Is there anything about your smile that makes you self-conscious? Perhaps your teeth aren’t quite straight. Or maybe you have some staining from your daily cup of coffee. Are your front teeth chipped from that epic hockey game you won?
So many people avoid social situations, eating in public, or smiling because they are embarrassed about their teeth. A smile makeover can eliminate those problems in a matter of weeks.
Why Are We So Focused On Our Smiles?
A smile is indeed just one aspect of our appearance and personality, but it is often the first thing we notice when we meet someone new. We are trying to be shallow or judgmental. We are biologically hardwired to look for signs of health to perpetuate the species.
The traits we generally find most attractive are clear skin, healthy smiles, youthful color, and a strong build. Historically, those were signs of health easily seen on the faces around us.
Knowing that those around us make quick judgments about us by our smiles may cause us to hide them if we aren’t happy with the way they look. We would rather avoid smiling than show our imperfect teeth to the people around us.
The good news is that skilled dentists can help. Routine and cosmetic procedures can improve or remove the appearance of imperfections in your smile, helping you feel confident flashing those pearly whites to coworkers, family members, and strangers you meet.
What Treatments Are Available?
- Dental Maintenance– During this basic service, your dental care provider removes tartar buildup, x-rays your teeth to ensure there are no cavities, and checks the overall health of your mouth. You should get a cleaning every six months to safeguard the health and longevity of your teeth.
- Emergency Dentistry Services– If you develop an abscess, chip a tooth, or trauma that damages your jaw, you can visit your local emergency walk-in dentist for immediate repair. If the injury knocked teeth out or you lost them to medications or osteoporosis, your dentists can fit you for bridges, partial or full dentures.
- Straightening– Whether you were born with misaligned teeth or your wisdom teeth caused them to shift, metal braces or Invisalign retainers can gradually move your teeth into their proper positions. Once the teeth are where you want them, retainers are worn at night to keep them in place.
- Whitening– One of the easiest and quickest changes you can make is teeth whitening. Over time our teeth change color because of the foods we eat. Coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco products are some of the most common culprits. Your dentist will use a retractor to keep the whitening solution from hurting your lips, paint your gums with a protective gel, and use a peroxide solution to penetrate the outer layer of the enamel and remove stains. Unlike over-the-counter treatments, you will see a noticeable difference in just minutes.
- Veneers– If there’s extreme staining or you’d like to make minor shape changes to your teeth, they can affix porcelain veneers to the fronts of your teeth for a brighter, more uniform smile.
- Crowns– After a cavity, root canal, or abnormal wear and tear from misaligned teeth, the dentist can fix the underlying problem before covering the site with a custom-fit crown. Like veneers, they make your teeth look new while protecting the repairs.
The Sparkling Smile Benefits
In addition to the aesthetic benefits of a smile makeover, you may notice other changes.
Speech
The shape of our mouths affects the way we talk. Misaligned teeth can cause a lisp, whistling, and other distracting sounds when you speak. Correcting the placement of teeth can fix those problems, allowing you to communicate clearly and confidently.
Bite
For some, eating crunchy or fibrous foods can be difficult. Realigning teeth can correct your bite, preventing abnormal wear and tear and making chewing your food easier and more comfortable.
Protect Your Face Shape
Your face shape can change after injury, illness, or malnutrition causes tooth loss. As with all bones, repeated pressure (in this case from chewing) causes the bone to react and build bone density.
Your jaw will lose bone density if you don’t have a tooth in one area, causing the other teeth to shift. If you lose most or all of your teeth, your jaw will shrink, and your cheeks will sag without structural support. That is why implants, bridges, and partial or full dentures are essential.
Prevent Future Damage
When teeth aren’t aligned properly, they strike or grind against the opposing tooth in the wrong spot, which may cause weakness, uneven wear, or breakage.
Confidence
A great-looking smile helps us feel more confident in social situations. We smile more, talk freely, and laugh without hiding.
Lowers Stress
Whether natural or forced, Smiling releases feel-good brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. They reduce stress, improve our immune system, sharpen our decision-making, and give us a general sense of well-being.
Saves You Money
While there is an initial investment in a winning smile, the benefits last well into the future and correct any problems before they get worse and ultimately cost more to fix.
Don’t let your teeth get in the way of you leading an active and happy social life. A beautiful smile is within reach. Why wait when there are so many benefits to improving your teeth’ health, alignment, and appearance?
