3 Surprising Natural Teeth Whiteners

3 Surprising Natural Teeth Brighteners

Get ready to flash a brighter (and healthier!) smile

Even if you don't have a big date planned for Valentine's Day next week, let's use it as an excuse to focus on getting whiter (healthier) teeth. Not only does oral care play a major role in overall well-being (gum inflammation is associated with cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes), a survey of more than 500 adults by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in 2007 showed that your smile can have a major impact on other people's perceptions of your attractiveness, happiness, intelligence, career status, and more. Before you go book a dentist appointment for a whitening, try these three surprising and all-natural ways to keep your smile bright from New York City-based dentist Emanuel Layliev, DDS:

1. Start drinking water between sips of wine—no matter what color wine. Red wine stains your teeth, but a 2009 German study found that white wine is also high in acidity and erosive, making teeth even more susceptible to stains.

2. Opt for a dye-free mouthwash. Popular blue, green, or yellow-hued rinses can actually discolor teeth over time.

3. Snack on raw apples, cauliflower, carrots, and celery. These crunchy, fibrous fruits and vegetables give teeth a gentle stain-removing scrub.

Instant Trick for Whiter Teeth

Blog by Katie Becker

You decide: Do blue-based lip colors make teeth look whiter?

Some beauty tips sound helpful in theory, but just don't pan out in practice. One I've always been skeptical about is this makeup-artist maxim: Wear a blue-based lip color to make your teeth look whiter.

The theory is that blue sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, so they somehow cancel each other out. But I always thought if you placed two colors that are opposites on the color wheel next to each other (e.g., blue-based lipstick next to yellowish teeth) both colors would be intensified. Still, I didn't go to art school, so I am willing to have an open mind. That's why I want to hear what you think. I took a photo of my smile with two different pink-toned lip colors. The top one has a cool, blue base so it appears more magenta, while the bottom one has a warm, yellow base that makes it look more coral.Check it out: