Did you know that up to 85 percent of bad breath germs (called actino mycosis) are found on your tongue? These bacteria can also cause degenerative gum disease. Smigel recommends using a tongue scraper to gently clear away the smelly offenders. Try SuperSmile Ripple Edge Tongue Cleaner, $22, which Smigel uses religiously every morning after drinking his coffee.
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Week 3: Wednesday
Don't use toothpicks
"Using toothpicks after meals forcibly wedges [particles] between the teeth, which can be detrimental," says Torrado. She recommends flossing instead, or using The Doctor's BrushPicks, $2.99.
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Week 3: Thursday
Thursday: Brush with peroxide
To prevent daily stains from accumulating, Fardad Forouzanpour, DO, Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group in Calif., suggests brushing your teeth with a spoonful of hydrogen peroxide before brushing with toothpaste. "You'll see the peroxide bubble and fizz, which is a sign that it's gently removing any stains that you may have accumulated during the day."
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Week 3: Friday
Use at-home whitening products
"It's been proven that trays work better than strips, because they allow gels to get into nooks. Strips are like a thick tape, and won't necessarily get into all the little holes," says Timothy Chase, DMD, cosmetic dentist at SmilesNY in New York City. Try Rembrandt 2-Hour Whitening Kit, $19.99, which has tray applicators.
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Week 4: Monday
Schedule a cleaning and a treatment
Chase recommends having your teeth cleaned a month before getting an in-office whitening treatment. This way, your teeth will be prepped for the whitening treatment and it'll be more effective.
I recently decided that it's time for me to face the cold hard truth: I do not look like Sofia Vergara, nor will I ever look like Sofia Vergara.
I will never have her Jessica Rabbit-like figure or her sultry eyes, no matter how many hours I log at the gym or in front of my bathroom mirror with the best eyeliner.
But just for kicks, I decided to figure out what it would take to attempt to look like her. Let's just say I subjected my body to the torture device that is the P90X system. Even if I stuck to the regimen religiously, it would take at least three months to get to the ideal weight, then another year for it to stabilize, according to a study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine."
Hair grows two inches per month, so I would reach Sofia's luscious length in a couple years -- if I skipped all haircuts. And even if I got rhinoplasty or a boob job, the swelling would take a year to fully dissipate.
The bright spot? There is one Sofia asset I can attempt to copy quickly and without dropping a few months' pay: her pearly whites. Dentists across the country say a mere month is plenty of time to transform your smile -- if you know the right tips.
I'm not talking about the stuff you've heard a million times before -- brush twice a day, floss, and head to the dentist twice a year. I talked to dentists and periodontists to find out all the other things you should be doing for your teeth, and how to avoid the biggest dental health saboteurs.
So if you, too, want to look like Sofia Vergara (or insert your celeb girl crush here), here's a little hint: Focus on copying her smile. Here's how.
