dental health!). But the good news is once you know what these smile saboteurs are, you can take steps to keep your pearly whites in perfect condition.
And there's good reason to do just that: A new Harris Interactive survey found that nearly 90 percent of adults think a bright or white smile makes a good first impression, and more than half say they use your smile to judge your personality, stating it's the best indicator of someone�s friendliness.
So see if you're guilty of committing any of these bad-teeth crimes and try the simple fixes that will make over your smile immediately.
