First impressions are everything – from a job interview to a first date –  so you wouldn’t want to ruin yours with stained teeth and bad breath.

While certain professors and their espresso breath serve as daily reminders for the importance of dental hygiene, not all dental products are as beneficial as you’d think.

Everyone appreciates a nice, white set of pearly whites after two years as a “braceface” or “metal mouth.” However, whitening toothpastes can be very abrasive, breaking down the tooth’s outermost layer, the enamel.

Repeated use of these toothpastes can cause teeth to be increasingly sensitive, since the inner nerve endings become exposed after the enamel is worn down.

Toothpastes with whitening are used for cosmetic purposes, but be sure to use them only a few times per week, instead using toothpastes with fluoride most of the time.

Fluoride is responsible for prevention of cavities and oral infections, such as gingivitis.

To combat bad breath, many seek out potent mouthwashes to kill all bacteria responsible for producing odors.

It is generally believed the greater the burn, the more effective it is.  Yet that burning sensation is the result of a high alcohol content, somewhere in the range of 20 to 25 percent.

Unless you wake up feeling like P. Diddy, you probably don’t want to be brushing your teeth with a dose of alcohol. In fact, recent studies published in the Dental Journal of Australia have shown increasing correlations between alcohol mouthwashes and oral cancer.

The study observed individuals that used mouthwash on a daily basis and deemed it a “significant risk factor” for developing head and neck cancers – four to five times more likely.

When choosing a mouthwash, opt for ones containing little to no alcohol (i.e, steer clear of Listerine).

One of the simplest, yet most effective dental care products is floss.  Nothing new here; dentists have always held floss in high esteem. But it really is the most effective way to prevent infections and cavities, eradicating food particles that serve as sustenance for cavity-causing bacteria.

Surprisingly enough, flossing has been implicated as a method of avoiding heart attacks, too – essentially from preventing gum disease.

Floss every day; there are many benefits from flossing that will prevent unwanted dentist visits and plaque formation.

If you want your smile to break hearts oral hygeine is the key. Take this advice for a clean, fresh mouth and a dazzling first impression.  

Nick Pisciotta is a Molecular biology major who is passionate about maintaining his health through diet and exercise.