Dr. Irwin Smigel's Holiday Dental Tips: How to Keep Your Smile White Through the Season

Widely appreciated for their aroma, bright colors, and association with romance, strawberries are also a teeth whitener. According to Dr. Irwin Smigel, dental surgeon to the stars and founder of Supersmile, strawberries are considered one of the best natural at-home whiteners. The malic acid in strawberries acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration.

"Whiter teeth make everyone look younger, healthier, and more alive. When you have a bright and confident smile you look better, feel better, and make a stronger impression among people. Healthy teeth and gums are a sign of a healthy body," stated Dr. Smigel.

Dr. Smigel maintains a cosmetic dentistry practice on Madison Avenue in New York City, treating some of the most recognizable smiles in the nation including Jimmy Fallon, Kelly Ripa, Johnny Depp, Diane Von Furstenberg, Elizabeth Taylor, Justin Timberlake, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony.

Holiday dental tips from Dr. Smigel: Five minutes every day is all it takes to keep your smile at its healthy best. Simply floss for a minute once a day. Brush your teeth with a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste for 2 minutes twice a day. Follow by 10 seconds of cleaning the tongue with a tongue cleaner — this is the ONLY way to effectively remove plaque and bacteria and prevent bad breath for good.

Keep in mind that white wine can stain even worse than red. If you are a wine drinker, alternate with sips of water so that stains cannot stick as easily. When ordering your meal, choose foods that will not get caught between your teeth — salads and greens are likely to get caught, which can be embarrassing and cause cavities and gum disease, so always carry floss for a touch-up.

Dr. Smigel recommends Supersmile's Professional Whitening Toothpaste, which works immediately and with continued use to restore teeth to their original whiteness without harsh abrasives or causing sensitivity. For fresh breath and whitening on the go, keep the pocket-size Supersmile Quikee handy. For more information, visit Supersmile.com.

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