Mustard, ketchup, soy sauce -- these condiments all have high levels of acid and can leave your teeth susceptible to stains. This doesn't mean you need to order your burger sans the special sauce, but remember to rinse your mouth with water after eating.
Photo 6/21
Week 1: Friday
Suck on a lemon
Just as they naturally highlight hair, lemons can lighten and brighten teeth. Just make sure to not overdo it -- lemons have high acidity, which can be damaging, says Steven E. Roth, DMD, of SmilesNY in New York City.
Photo 7/21
Week 2: Monday
Re-think your birth control
Oral contraceptives may help prevent an unwanted pregnancy, but the Pill also tricks your body into thinking it's pregnant, causing hormonal changes that may make you more susceptible to periodontal disease, says Nicholas Toscano, DDS, a periodontist in New York City. If you must take the Pill, Toscano recommends seeing your dentist every three months for cleaning, as opposed to the normal six-month interval.
Photo 8/21
Week 2: Tuesday
Pack a toothbrush with your bikini
Swimming in pool water that is excessively chlorinated can erode and stain tooth enamel, says Singh. "Excessive chlorine lowers the pool's pH level, making it dangerously acidic." So if you're a frequent swimmer, pack a toothbrush along with your towel. "Brushing your teeth and using a fluoride rinse immediately after swimming will help," he says.
Photo 9/21
Week 2: Wednesday
Buy a mouth guard
If you wake up with a sore jaw, you may be clenching your jaw at night. "The force generated by this habit can be really destructive," says New York City-based dentist, Laura Torrado, DDS. "Protective mouth wear is really a must," she says.
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.
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.
