Budget Friendly Tips For A Whiter Smile

Did you know that 15 May to 15 June is National Smile Month? Neither did I, but I was alerted to the fact when I was sent a couple of products from Janina recently. It's not a brand I'd heard of before, but it focuses on low abrasion whitening without damaging tooth enamel, and I've really been enjoying trying out the couple of things they sent me. It also got me thinking about teeth whitening in general. I've never had any expensive or drastic treatments, but the little things I've done over the years seem to have worked pretty well at keeping my teeth nice and white. So I thought I would share my budget friendly tips with you, because after all, who doesn't love a budget friendly beauty tip?!

The Basics

I'm sure no one here needs me to explain the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day, but I will make one recommendation, and that is to always use a whitening toothpaste. I've done this for as long as I can remember and I really think it has paid off over the years. I always look for a toothpaste that lists all the important oral health benefits (protection against cavities, plaque, etc) but with whitening as an additional feature - that way I know I'm not sacrificing anything important for the sake of whiter teeth. One I keep going back to is Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste, but currently I'm using both the Janina Ultra White Extra Strength Toothpaste* and Janina Ultra White Teeth Whitening Foam*. What's great about both these products is that they're clinically proven to produce excellent whitening results without using harsh abrasives, which can be damaging to tooth enamel, using instead a Bromaine Complex formulated from fruit enzymes. It just gives you that little extra peace of mind - you're maintaining the whiteness of your smile, but safely.

My other basic recommendations are to use an electric toothbrush - much more efficient at cleaning your teeth than the manual variety - and not to skimp on flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. Speaking of mouthwash, you can add in some sneaky whitening action here too - my favourite is Ultradex.

Food And Drink 

We all know that too much black coffee or red wine can stain your teeth. I'm quite lucky in that I like my hot drinks really milky, so any staining is kept to a minimum. I do enjoy the odd bottle glass of red wine, but my best piece of advice here is "everything in moderation". Actually, that's quite good advice when it comes to red wine in general, not just because it might stain your teeth! Even food that is considered healthy, like salad dressings and fruit juices, can be damaging to tooth enamel, something I wrote about in greater detail in this post. My personal belief is that if you worry too much about these things, you will end up eating nothing at all, which obviously isn't good either. So, unless of course you are following a particular diet, my advice is as before - everything in moderation. Eat the delicious salad with the lovely dressing (preferably with steak and chips on the side) and have a black coffee afterwards, if that's what you like. Just don't have two or three black coffees afterwards. You get the idea.

Whitening Strips And Other Treatments

Sometimes I like to give my teeth a little whitening boost, and my tried and tested way to do this is with whitening strips. I love the Boots Expert Dissolvable Strips. They're easy to use - simply stick them to your teeth and they dissolve within ten minutes. They're also great value for money and they really do work. There's enough in the pack to use them twice a day for two weeks if you want to give your teeth a full whitening course, but I tend to just use them for a few days before a big event or whenever I feel like I could use a little something extra, as I can see a difference after just a few uses. I know that some whitening strips can cause sensitivity, but I've never experienced that with these.

Every time I head to the dental care aisle in Boots, I'm amazed by how many whitening options there are. From instant pens that you brush on to gel and tray treatments to new age "blue light" systems, it's all readily available and considerably more affordable than having whitening treatment at the dentist. For the moment, I don't feel the need to branch out from my trusty strips, but it's good to know that there are so many alternatives should I decide to give them a go in the future.

Makeup Fixes Everything

If all else fails, it's amazing how wearing the right shade of lipstick can give the illusion of whiter teeth. As much as I love oranges and brown-toned nudes, they're not your friend when it comes to brightening up your smile. Instead, you should opt for cool-toned shades and anything with a blue base - Mac's Ruby Woo is a good example of a blue-based red. Berry colours are also great, as they tend to have strong purple or blue undertones. I'm wearing Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick in Under My Spell here, which is the best example I have in my current collection. I think it really does make my teeth look whiter! Apparently, a slightly glossy finish also helps, as opposed to matte.

What are your top tips for whitening teeth without breaking the bank?

Kate x

*Gifted Product. All opinions, as always, are my own.