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.
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Week 2: Thursday
Steer clear of diet pills
Popping pills for a thinner waistline may be destructive to your teeth, says Singh. "Certain diet pills contain chemicals that cause a decreased salivary flow, which results in a higher risk of tooth decay and oral problems," he says. Saliva naturally removes the food particles in your mouth that cause decay, and helps neutralize acid levels. High acidity can "thin the enamel, making the teeth appear darker, not to mention more brittle and prone to chipping and cracking."
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Week 2: Friday
Use a retinoid
Your lips are a big factor when it comes to having a great smile. As you age, the collagen around your lips starts to break down, causing your lips to thin and the corners of your mouth to droop, says Singh. While lip injections can successfully plump and shape thin lips, over-injecting your lips can cause the dreaded "duck lips." Use retinoids in your night cream instead to help boost collagen production.
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Week 3: Monday
Clean your teeth on the go
If brushing your teeth after every meal isn't feasible, Smigel recommends using a gel cleanser on your teeth that has calcium peroxide to banish bad breath and clean up any food particles. Try Supersmile Quickie Whitening Tooth Polish, $16. Just apply a dab on your tongue and roll it around your upper teeth to quickly clean on the go.
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Week 3: Tuesday
Get a tongue scraper
Did you know that up to 85 percent of bad breath germs (called actino mycosis) are found on your tongue? These bacteria can also cause degenerative gum disease. Smigel recommends using a tongue scraper to gently clear away the smelly offenders. Try SuperSmile Ripple Edge Tongue Cleaner, $22, which Smigel uses religiously every morning after drinking his coffee.
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.
