Stop Hiding Your Smile!
Smiling is an important form of communication and self-expression. It also provides a number of health benefits from reduced anxiety to lowered blood pressure. Your smile is something that makes you unique; not something you should be forced to hide! Visible dental problems, however, can sometimes chip away at one’s confidence, leaving you less than eager to smile for the camera or laugh at a joke. If you find yourself stifling a smile or avoiding photos or gatherings because of dental problems, please read on for more information on ways that your dentist can resolve these issues and restore your sparkling smile.
Stained or Discolored Teeth
Many people find that their teeth become increasingly stained or discolored over time, particularly those who frequently drink staining beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine, or those who consume tobacco. For others, age, medications, and even trauma may have contributed to less than sparkling pearly whites.
If stained or discolored teeth are preventing you from sharing your smile, rest assured that there are a number of inexpensive whitening treatments that can noticeably lighten your teeth. These include whitening strips and at-home bleaching trays, both of which can be purchased either at your local drugstore or at your dentist’s office. The products that you can buy in your dentist’s office will give the best results, but even the products available over the counter can be effective. To maintain the results you get from at-home teeth whitening, you might try a daily whitening toothpaste, as well, in addition to daily brushing and flossing. For more dramatic results, ask your dentist about the other products and procedures they have at their disposal.
Missing Teeth
If missing teeth make you feel self-conscious, your dentist can help. You may be a candidate for dentures, for example, if you’re missing a number of teeth due to trauma or extractions. Dentures come in a wide variety of types now and can be quite comfortable and realistic looking. In many cases, same-day dentures can be made and worn out of your dentist’s office while waiting for a more permanent solution.
Dental implants also provide an alternative and can be especially effective in cases where just one or very few teeth are missing. Dental implants are installed via a small screw that connects to the jawbone; on it is attached a fake tooth made of composite resin that looks and acts just like a real tooth. In addition to filling the gap in your smile, dental implants can actually improve and stabilize your oral health, fending off infection, tooth migration, and even bone loss.
Damaged or Decayed Teeth
Damaged or decayed teeth can stop one’s smile in its tracks, too. This can take a number of different forms, including chipped or broken teeth, crooked or crowded teeth, visibly decayed teeth and even teeth that have been ground down to small nubs. In all of these cases, cosmetic dentistry is a viable solution. If you have been hiding your smile due to breaks, cracks, chips, or overlaps, call your dentist for an evaluation and learn more about what cosmetic dentistry can do for your smile!