One of the first things that people do in the morning while getting ready for the day is to look in the mirror and smile. Unfortunately, many people don’t like what they see. Their smile may be tainted by discolored, broken, or missing teeth. It can be a painful and humiliating moment.
Your smile is what gives people their first impression of you, (when it is not hidden by a mask). It can cause embarrassment and people may form incorrect opinions of you. It can also be unhealthy and cause health problems. As we have covered in other blogs, your oral cavity is the entryway to your body, and if your teeth aren’t healthy, it can lead to many other serious medical issues.
If you are unhappy with your smile and dental health, here are five ways you to improve your smile:
- Invisalign: This is used to treat orthodontic problems such as crowded teeth, inappropriately spaced teeth, misaligned teeth, and also more complex conditions such as crossbites, overbites, and underbites. Invisalign is almost invisible and does not affect your appearance. They are also comfortable and can be removed when eating or drinking. Additionally, they do not interfere with speech
- Dental Implants: Implants permanently replace missing teeth. They also restore gaps in teeth and make smiles look natural. They are the closest thing that we can get to our original teeth. Implants have a small screw-like fixture made of titanium that is placed in the jaw and acts as an artificial tooth root. Then it is covered by prosthetic appliances like crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- Crowns and Bridges: Crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are designed to cover missing or damaged teeth. They add strength to the tooth structure, improve the alignment, appearance, and shape of teeth, and correct bite imperfections. When placed on top of a dental implant, a crown adds structure and function to a missing tooth. Dental bridges cover or “bridge” the gap left by a few missing teeth.
- Teeth Whitening: This common cosmetic dentistry procedure can show immediate results while maintaining the original teeth. Whitening treatments use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach the enamel and dentin which gives the appearance of white teeth. Some treatments have made teeth up to five to six shades brighter. Custom whitening trays can also be created to help the patient maintain that glow at home.
- Routine Dental Visits: Routine dental visits and regular brushing and flossing is the easiest way to help maintain your teeth. Problems can be spotted early which can prevent larger problems from occurring. Also, coffee, tea, and food stain can be removed during a regular dental visit. The least expensive and most efficient way to keep that beautiful smile is to regularly brush and floss your teeth after every meal and to have a cleaning and checkup every 6 months.
Don’t despair. If you have a less-than-attractive smile, your dentist can design a dental plan specifically for you. Once you make these changes, you will be proud of your smile again and enjoy looking at your reflection in the mirror every morning!
All Smiles Bethesda has experienced dentists and dental hygienists who can take care of your dental needs. Our health professionals will diagnose your dental issues and make recommendations to improve it.
If you would like to schedule an appointment at our family dentistry, please call us at 301-984-9646 or email us at info@allsmilesbethesda.com or lorraine@allsmilesbethesda.com.