There are a lot of oral issues that can significantly worsen the look of your smile. If your teeth are dark or misaligned and your gums are bleeding, even the most beautiful smile becomes unsightly. Fortunately, there are certain options that can help improve the look of your smile. Here is a list of six effective tips on how to make your smile stunning.

1. Maintain proper oral hygiene

Proper oral hygiene is an essential part of oral care. It helps prevent the development of various conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, enamel erosion, tooth discoloration, and tartar accumulation. To keep your oral cavity healthy, you need to brush your teeth twice a day (in the morning before meals and in the evening after meals) and use dental floss daily. You can also rinse your mouth with mouthwash to remove the bacteria from your mouth and refresh your breath. 

2. Pay attention to your diet

There are foods and drinks that can increase the likelihood of bacteria accumulating in your mouth, make your tooth enamel thinner, or stain your teeth. That's why it is important to limit the consumption of sweet, starchy, acidic, and sticky foods. Drinks like dark-colored soda, black tea, coffee, and red wine can stain your teeth and make them look darker. 

Maintaining a healthy diet can promote your oral health and even prevent the development of certain oral issues. It is recommended to increase the consumption of dairy products, fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. 

3. Get your teeth professionally cleaned

In-office teeth cleaning is a procedure during which a dental hygienist removes dental plaque and tartar accumulation from your teeth. This procedure is essential since it can help prevent the development of cavities and gum disease. Additionally, your teeth may look whiter since professional teeth cleaning removes surface stains. 

4. Align your teeth

Even though almost everyone has shifted teeth, significant misalignment can have a great impact not only on your appearance but also on your oral health. Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean so you can be more prone to bacteria overgrowth. 

Modern dentistry provides several options for teeth straightening. You can use Invisalign or different kinds of braces to align your teeth. However, severe misalignment may require surgical treatment. You should also remember to wear retainers after braces to not let your teeth shift backward.

5. Undergo teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most common procedures people undergo if they want to improve their smiles. There are a few ways to whiten your teeth. The first and most effective option is to undergo an in-office teeth whitening procedure. The second option is to buy a teeth whitening kit that you can use at home. The third option is to use teeth whitening toothpaste and mouthwash and the fourth option is to use home remedies like oil pulling or paste with baking soda.

6. Get rid of bad habits

Many people don't realize that certain bad habits can significantly worsen the condition of their oral cavities. For example, smoking can lead to the development of bad breath, tooth discoloration, tartar accumulation, gum disease, and oral cancer. That's why it is recommended to quit smoking as soon as possible.

Increased coffee consumption can result in stains on the surface of the teeth and weakened tooth enamel. To prevent these issues, it is better to limit the consumption of coffee to one cup a day or at least add milk to the coffee. Other bad habits like nibbling pencils are gnawing ice cubes can lead to dental trauma.