Want to dazzle people with your smile? From choosing the right lipstick to brushing your teeth with baking soda, there are a few lesser known tricks that you can try to make your smile more radiant. Below are five smile-boosting secrets unveiled.

Take photos in soft diffused lighting

When it comes to mastering the art of selfies, lighting is an aspect that many people overlook. Hard intense lighting can often create dark shadows and can highlight facial flaws – which could stained or damaged teeth. Opt instead to use soft diffused lighting when taking photos. Sunlight through a sheer curtain and lighting through a lampshade are prime examples of soft diffused lighting. This lighting could reduce the appearance of shadows around your mouth and make your teeth appear whiter.

Choose the right lipstick

Different lipsticks can have an impact on how your smile looks. Lipsticks with blue or purple undertones may help to bring out the whiteness in your enamel. Ruby and cherry red lipsticks are examples of lipsticks with blue undertones. Meanwhile, you may want to avoid lipsticks with yellowish or orange undertones if you have discolored teeth. These may have the opposite effect of highlighting the yellow in your teeth. Examples include brick red and terracotta red.

Brush your teeth with baking soda

Did you know that baking soda can make a great DIY whitening toothpaste? Its mild abrasiveness is ideal for removing plaque. It also helps neutralize acids, while also killing bacteria. For an even more effective DIY whitening toothpaste, combine baking soda with hydrogen peroxide. It’s worth noting that some whitening toothpastes already contain both these ingredients, so if you don’t like the idea of making your own toothpaste, you can simply buy one of these toothpastes.

Practise oil pulling

Oil pulling could be another way to bring a sparkle to your smile. What is oil pulling? This involves swilling a cooking oil such as coconut oil or sesame oil around your mouth. The oil binds to plaque on your teeth and can help remove it. Practising oil pulling regularly may even help to de-stain discoloured teeth.

Explore cosmetic dentistry options

If your teeth are quite bad, you can always look into cosmetic dentistry options. Many people don’t realise just how many dental procedures are available nowadays. Some of the different cosmetic dentistry options to consider include:

• Dentures: With the help of a denture clinic, you can help replace any damaged or missing teeth with some realistic denture fittings. 
• Implants: These are much like dentures but are permanently implanted into your jaw to act just like real teeth.

• Veneers: These are small shells that go over the top of your existing enamel to help hide discolouration. 

• Braces: If your teeth are misaligned, why not consider straightening them with a pair of braces?

• Invisalign: Invisalign are an invisible alternative to braces that could be another solution to consider.

• Laser whitening: Finally, there’s the option of whitening your teeth using a laser. This is not permanent but does have immediate results.

While these treatments have to be booked ahead and may require multiple sessions, they are all very effective ways to transform your smile. Talk to your dentist to see what cosmetic treatment options they recommend. 

Conclusion

Considering the options above could help you to achieve a much more radiant smile. Just remember to also maintain the basics – good oral hygiene and a good diet are the most reliable ways to keep your smile looking good.