By Shannon Kaiser

We asked experts what makes a great smile. The results are in and here is the best doctor and dentist advice to help you feel good from the inside out. Your mouth, teeth and lips are what people look at when you talk. It is important to feel confident about your entire look. There are easy ways to feel good about your smile. Here is are favorite.

BFF Your Dentist

Visit your dentist at least twice a year. Your dentist is your best friend when it comes to preventing a pretty smile going south. They can identify any problems with your teeth or gums long before a problem really occurs.

Brush Your Teeth

Brush your teeth not just when you wake up and go to bed, but after each meal. Studies show that people who brushed their teeth after each meal had better smiles and less dental bills than those who brushed once or twice a day. Brushing your teeth removes plaque and food particles that can build up on your teeth. You want pretty shiny white teeth; use your brush to keep it that way. Replace your toothbrush with a new one every 3 to 4 months.

Brighten Up

People who smile often are seen as being more intelligent, sincere, trustworthy and self-assured than those who don’t, according to the “American Journal of Psychology.” So why not smile more and flash your pretty whites. If you want to improve your smile consider going brighter. At home whitening kits are affordable and dentist approved. To get your teeth ready for attention, try some at home whitening strips (we love Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare, $34.50.)

Eat Crunchy Yummy Foods

Yep you read that right, eating crunchy foods (carrots, celery, lettuce, apples) at work or on the go can help you have a healthier smile — they displace plaque and debris from the mouth, keeping any embarrassing food out of your teeth. So you will feel good on the inside out. We gathered this expert advice from Doctor Jack D. Jorgensen, DMD at Advanced Dental Concepts, a General Dentist in Vancouver, Washington.