How to Have the Perfect Smile

Author Info

Updated: February 6, 2020

Looking for your perfect smile? Don't get too hung up on a gap tooth or a thin lip. The truth is, there's no one look that's better than any other. Practice to find a smile you like, so you have the confidence to show it off to the world. Tooth-whitening treatments are available, but don't fall into the trap of damaging your oral health with excessive treatment. In the long run, healthy teeth will lead to the best smile.

Method 1 of 2:
Perfecting Your Smile

  1. 1
    Boost your confidence. The perfect smile doesn't need Hollywood teeth or a certain shape of lips. Smile in order to make other feel happy, open, and comfortable. People will care more about the reason behind your smile than its appearance.[1] The advice below will help you adjust how your smile looks, but that's icing on the cake.
  2. 2
    Find a mirror and relax. Look in the mirror and relax your facial muscles and shoulders. If you're tense, gently rub your cheeks and forehead. Clench and relax your jaw a couple times.
  3. 3
    Think of something happy. A genuine smile is the best smile. Think of a fun memory or recent event, your friends, or your crush. Even an embarrassing story from your childhood can make you smile.
  4. 4
    Adjust your eyes. One of the key differences between a real smile and a fake one is a change in the muscles around your eyes.[2] Any of these can work:
    • Try crinkling your eyes or squinting a little. This might already happen if you have a wide smile.
    • Try widening your eyes a little, and raising your eyebrows.
    • Even a small tilt of your head can make a smile look better.
  5. 5
    Practice a formal smile. Start by practicing a formal smile, for a work or school photograph. Keep your teeth closed together. You can keep your lips closed or flash a lot of teeth, whichever you prefer.
    • Try putting your tongue behind your upper front teeth. This makes your bottom lip look fuller and gaps in your teeth less noticeable. This is typically a feminine look but anyone can give it a try.[3]
  6. 6
    Make a friendly smile. This is a subtle, small smile you'd use at a social gathering, to catch someone's attention. Press your lips together and pull them wide. Hold the smile for just a second, long enough for the other person to notice. Here are a few variations on this:
    • Curve your lips by keeping the center steady as the outer corners move up.
    • Try the curve again, but keep stretching the corners until you flash a moment of teeth.
    • Smirk by raising one side of your mouth higher than the other and arching a brow. This can come across as saucy or sarcastic, so be cautious.
  7. 7
    Show off a giant smile. Open your mouth so your teeth aren't touching, and give a giant, wide smile. Raise your eyebrows as you do this. This smile says "I'm having a great time!"

Method 2 of 2:
Caring for Your Mouth

  1. 1
    Floss every day. Floss once or twice a day, just before you brush your teeth. This removes plaque from between your teeth, preventing a build up of yellow or off-white plaque.
    • If you have braces, ask your orthodontist for "threaders: you can use to floss in between the wires.
  2. 2
    Brush your teeth twice daily. For clean, healthy teeth, brush twice a day for at least two or three minutes. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride for best results. Brush gently, especially around the gum line. Rough brushing won't make your teeth cleaner, and may even damage your gums.
    • Whitening toothpastes are abrasive, so long-term use may damage your teeth enamel. Consider using one every other day, or only until obvious surface stains are removed.
  3. 3
    Try home whitening treatments. If a simple flossing and brushing regimen isn't enough to whiten your teeth, you may want to try a whitening treatment. These home remedies are a good first step, since they are much cheaper than drugstore options.
    • Add a small amount of baking soda to your toothpaste and brush for two minutes. Do this only once a week, since overuse can damage your teeth.
    • Swish a small spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth for a few minutes, then spit it into the trash. Dentists are divided on whether this "oil pulling" works, but it shouldn't cause any harm and has plenty of fans.[4]
    • Do not use home remedies involving strawberries, vinegar, or other acidic foods. While these can remove some stains, they can rapidly eat into your tooth enamel.
  4. 4
    Be careful with professional whitening treatments. All of the following can be very painful for people with cavities or sensitive gums, or anyone who overuses them.[5] That said, they can be very effective at hiding stains on teeth. Here are a few options:
    • Dental whitening strips: Available at drugstores, these can help with surface and deeper stains, but may have limited effect on darker stains. They may cause temporary tooth sensitivity.
    • Dental whitening trays: These use a more powerful whitening gel than the strips. For best results, ask your dentist for a tray custom-fit to your teeth.
    • Dental whitening procedure: Your dentist can provide ultra-strong whitening, and protect your gums while she does so. This is usually not paid for by insurance.
  5. 5
    Reduce exposure to staining substances. Coffee, black tea, and wine can all stain your teeth. Try drinking these through a straw or reducing the amount you take.[6] Smoking can also stain your teeth, so consider quitting the habit or switching to an e cigarette or vaporizer. These don't cause staining due to a lack of smoke, but their long term effects are unknown.
  6. 6
    Keep your lips smooth. Don't forget that your smile features your lips as well. Take care of your lips using these techniques:
    • Exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub or toothbrush. If your lips are severely cracked, do this only after a shower.
    • Apply lip balm after exfoliating, or whenever your lips feel dry. Use a lip balm with sun protection before going outside in the morning or afternoon.
    • Stay hydrated with water. If your lips feel dry, drink water and dry them with a cloth. Avoid licking them.
  7. 7
    Consider having dental work done. In most cases, the shape of your teeth is not an obstacle to a great smile. Crooked teeth or gaps in your teeth can even look adorable. If you can't stand your teeth, however, your dentist or orthodontist has many tools to reshape them.
    • If you do get braces, a retainer, or other treatment, ask your orthodontist how to keep them clean. A dirty retainer can sabotage your smile and breath.
    • If you want a radical change, ask about dental veneers, implants, bridges, or dentures. These add false teeth or the appearance of teeth to your mouth to completely change your smile.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    When I smile my cheeks always go up making me look like a baby. How do I fix this?
    Community Answer
    What you are describing may look like a baby smile to you but sounds very cute to me! There is nothing wrong with a smile like this. It is the way the muscles in your face work. Your cheeks going up is completely natural, and your face may slim as you age.
  • Question
    How do I smile pretty without showing my teeth?
    Community Answer
    Tilt your head slightly down when you smile.
  • Question
    How do I smile with braces?
    Community Answer
    Don't let the braces bother you. Loads of people think they are really cute. Just smile however comes naturally and be confident.
  • Question
    How can I smile with crooked teeth?
    Community Answer
    Just don't worry about it. Smile like you don't care. Most people don't have perfectly straight teeth anyway. Just be confident and smile however comes naturally.
  • Question
    I injured myself when I was between 8 and 10. Ever since, I can hardly smile/laugh comfortably. I need advice on how to correct this.
    Community Answer
    Try relaxing your muscles. It may have made your smile muscles more clamped up and tense. Try simple face exercises and stretch out your face and mouth. Speak to your doctor about the problem, to obtain specific advice.
  • Question
    What can I do if my teeth are not visible when I smile?
    Community Answer
    You can smile with a closed mouth, or remind yourself to open your lips to show off your teeth.
  • Question
    How do I have a pretty smile, as my teeth are rather large?
    Community Answer
    It does not matter how your teeth look, but if you do not want people seeing them, try smiling with your mouth closed.
  • Question
    How can I help being embarrassed when I smile?
    Community Answer
    Act like nobody is watching. And don't worry, nobody has a perfect smile. Be confident!
  • Question
    How can I remove the line from my chin that is tilted and makes my smile ugly?
    Community Answer
    Nothing can truly make your smile ugly. The line on your chin is just you, so don't try to change it. You could put some concealer on it, but you can never really hide it. Others may think it's cute, so ask family members what they think. They probably love it as much as they love you.
  • Question
    Unfortunately, I have not-so-proportional teeth. How can I smile with this?
    Community Answer
    Play up your other features to take the focus off your teeth.
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      • Try looking at photographs of yourself. Imitate smiles you like in the photographs.
      • Change your toothbrush once every two or three months, or whenever it looks dirty.
      • if you have braces or a retainer, be sure to clean it everyday so it looks clean. there is nothing worse than smiling when your brace has food in it or your retainer has a brown mark on it.
      • Never hold a fake smile for too long. For photographs, try to smile just before the picture is being taken. This way your muscles won't start to strain and look unnatural.
      • Teeth can turn yellow and gray with age even if you care for them well. This is not necessarily a sign of poor dental health, although you can always ask your dentist.


      About This Article

      68 votes - 73%
      Co-authors: 16
      Updated: February 6, 2020
      Views: 341,637
      Categories: Smiling
      Article SummaryX

      If you want to have the perfect smile, brush your teeth with a small amount of baking soda once a week to keep your teeth shiny and white. In addition to keeping your teeth clean, practice smiling in front a mirror by thinking of something that makes you happy. While you're practicing, try widening your eyes and raising your eyebrows to find a smile you’re happy with. When you smile at people, think about how it will make them happy, which will make your smile more genuine and warm. You can also keep your lips smooth by using a lip scrub and applying lip balm when they get dry so you look your best whenever you smile. For more tips, including how to practice a formal smile for pictures, read on!

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 341,637 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • NH

        Namhla Hlehle

        Nov 4, 2019

        "When I was afraid to smile, this wikiHow showed me, that smiling is one of the best things in life."
      • KS

        Kenzy Starr

        Aug 31, 2016

        "I liked the tip about relaxing and practicing in the mirror."
      • SS

        Shariar Emon Sajid

        Jul 4, 2017

        "It works all the time. I hope so."
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