Keep Your Smile Beautiful, Give Your Mouth Some Love

Hi,

Oftentimes, we put so much focus and energy into staying fit and eating healthy, we neglect one of most important areas of our body, our mouth. It's part of our body and we should show it some love, too. It's one of the first things people see when they look at us or speak to us. Let's make sure we present the best possible image of ourselves and it can make us feel good, too. Yolanda, one of our Double Dutch bloggers, gives tips on how we can take care of our lips, teeth and gums, so we can maintain the perfect smile. These tips are really easy. You'll just need to put in a little extra time to create the million dollar smile.

Have a great day and smile,

Jen

Perfect Smile

Everybody is always talking about staying in good physical shape and having good hair, skin and nails. It's about time we talked about our lips, gums and teeth. So, here are some tips on taking care of them.

1. Lips
Moisturize your lips with suitable moisturizing lipcare products (e.g Lip-ice/balm/Vaseline). Lips become chapped when dehydrated, so keep them moisturized. Don't use lip products that dry your lips. Licking your lips too much also makes them dry; so, don't do it! If you are prone to cold sores, make sure you have cream, which prevents cold sores with you always. Apply it when you feel the slightest tingle. (Acyclovir creams, Zovirax cream). Avoid certain foods which may irritate your lips. Foods containing an amino acid called, arginine, triggers cold sores in some people.

2. Gums and Teeth

If plaque is not cleaned off your teeth regularly, your gums will become red, swollen and they may bleed, which may lead to the gum disease, gingivitis. Brush every surface of your teeth twice a day. Most dentists would recommend to brush for at least two minutes. Limiting sugar between mealtimes is particularly important. This next tip is a hard one:

Don't eat acidic food or drinks such as fizzy drinks or citrus fruit juice between meals, as these also encourage tooth decay and erosion.

More tooth care tips:
*Use fluoride toothpaste to protect against decay.
*Use a toothbrush with a small head and synthetic bristles.
*Replace your toothbrush every month.
*Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
*Don't smoke. Smoking stains the teeth and increases the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

Lastly, visit your dentist regularly. At check-ups, they will be able to detect any problems early, and provide advice and treatment.