Why all the hoopla about flossing? The ADA says that it "helps to remove plaque and food particles from between teeth and under the gum line where toothbrush bristles can't reach." There's also a ton of research suggesting that flossing can help to protect your heart and arteries by helping to keep the bacteria in your mouth from entering your bloodstream.
Dr. Apa doesn't beat around the bush saying, "Floss, baby, floss!" He tells patients to "buy whitening floss in rolls or picks" (try Supersmile Whitening Floss, $6.50 or Crest Oral-B Advantage Plus Scope Outlast Flavor Floss, $6.99) and "scatter them in all of your makeup bags and purses -- everywhere you carry a mirror!"
Not sure exactly how to floss correctly? The ADA says to "use about 18 inches of floss wound around one of your middle fingers, with the rest wound around the opposite middle finger" and to "hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers and gently insert it between the teeth." Dr. Smigel adds that it's important to "wrap the floss around each tooth in a 'C' shape and gently slide it under the gum line to the tip of the tooth."
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Use whitening products
While Dr. Apa recommends having teeth professionally bleached one or two times a year with either a laser or by using bleach trays, at up to $1,000 a pop, that can get expensive. Of course, there are many over-the-counter whitening products that can remove surface stains (here's a list of the best and worst teeth whiteners), but Dr. Dorfman advises that people proceed with caution. "Get your dentist's guidance before using [any of them]," he says. "These tooth-whitening agents are not regulated by the FDA or the ADA because they're considered cosmetic, so there's no guarantee that they are safe or effective. Plus, you may not even be a good candidate for whitening, even if they do work."
Dr. Apa suggests that patients "use a whitening toothpaste daily" and also recommends using the Crest Weekly Clean Intensive Cleaning Paste, $14.99. "[It] is a good product that has heavy silica ingredients to brush stains away," he says.
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Go natural
If you typically eschew chemical products for more natural alternatives, when it comes to teeth whitening, you're in luck.
Brushing with a baking soda/hydrogen peroxide mixture (2 tsps. baking soda to 1 tsp. peroxide) is a safe and effective alternative to commercial products. And, If you'd prefer something more tasty than peroxide, you can use strawberries. The delicious berries boast malic acid, which acts as an astringent and is effective removing surface discoloration. Just crush a berry or two, mix with a teaspoon of baking soda and use your toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave it on for five minutes then brush thoroughly.
As with other whiteners, you want to exercise caution when using baking soda -- it's naturally quite abrasive and can damage teeth's enamel when used too often. Limit your use to two times a week.
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Clean your tongue
Did you know that up to 85 percent of bad breath germs (called actino mycosis) are found on your tongue? And, did you realize that these bacteria can also cause degenerative gum disease? They can. And, they will if you don't get them out of your mouth.
While some dentists recommend using your toothbrush in downward strokes to brush away the microbes, some, like Dr. Smigel, suggest using a tongue-cleaning tool that's specifically designed to gently clear away the smelly offenders. Smigel is such an ardent believer in a clean tongue that he created the Ripple Edge Tongue Cleaner, $22, which, according to an article in "The New York Times," he purports to use religiously every morning after drinking his coffee. Other companies (like Breath RX 3 Pack Tongue Scraper, $6.99) make similar tongue scraping devices.
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See your dentist
It may sound self-serving, but Dr. Apa stresses the importance of having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year and knows a good trick for making time for cleanings and exams in your busy schedule. "Make your dentist appointments [before you leave the office]," he stresses. "That way, you'll be certain to have them on your planner ahead of time."
To help you stay on top of things, many dentists send out postcard (or, even better, email) reminders. And, if you really want to get organized, there's no shortage of smart phone dental apps to help you. For instance, Dentalappointments.com is a free iPhone application that not only has tools for scheduling and confirming appointments but others that let you message your dentist's office staff, pay bills online, research procedures and more. Hi tech? Yes. Helpful? Definitely.
Quick, name something most celebrities have in common (other than fat checkbook balances). If you said "nice, white teeth" and a "movie star smile" pat yourself on the back.
With the exception of maybe Johnny Depp and, maybe Nelly, the overwhelming majority of A-listers have dazzling smiles. Why? Plain and simple, nice teeth look good -- on the big screen and off.
And while straight, white teeth are a commodity in Hollywood, it's not a shock that regular folks are clamoring for them too. Men and women's dental health and having a beautiful smile has become all the rage these days. The proof ? Everything from mall kiosks offering "whiter smiles in 30 minutes" to the staggering assortment of brightening/whitening kits, toothpastes and rinses to choose from at your neighborhood drug store point to a supply meeting demands.
But that's the problem -- with so many products vying for our hard-earned dollars and so much conflicting information floating around, it can be too confusing to figure out how to get a pretty, healthy mouthful of teeth!
To help eliminate the guesswork, we talked to two industry standouts. Dr. Michael Apa, a partner in The Rosenthal/ Apa Group on Manhattan�s Upper East Side where he concentrates exclusively on aesthetic and restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman who's helped to beautify Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria and Anne Hathaway's perfect mouths -- and, both shared their tips for getting and maintaining healthy, alluring smiles.
So, if you're ready to razzle and dazzle 'em, let's get going!
