Makeover Your Man: Pearly Whites

Does your guy have yellow teeth or bad breath? While women consider dental hygiene an important part of life (white strips anyone?), your man might be a little lazy when it comes to taking care of his grin. We spoke with New York City-based dentists Brian Kantor, D.D.S, and Lindi Orlin, D.D.S to find out how you can get your beau to take better care of his teeth.

Dental hygiene is extremely important for your man—and not just so that you don’t have to look at stained teeth or smell bad breath. A guy that doesn’t take care of his mouth can be a huge turnoff in the workplace, and it can affect his confidence. “I frequently have more men say that they haven’t been to the dentist in three or five years, but never many women,” says Dr. Orlin. “Lots of people are scared of the dentist, and it’s often the first thing they stop doing if they lose their job or get busy.”

But what if your guy isn’t that keen to spend extra time in the bathroom or the dentist’s chair?
There are lots of ways for your man to get whiter teeth and fresher breath at home, all he needs is a little encouragement! Make time at the end of the night to brush and floss your teeth together. This way you’ll make sure your beau does look after his pearly whites, and it won’t make him feel singled out. “Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash are essential for combating bad breath and maintaining white, healthy teeth and gums,” says Dr. Kantor.

You can also suggest easy teeth whitening methods for both of you to try. If your guy is handy (you lucky girl!) and prefers to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work himself, have him try Dr. Kantor’s DIY whitening solution. “Simply mix baking soda and water together to the consistency of toothpaste and leave it on your teeth for 10 minutes,” says Dr, Kantor. Got a guy who isn’t too keen on a DIY? Try applying whitening strips while he’s watching TV.

You can also encourage your man to take better care of his smile in small ways. “Buy him a pack of flossing sticks and stash some in his car or briefcase,” suggests Dr. Orlin. The bacteria that grows on your teeth causes bad breath and gum disease, so flossing is extremely important. Electric toothbrushes also make excellent birthday or Christmas gifts, especially if your guy likes gadgets! “An electric toothbrush can be expensive, but it has a two minute timer, so it will ensure your man is brushing for the correct amount of time,” explains Dr. Orlin.

Men are a lot more active in taking care of themselves now—working on their wardrobe, hair, and physique. “Improving your guy’s smile will do wonders for his self esteem and his overall appearance,” adds Dr. Orlin.