They say April brings showers for May flowers, and the last few days in Southern California have been dreary and overcast.

“Let your smile be the sunshine on the cold and cloudy days.”

To make your smile shine bright everyday a strong oral care routine is essential. My smile is the best and most frequent compliment I receive on a regular basis, and I’ve been asked on several occasions how I keep it bright. Today I’m sharing details of my daily routine, morning and night.

Morning Routine

1.    Wash hands

Brushing, flossing and rinsing are all habits I practice every day, but before I get started, I always wash my hands first. Your mouth carries enough bacteria (up to 300 types according to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry) and needs no additions from surfaces you’ve touched on your way to the sink.

2.    Rinse with mouthwash.

After washing my hands, I reach for my Listerine mouthwash and swish until the strength of the mint begins to calm. It’s recommended to rinse for a minimum of 30 seconds. In my mind if it’s still strong it’s still killing germs and/or bacteria so I let the party go on. When I’m done rinsing with Listerine I release it into the sink and move on to my second rinse.

3.    Rinse with hydrogen peroxide.

Peroxide is a natural whitening agent and is used in a variety of whitening treatments over the counter and in dentist offices. I use the peroxide after rinsing because the mint flavor of the mouthwash balances the taste, smell and texture of peroxide. This step for me is mainly for whitening.

4.    Brush teeth and tongue.

In true former cheerleader fashion, I brush my teeth by 8-counts. I approach my teeth by dividing my mouth into ten sections two sections of each side of my mouth and the front on the top and bottom. I start with the front top row and brush for, then I move to the bottom top row and end in the back top row. Next I move to the bottom row of teeth and repeat the same process. I end with one final brush across all my front teeth in a circular motion from one side of my mouth to the other. The tongue is the last of step four. After brushing and scraping my tongue I rinse the excess toothpaste; and I’m ready to start my day, but I never leave the mirror without the final step of my oral care routine…

5.    Smile

Before I exit the bathroom or move on to my next task, I always give myself a smile to celebrate a new day and a clean mouth! :) According to an article by the University of West Alabama, research shows that smiling can help you live better and longer. When you smile your body releases dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, all signals of happiness, and when you send your body a signal that you’re happy you feel happier. So smiling is a scientifically proven to be a great way to start the day or boost it. :)

DID YOU KNOW you should brush first thing in the morning to freshen your breath immediately and avoid harboring bacteria that may have developed during the night?

Freshen your breath and get rid of leftover food particles with an added brush or rinse with mouthwash or water after breakfast. You can also chew on sugar-free gum.

Night Routine

My night-time routine begins with oral care and is similar to my morning practices but adds an essential step, flossing.

I’ll admit I haven’t always been a night time flosser, but it became a daily practice after the summer of my freshman year in college. I was working for a cheerleading company and one of my teammates was studying dentistry. She told me she’d learned that “flossing once a day is better than brushing three times a day.” After that I was hooked and have been flossing daily since. I can’t go to bed without brushing and flossing; my mouth feels heavy when my teeth aren’t clean.

After washing my hands, I double-floss with Plackers and continue the routine as noted above. I start at the back of my mouth in the wisdom tooth area and floss each tooth on the bottom and start again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Then I move to the top and continue the steps of my routine.

1. Wash hands

2. Floss

3. Rinse with mouthwash

4. Rinse with Peroxide

5. Brush teeth and tongue

6. Smile

Products

The following products have been my a part of my routine for the last decade and have continued to work for me, but are also my personal preferences. I buy everything in bulk and/or the largest sizes possible and refill as needed. There are many options to choose from so it’s best to consult your dentist and choose the best products for your needs.

We can all use a little sunshine every day, and taking these steps help me look and feel my best and shine my light morning and night. I hope you see and share sunshine today and every day.

Hugs & Handshakes,

Jasmine C. Tate