You don't need me to tell you the heyday of the mellow yellow smile is well in the past.  Well, at least for those who got the memo.  Though not everyone cares about teeth whitening (some don't even care about teeth brushing - but let's not get crazy here), an interesting study from Crest came out that suggests the majority of your fellow Canadians not only expect you to have white teeth, they believe that someone with straight, white teeth would be more likely to be hired for a job than someone with a less attractive smile.  

Now before we get up in arms about the injustice of judging a person solely on their looks, think about it:  aren't we all more drawn to people with dazzling white smiles?  One of my closest friends has a megawatt smile that I was convinced was veneers when I first met her.  She swears it's just genetics and it took meeting her brothers for me to fully believe her. Obviously it was her teeth that led us to become such great friends.  That and her personality.

My genetic situation is the opposite of my friend's. Like many a thumb-sucking child, my early smile was a buck-toothed grin.  Super bright teeth do not run in my family.  In fact some of them have struggled with having darker teeth, I'm not sure from what.  So at age 11, my parents trotted me off to the orthodontist who yanked 4 molars and had me in braces until the tender age of 15.  I have been whitening my teeth since my early twenties and I would never consider stopping.

If having a bright smile is important to you, there are several things you can do in addition to whitening. 

#1 - Floss Your Teeth
Every. Single. Day.  According to the same Crest study, 20% of Canadians admit to flossing less than once a month or not at all.  If this describes you please promise it's because you either have a large gap between each and every tooth and a super magical toothbrush that somehow reaches every surface… or that you have no teeth at all.  Those are the only two scenarios that make sense to me.

If you don't floss your teeth, the spaces between them are loaded with plaque and tarter.  Whitening products aren't going to fix that.

#2 - Maintain your Whitening Sessions with Related Products
Whether you use prepared strips or a kit from the dentist, using a whitening toothpaste keeps the surface stains from your daily coffee or glass of red wine at bay.  Pairing it with a whitening mouthwash is even more effective.  Like results-in-2-days effective.  Curious about this? Stay tuned! We have an exciting Product Review Club where you can find out for yourself.

#3 - Use an Electric Toothbrush
Not to be Debbie Downer on the manual toothbrush - they're still great!  But if getting your best and brightest smile is important, an electric toothbrush will get you there faster because it buffs and polishes just like the Dentist.

Ultimately though, the best thing you can do for your smile is to be confident.  Regardless of what nature or science gave you, being genuine and having an authentic smile is by far the most attractive physical quality.

Do you think a whiter smile can make you more successful in life?

* All stats from The Crest and Oral-B Great Canadian Smile Survey