What makes a beautiful smile?

Here’s our smile file – five tips to a beautiful smile…

1. Shape up

The stats on perfect teeth suggest that they should be even and square, as the better-looking the teeth are, the more a person smiles. There are many ways to create this symmetry through cosmetic dentistry.

2. Lips

The pinker the lips, the healthier they look. If your lips are on the pale side try a cherry, berry, plum or pink lipstick to give them a boost. The upside is that this will make your teeth look brighter as these blue-based colours will help hide yellow stains.

3. Stainers

There is an abundance of foods we love that can play havoc with our pearly whites. So here, in no particular order, are some of the perps:

Balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, tomato sauce, tea, coffee, berries, red wine, hard sweets. It is best to rinse your teeth with water straight after injesting these if you don’t have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste.

4. Care factor

The eyes may be the window to the soul but the mouth is the messenger, so it is essential to have clean white teeth and healthy gums. To keep that dentist-cleaned feel it is essential to take charge of your oral hygiene and care. Invest in a good toothpaste that will clean teeth and also target plaque and boost whiteness. Oral-B 3D White Luxe Toothpaste contains micro-cleansing ingredients that polish away stains to gently whiten teeth, removing up to 90 per cent of surface stains for whiter teeth in just 5 days. It is a great multi-tasker as it also fights cavities and strengthens enamel and creates fresh minty breath.

5. Power tools

Keeping your smile beautiful takes two minutes of dedication day and night, brushing with a power brush and good toothpaste to clean teeth and clear away plaque. Do the outside top teeth first then inside top, followed by outer bottom and then inner as well as massaging the gums. And don’t forget to floss to help prevent dental decay and periodontal disease.

We asked some of you what you think makes a beautiful smile and here’s what you said…

Men

Jonah 20, student

“A beautiful smile shows lots of character.”

Oliver, 23, engineer

“I think a beautiful smile is a combination of both the eyes and the mouth. If only the mouth is smiling it can look fake.”

Wallace, 25, marketer

“I like people who smile with their eyes.”

Mark, 34, banker, 2 children

“The smile is the first thing I notice about someone.”

Harry 30, real estate agent, one child

“A smile combined with laughter is what makes a smile beautiful.”

Women

Calypso, 21, student

“I think people who have straight white teeth when they smile are very attractive.”

Chantal, 34, writer, one child

“When my little son smiles up at me that is the most beautiful smile in the world.”

Isabel, 32, filmmaker, one child

“A beautiful smile is something that comes from a happy place. And regular flossing.”

Chantal, advertising executive

“A beautiful smile is about the whole face not just the mouth.”

Samantha, 20, student

“A great smile is a whole lot of things from clean white teeth and smooth lips to smiley eyes.”

By Oral B

What are some of your tips to a beautiful smile? Tell us in the comments below…