Celebrate National Smile Week with a Smile

While smiling may be the last thing you want to do this week, thanks to the volatile stock market. The fact that it’s National Smile Week is reason enough to flash those pearly whites. Here, Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, offers tips to ensure you’re greeting your clients with your best and brightest smile.

• Rely on natural teeth whiteners. For example, strawberries contain malic acid, which act as an astringent to remove surface discoloration.
• Drink water in between drinking and eating colored foods to help eliminate stains. Rinse your mouth with fresh water and eat bread to remove the temporary stains that immediately appear after drinking wine.
• Wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth after eating or drinking acidic foods, as brushing immediately afterward can erode tooth enamel.
• Chew sugar-free gum after meals to stimulate saliva flow, which can acts as a natural detergent to remove teeth stains.

Want to give your clients something to smile about when the week is over? Consider offering teeth-whitening services in your spa. For more on this topic, check out “Show Me Your Teeth” in our upcoming October issue.