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6 steps to a beautiful smile

Try these simple tips for good oral health from leading dentists.

Updated on November 25, 2024

beautiful happy young woman with big smile
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Flashing a big, beautiful smile can work wonders. For one thing, it's contagious. Studies show that just seeing a friend break out in a smile triggers muscles in your face that cause you to smile back. Amazingly, the very act of smiling—even if you're feeling down—can improve your mood. 

But it can be hard to put on a happy face when you feel self-conscious aboutShow More

young woman flossing in bathroom
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Brush and Floss Daily

Brushing each morning and night and flossing before bedtime are vital to preserving your smile. Many people don't understand correct brushing technique, says Nancy Newhouse, a periodontist in Independence, Missouri, and former president of the American Academy of Periodontists. Remember:

young woman applying teeth whitening strip
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Whiten Your Teeth

Surface stains are often caused by coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco, while deeper stains are often due to smoking, medications, injury, or infection. Depending on the type and degree of staining, some people get good results from store-bought whitening products. 

"Be sure products are ADA-Show More

family eating healthy in kitchen
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Eat Right and Work Out

You need strong teeth to eat a healthy diet, and you need to eat a healthy diet to have strong teeth. Raw, fresh veggies can naturally clean your teeth, and milk, cheese, chicken, and nuts provide nutrients that repair tooth enamel. 

For the full effect, add regular exercise. It can helpShow More

young man talking to dentist in office
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Upgrade Old Fillings

If you’ve received dental fillings in years past, you may have silver-colored amalgam fillings. These often-noticeable fillings wear out in 5 to 15 years, allowing decay to creep in around the edges. These days, most dentists fill cavities with materials that bond to teeth better and match yourShow More

young woman looking in mirror in dentist office
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Consider Cosmetic Fixes

Whether you want minor tweaks or a drastic makeover, cosmetic techniques can improve your smile and may boost your self-esteem. Cosmetic dentists are specially trained to address dental issues in a way that's natural-looking and attractive. They can: 

  • Repair chips
  • Close a gap
  • Replace a
  • Show More
woman putting teeth aligner orthodontia in
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Straighten Your Smile

Before you commit to any cosmetic dental work, you might want to consider having a consultation with an orthodontist. Orthodontic treatment is far less invasive than veneers, and the results often look more natural. Traditional braces, mini braces, or clear aligner trays can help straighten yourShow More

man using tongue scraper in home bathroom
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Freshen Bad Breath

It may be hard to wear a big, beaming smile if you're self-conscious about your breath. Chronic bad breath is usually a sign of bacteria. To keep germs and halitosis (the clinical term for bad breath) at bay, floss once and brush your teeth and tongue twice daily. 

"The vast majority of peopleShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Obayashi Y, Uehara S, Yuasa A, Otaka Y. The other person's smiling amount affects one's smiling response during face-to-face conversations. Front Behav Neurosci. 2024 Aug 9;18:1420361. 
American Dental Association. Floss/Interdental Cleaners. September 21, 2021.
American Dental Association. Brushing Your Teeth. Accessed November 25, 2024.
American Dental Association. Whitening. August 16, 2022.
Oral Health Foundation. Diet and my teeth. Accessed November 25, 2024.
Pushparatnam R. Why is exercise important to dentistry? BDJ Team. 2021;8(2):20–2.
Illinois Department of Central Management Services. How Can Exercise Improve Oral Health? Accessed November 25, 2024.
American Dental Association. Dental Filling Options. Accessed November 25, 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Dental Fillings. May 13, 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Cosmetic Dentistry. November 6, 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Orthodontics. October 12, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Orthodontia. July 29, 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Bad Breath (Halitosis). July 18, 2022.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Halitosis (Bad Breath). Accessed November 25, 2024.

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