Boots Top to Toe Beauty: Teeth & Smiles

Today Boots Top to Toe Health & Beauty Calendar gives you advice to help you get that winning smile!

 

None of us want our teeth to let us down, particularly if we've spent time trying to look good. Yet 80% of people believe that their teeth let them down in social situations, and have resorted to talking with a strategically placed hand over their mouth, or smiling without opening their mouth - not great when you are trying to enjoy the moment!

Is your smile ruining an otherwise perfect look? As we get older, teeth can lose their brightness and whiteness, whether or not we avoid the main villains of smoking, coffee and red wine.

Stains can appear both on the surface and within the enamel, which worsens as part of the natural ageing process. And beware of certain shades of red lipstick if your teeth aren't gleaming white, as any discolouration can become markedly more obvious, making the smile that should be the perfect finish to your look become the reason to look away!

Luckily stains on the surface of the enamel are relatively easy to deal with. Regular brushing and flossing will keep stains at bay and help prevent new ones forming.

To support this Boots has harnessed its years of scientific knowledge to create Boots Expert Stain Control Toothpaste (£3.99),  with a unique low abrasive stain control system that helps reduce the formation of tartar where stains can accumulate.

Are you the bearer of bad breath?
Picture the scene - you're at a gathering for a special occasion, you've got a new outfit, you've spent a lot of time making sure you look as good as you can, but people keep backing away from you after talking to you for a short while! It may well be bad breath, which was recently voted the second-biggest turn-off for people in the UK.

None of us wants to be the one with halitosis, but how do we help combat this? It's normally brought on by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth, but it can also be caused by tooth decay, gum disease, excessive bacteria on the tongue, throat or tonsil infection, catarrh, sinusitis or illnesses like bronchitis. Make sure you get your laughing gear around Boots Expert Extra Strength Mouthwash (£2.99), which helps to protect against the germs that cause bad breath with an antibacterial agent, fluoride and xylitol.

Vicky Pennington, Boots in house nutritionist, recommends for fresh smelling breath to "avoid alcohol and strong smelling foods such as onion and garlic. Odour causing bacteria thrive in a dry mouth. Drink plenty of water to keep the mouth moist and fresh and try chewing on sugar free gum or fresh parsley after a meal".

 

Healthcare for teeth
Bone density reaches its peak in your 30's However it is important to ensure your diet is rich in calcium throughout life. Other important nutrients for bone health are magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K. Regular weight baring exercise such as skipping helps to reduce the rate of bone loss.

• Calcium is essential for healthy bones - milk, cheese, tinned sardines and salmon, whitebait, yogurt, sesame seeds, tofu and green beans are all great sources of calcium.
• Magnesium works alongside calcium for healthy bones - baked beans, brown pasta, nuts, pulses such as kidney beans and lentils and wholemeal bread are naturally rich in magnesium.
• Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. It is manufactured by the action of sunlight on the skin, and found in egg, cheese, margarine and oily fish such as herring, mackerel and tinned sardines.
• Vitamin K is required to make proteins that help maintain healthy bones and is found in foods such as broccoli, cabbage and yogurt.

Why not support your diet with Boots Feel The Difference Calcium with Vitamins D & K?

For more information on the Boots Expert range visit Boots.com