Jul 10
22
In the next chapter of How Not to Look Old, Charla Krupp provides tips on looking 10 years younger by getting a big, bright, sexy smile.
When it comes to teeth, Charla says nothing ages you like “yellow teeth, gray teeth, stained or splotchy teeth, small teeth, receding gums, teeth that are too straight across, and a mouth full of silver fillings.” But we all know just how expensive it can be to get a movie star smile. You can’t exactly go to a workshop on “updating your teeth” or “total makeover in 10 easy steps.”
For major cosmetic changes, it is up to your dentist to give you a radiant “Julia Roberts” smile. You can go for porcelain veneers that are pearly and stain-resistant, but that can set you back several thousand dollars. Charla says the upside is “unless you’re opening beer bottles with them, veneers can last up to 22 years, and you won’t have to worry about whitening any more.” But the downside is the cost, up to $2,000 per tooth.
In-office whitening is the easiest and fastest way to get a million-dollar smile, but it is also costly. The dentist will apply a gel containing a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, then hit your teeth with a light for 20 minutes (which some dentists say is only hype) After three or four visits, your teeth can be up to 10 shades whiter, and your bank account will be up too $1,000 smaller. This procedure needs to be re-done yearly. The dentist can also make custom whitening trays for in-home use, but the gel often causes gum irritation. Again, it is expensive, as you can spend up to $750 on this procedure and you have to keep it up. Over-the-counter trays are not recommended, as they will not really fit your mouth well and you will likely have burned gums and/or spots the bleach misses.
For most of us, the best option is to use the whitening strips that you get at the drugstore. “If used correctly and consistently, they work as well as in-office or tray bleaching.” And they are very affordable. Crest Whitestrips Premium are recommended, as they give you results in just three days if you wear them twice daily. Crest Whitestrips Renewal claim to take 20 years of stains off in just 10 days. But the drawback is the length of the strips themselves, only covering the front six teeth. For less than $40/box, you can have whiter teeth in just a few days, and still have money to spend on lipstick, hair and skin care products.
Quick tips for a healthier smile:
- Swear off lemon and other acidic foods that can damage tooth enamel
- Limit your red wine, coffee and tea
- Eat fibrous fruits and veggies, which act like a detergent, cleaning the surfaces of your teeth when you chew
- Use a soft toothbrush to keep from eroding or scratching the enamel
- Brush for a full two minutes
- Floss–not only will it keep your gums healthy, but studies show it lowers the risk of heart attack
- Get regular cleanings
On a personal note, my husband went through the effort and expense a year ago to get porcelain veneers. He had never had braces and had ground his teeth down so far that he needed major work just to repair his bite. But the main reason was that he didn’t like to smile, feeling embarrassed about his crooked, yellow teeth. At 54 years old, he seemed like a grumpy old guy because he suppressed his laughter and wouldn’t smile in photos. It took many months to complete the process, but today he is a different person. He laughs and smiles much more often, and he has had a major boost in his self-esteem. This time, the expense was well worth it–feeling good about yourself with the freedom to smile is priceless. And I am perfectly happy with my Crest Whitestrips. Here’s to smiling!
Charla Krupp is the author of the bestseller How to Never Look Fat Again, just out in paperback
And Charla’s other great book How Not to Look Old, reviewed on Flourish Over 50:
Previous articles on How Not to Look Old:
