One of the recurring themes of any workout — at least when it comes to good trainers — is the encouragement to keep smiling even if you think you’re too tired to carry on. A couple weeks ago seemingly simple act was put to the test — with a fun twist. Crest enlisted the help of fitness trainer Alicia Bell from Train it Right to put a few of us through an Olympian-inspired workout while we wore its latest 3D Whitening strips.

Modelling the gruelling exercises after Canadian track and field athlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, we did everything from traditional squats to more dynamic movements that mimicked the sporting events encountered in her heptathlon competitions. Crossfit YKV played host to this unique experience.

I particularly loved the connection between “Smiles and Stamina” as the Crest event was called. Considering that dental hygiene can be as much of a chore as staying fit, the correlation is more than appropriate.

As for the products themselves, I’ve had a few days to give them a-go, and I love them. I’ve been a fan of Crest for some time now and have used its whitening strips in particular for years. So to see the collection expanding to include two-step toothpaste regimens and more truly had me geeking out.

Of course, a quality toothpaste needs a quality toothbrush to really make a difference. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the latest Oral-B Electric Toothbrush that not only helps time each brush session with a separate clock, but also informs me when I’m pushing down too hard or when I haven’t been brushing enough. I mean, I’m only human. And it connects to my iPhone via Bluetooth to monitor my habits even more.