Cynthia Erivo shares pre-performance routine to ‘feel fresh’

Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo reveals the secret to staying fresh: keeping her mouth clean so she can confidently flaunt her gleaming, toothy smile, never shying away from her signature gap.

The Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning performer told PEOPLE that she’s been mindful of oral care since childhood.

"I'm the geeky kid who was like, 'I'm brushing my teeth.' I don't think Mom ever had to fight me to brush my teeth," she shared with a chuckle.

Erivo has partnered with Listerine for its Wash Your Mouth campaign, a collaboration that came naturally given her long-standing fondness for oral hygiene.

"Strangely enough, brushing my teeth and using mouthwash—Listerine specifically—for some reason, really opens me up," she said. "It means that I can breathe really well. It's the last thing I do before I go on stage. I just want to make sure that I feel really fresh. It sort of gives me a restart before I go on and sing or speak."

The Wicked star always prioritises her oral health—and it shows when she smiles.

During her conversation with the outlet, Erivo even joked that sometimes it takes her "way too long" to brush her teeth because she wants them to be "sparkly."

"I take good pride in [my mouth] because of my gap," she said, adding that using alcohol-free products is more helpful for maintaining oral hygiene.

"I think what we tend to do is pick our outfits, put the makeup on, or do our nails—which are wonderful, great ways to show who you are externally—but cleaning your mouth adds to that. It also adds to the confidence you might not even be able to see unless you smile."

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