PEARLY WHITES

PENÉLOPE CRUZ

Besides a Chanel flap bag, our smile is our best accessory. But if it’s anything short of pearly white and healthy, we’re remaining tight-lipped. Here are a few everyday hacks to help maintain a bright and shiny grin, without running to the dentist.

AN APPLE A DAY DOESN’T JUST KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY

“When it comes to foodS that help keep teeth clean, apples are great, says Alison Egan, director and founder of Sparkling White Smile. “Biting into them acts like a natural teeth cleanse and can also help remove staining.”

STRAWS ARE YOUR SECRET WEAPON

“The darker the food and drink – coffee, tea, red wine, beetroot, turmeric – the higher the risk of staining,” says Egan. “For an easy hack to help maintain whiter teeth, try drinking liquids through a straw, or carry a toothbrush to brush your teeth after consuming dark fluids.”

SWIPE LIPPY TO WHITEN

“Wearing bright red lipstick will make your teeth pop and appear whiter than they are!” says New York-based celebrity dentist Dr Elisa Mello. Here’s a little bonus tip: choose a blue-based lipstick colour – it will create a brightening, optical illusion.

GIVE GUM A GO

Chewing sugar-free gum that contains plaque-reducing xylitol has the added benefit of promoting salivary flow, says Dr Mello. “This will clean your teeth and break down any remaining food particles in the mouth,” she explains.

ADD FLOSSING TO YOUR ROUTINE

There’s a reason your dentist asks you, “How often do you floss?” Brushing your teeth only cleans the surface of them, so you need to floss to clean in between your teeth where bacteria gathers and stains become prominent. According to most dentists, if you don’t floss, you’re more likely to develop plaque build-up, tooth decay and gum disease. Another incentive? It can also help prevent bad breath. Pass us the floss!

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Brushing morning and night, plus keeping a toothbrush and mouthwash by your desk at work, is essential to maintaining a healthy and ageless smile. Regular check-ups and a professional clean by your dentist are also advised, but don’t leave it any longer than six months.

DIY WHITENING WORKS:

If you can’t afford (or get to) your dentist at the moment, try a few rounds of whitening at home with easy kits.

$24.95 Revlon Super Lustrous Mattes Lipstick in Ride or Die chemistwarehouse. com.au

$9.95 Nair Soft Natural Mini Wax Strips for Face (20 pack) priceline.com.au Don’t let a hairy upper lip detract from your perfect teeth. Nix fuzz instantly with these.

$139.95 Waterpik Nano waterpik.com.au Make flossing fun! Small enough for any bathroom shelf, this device blasts warm water between teeth to remove 99 per cent of plaque and debris for that squeaky clean feeling.

$30 Oral-B Clic Starter Kit woolworths.com.au Prefer a manual toothbrush but hate the waste of throwing them away? This brush set has a changeable head that easily snaps into place and a magnetic holder for hygienic storage.

$59.99 Oral B 3D White Whitestrips with Light chemistwarehouse.com.au With the same blue light technology used at the dentist, there’s 14 treatments in one pack to change your smile from drab to fab.

$24.95 Lovebyt Peppermint Botanical Mouthwash lovebyt.com This natural alternative has peppermint oil and mint, and prevents plaque-causing bacteria and bad breath.

$149 HiSmile PAP+ Teeth Whitening Kit hismileteeth.com A powerful peroxide-free formula that’s fast, effective and sensitivity-free. Oh, and it works in 10 minutes!