Your smile defines you. It is often the first thing people see when they meet you and, for 48 percent of Americans, it is also the feature they find most memorable about you. That's great news if you like your smile. If you feel your teeth aren't white enough or straight enough, then there are some changes you can make.
1. Whitening Toothpaste: The least expensive way to get a whiter smile is to switch toothpastes. While they can't change the color of your teeth, whitening toothpastes can remove simple, surface stains from tea or coffee and, with regular use, keep them at bay.
2. Avoid Coffee and Tea: In that same vein, you could avoid drinking coffee and tea altogether to prevent them for tarnishing your smile. The problem with this idea, however, is that everything you drink has an effect on your teeth over time, even water.
3. Whitening Services: Your dentist offers additional options for permanently whitening your teeth in the office, which can also be called chairside bleaching. Trays filled with a peroxide-based gel are inserted into your mouth for the procedure. Your dentist may also combine this process with either UV or LED lights. Contact a dentist in your area for more information on teeth whitening services.
4. Aligners: For minor adjustments to your smile, custom-fitted, plastic aligners can work in lieu of a full set of metal braces. They are nearly invisible and slowly guide your teeth into the correct position over time. No one will even notice them.
5. Cleaning Quarterly: Bump up your game by having your teeth cleaned four times a year instead of just two. While your insurance company will pay for a cleaning every six months, there is no reason why you can't pay for the additional cleanings to keep all the stains away. You may be able to negotiate a lower price with the office manager if you are paying out of pocket.
6. Veneers: Another way to get both whiter and straighter teeth is to have veneers placed over your existing teeth. They are custom-made in your preferred shade of white and are applied directly over your teeth. Veneers can be tilted ever so slightly to the left or the right in order to correct crooked teeth or fill gaps. In fact, many dentists leave the slightest imperfections so the veneers seem all the more real.
When your smile is the first thing other people see and the last thing they remember about you, it should be one you are proud of.
Share19 December 2018
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
