Want to take years off your smile?

If your smile doesn’t reflect the real you, maybe it’s time for a solution you can sink your teeth into—literally. Here are step-by-step tips to help. 

1. It may seem obvious, but the first order of business for a great-looking smile is to focus on the basics. Daily tooth brushing, flossing and regular visits to a dental health professional are the best ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums. 

2. The American Dental Association recommends you visit a dentist at least every six months if not more, and brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste carrying the ADA seal of approval. 

3. Stop smoking. Tobacco use, stress, sleep loss, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and poor nutrition all impact your mouth too. 

4. It is important to watch the intake of sugar and surgery beverages. They increase plaque and acid that damage your teeth. 

5. Teeth-whitening products are becoming more popular. Try adding whitening toothpaste and mouth rinses to your daily routine. The upside to home remedies is they usually are a more affordable option.

6. Many dentists can provide at-home whitening kits that come with custom-fitted trays, which allow you to whiten your teeth on your own time. There are also in-office teeth-whitening treatments. While more expensive, they are the strongest form of teeth-whitening and can eliminate years of dental stains.

7. Dental implants are increasingly popular for those who want a minimally invasive way to replace teeth.

8. Good oral hygiene doesn’t just benefit your teeth and gums. Research shows a link between gum disease and other inflammatory conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease and some cancers. 

9. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology suggests the antioxidant catechin found in green tea and yogurt can help ward off gum disease when consumed frequently.