From walking in 5″ high heels to getting our eyebrows waxed every other weekend, we put ourselves through too many arduous beauty routines in order to look good– whatever “good” may mean at any point in modern culture. As a former pageant queen, I’ll be the first one to admit that it’s time to stop making harmful compromises for beauty. No matter how high our heels are or how much we weigh, only one thing can truly bring together an entire look: a radiant smile. I know that aspirations of maintaining a perfect smile don’t always come cheap– or without pain. From hundreds of dollars worth of whitening strips and whitening mouthwash, I’ve suffered from painful tooth sensitivity caused by eroded enamel for as long as I can remember. The worst part? Enamel doesn’t just grow back. It’s a mineral, so when your enamel has been damaged, such as a crack, chip, or erosion, that loss is permanent.

Even though I’ve thrown my pageant heels in storage, I’m still a fashion blogger (hence these photos of me and my navy turtleneck sweater dress). I still rely on my smile for so many aspects of my business, like selling products, looking friendly, and, most importantly, feeling confident. Luckily, I’m not alone in my struggle for sensitivity relief, and our cries have been heard loud and clear. Upon the recommendation of my dentist, I’ve been exclusively using this toothpaste for the past few months… and I can’t stress how amazing it feels to finally be able to enjoy ice cream without being jolted by a sharp pain.

Shop the Look: Navy Turtleneck Sweater Dress: Zaful, $21 (similar) | Scarf: Old Navy, $19 | Boots: Free People, $228 | Bag: Tory Burch, $350 (similar) | Watch: Michael Kors, $275 | Bracelets: Kendra Scott Color Bar, $80

I read on a dental health infographic that more than 1/3 of women who experience sensitivity say they will do whatever it takes to have whiter teeth… and that 32% believe that for tooth whitening, the more intense approaches are more effective. Let’s make a pact to help educate each other on the harmful side effects of ignorance. Save your enamel and try a toothpaste for sensitivity relief and stain removal– like Sensodyne^® True White^®.

How do you cope with tooth sensitivity? Have you given Sensodyne^® True White^® a try yet?

_{This post was sponsored by Sensodyne^® as part of an influencer activation for Influence Central. Sensodyne^® compensated me in connection with statements made in this post.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own. * Based on Relative Dentin Abrasivity testing against 15 products in the top 80% of the whitening toothpaste market.}