Oh, Those Lips!

Don’t even think about kissing someone

until you get your mouth magnificent.

Beauty Seen
By Heidi Dvorak

Before the flowers and the heart-shaped candy, what’s the first and best gift to give your loved one on Valentine’s Day? A kiss. It contributes to your sweetie’s well-being, comes from the heart and, best of all, it’s free.

But before you plant a wet one on your lover’s lips, prep and prime your pucker in a way that’ll leave them with a sweet impression.

Start from the inside out. Before you begin treating your lips to fruity balms, defining liners and sensuous shades, tend to your oral health. No one knows more about mouth-appeal than a dentist, so we went to Phoenix-based Douglas Benting, D.D.S., who sees more than his share of patients who want their teeth to look lip-smacking good.

To keep teeth their whitest, Benting recommends brushing at least twice daily for two minutes using an electric toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Braun Oral-B.

“The vibrating or rotating action of electric toothbrushes allows for more plaque and stain removal,” he says, “in the same amount of brushing time as a manual brush. And a whitening toothpaste will help polish away external stains from the surfaces of the teeth.”

When you’re faced with shelves full of whiteners, Benting recommends reaching for those with the ADA (American Dental Association) seal to ensure the safety and efficacy of the ingredients. “Choose products that contain either carbamide peroxide to remove internal stains or abrasive components that remove external stains.”

Before you start bleaching, however, Benting recommends that you consult your dentist first. “Common side effects of internal whitening systems include tooth sensitivity and gum tissue irritation,” he says. “Unsupervised, long-term use of inappropriate products can lead to irreversible damage to tooth enamel.”

Daily flossing is a must. “It prevents stains from building up between the teeth,” he says. “Look for whitening flosses, which are coated with abrasives to better remove external stains from in-between teeth.”

Once you’ve got your pearly whites, you can then attend to the glamour side of puckering power. Keep your lips pillowy soft with hydrating balms. And when you’re ready to lay one on him, line, define and pump your lips with color, so the evidence will last all through the day.

Treat your teeth with TLC. Nature’s Gate Whitening Gel Natural Toothpaste uses bamboo powder and stevia extract to gently polish; anti-inflammatory golden seal, 
licorice and sage soothe tender gums. ($6.99, natures-gate.com)

Short on time? Get teeth six shades whiter in three days with Luster Weekend Tooth Whitening System. Accelerator mouth rinse speeds up the process without tooth sensitivity. ($19.99, lusterpremiumwhitening.com)

Before you give your honey a smackeroo, apply Dr. Kiss Hydrating Lip Balm for a hint of pink with scents of vanilla and peppermint. ($12, vanitymark.com)

Black Opal Lip Liner Lacquer Duo does triple duty by softly lining, moisturizing and providing deep, long-lasting color. ($6.75, blackopalbeauty.com)

For that special day, plump up with Khuraira lipstick for a deep, long-lasting hue. The Valentine-red tubes offer 18 shades to match your mood. ($19, khuraira.com)

Heidi Dvorak is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Southern California.