While most men think they have got their look completely figured out — hairstyle, wardrobe, accessories and skin care — they are usually missing one important step, which just so happens to be one of the first things a girl notices about a guy. Not his clothes, not his shoes and not his hairstyle, but his smile and his teeth. Your teeth, as odd as it sounds, can make or break your entire appearance.

While toned muscles, a good build and a sense of style may attract a woman at first, if you flash her a smile and your teeth are as yellow as a lemon, she will be turned off instantly. And those nice, burly biceps? They are no longer even a thought in her head.

Oral hygiene may seem like a very mundane topic, but the truth is, there are still a lot of people who do not take care of their teeth. This is especially seen in men who are in their late teens and early twenties who like to party, drink and smoke. Studies published by the British Dental Journal state that men who drink alcoholic beverages are more likely to have eroded enamel, which can result in tooth sensitivity or changes in colour.

So how do you keep your teeth pearly white? There are the obvious answers such as brushing your teeth (three times a day!), flossing, using mouthwash as well as visiting the dentist frequently. There are also cosmetic approaches to get your teeth whiter in no time.

Laser whitening done by professionals is the most effective way and has the greatest results in getting your teeth looking whiter. The pros of this are that it targets all of your teeth (even the molars) and will make them two to three shades lighter. This is an extremely expensive way to keep your teeth white, especially when it costs about $500 (minimum) and only lasts a few months (particularly if you are a heavy coffee, tea or wine drinker).

The cheaper alternative to this is whitening trays or whitening strips. They essentially do the exact same thing as laser treatment, except that it takes longer to get your teeth white, and it doesn't make them as white. They are a fraction of the cost. Whitening trays definitely work better than strips because they target all teeth, while the strips only work on the front teeth.

The last and least known way to brighten the teeth is by wearing a lip gloss or lip chap that is tinted either black or blue. When applied, the gloss goes on clear and fully unnoticeable, but the black or blue tint accentuates the white in the teeth (similar to how blue eye shadow brings out the whites of the eyes). This does not make a drastic difference in the whiteness of the teeth; it mainly helps accentuate teeth being properly taken care of.

Even though your highly sophisticated, trendy wardrobe may seem like the next best thing, if your teeth are as yellow and as eroded as can be, your whole look is destroyed. As Lee Mildon once said (and as cheesy as it may be, it is 100 per cent true), "People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile."