I love when people have a big smile in photographs. Oftentimes I’ll see a picture in which everyone is grinning, but one person has a tiny, lips-closed smile. To me, that one person just doesn’t seem to be having as good a time as the others. Sure, a small smile can be beautiful, but I just don’t think you can look as happy unless you’re showing some teeth.

You would be surprised how many celebs sport tight-lipped smiles on the red carpet. After all, it’s pretty likely that they invest a small fortune in their pearly whites, so why not show them off? In the gallery I’ve posted a few of my favorite dazzling celebrity grins. I couldn’t help but wonder, as I looked at these photos, if it is possible to make my own smile look just as good. It turns out that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to sport a celebrity smile. Below are a few easy, cheap tricks to make your smile so pretty, the paparazzi will be chasing you down!

Baking Soda and Lemon: This combination is great for zapping stains and whitening teeth. Mix baking soda with lemon juice until it forms a paste, and brush the mixture onto your teeth. Wait a minute for it to set, and then use water to thoroughly brush it away. The baking soda will remove stains, and the citric acid in the lemon juice has whitening power. It doesn’t have the fresh, minty taste of toothpaste, but it works!


Crunchy Fruits and Veggies: Snacks such as apples, celery, pears, and carrots are not only good for your body, but for your teeth as well! Because these foods are naturally abrasive, they polish the teeth and remove stains. Best of all, they do so without damaging the enamel, the sensitive outer layer of the tooth.

Brush with Berries: Strawberries contain both vitamin C and malic acid, both of which can be used to whiten teeth. Vitamin C gets rid of plaque, while malic acid removes stains. To benefit from the whitening power of strawberries, crush a few of them into a pulp and apply it to your teeth using a toothbrush. Let it sit for about five minutes, and then thoroughly rinse with water.

Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing sugarless gum after each meal can also contribute to a whiter smile. The gum can get in between teeth and get rid of excess food particles. It’s important to ensure that the gum is sugar-free, as chewing sugared gum would simply be counterproductive. Also, never use chewing gum as a substitute for brushing your teeth!

Use a Straw: Many colored beverages, such as coffee, sports drinks, and soda, can stain your teeth. By drinking these through a straw, you limit the contact that the drink has with your teeth and reduce the likelihood that your teeth will be stained. Sipping through a straw is an easy way to enjoy beverages and keep teeth white.

Do you have a favorite celebrity smile? What about teeth-whitening tips?

[Images: top photo, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Gallery images: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]