Ensure Your Smile is Picture Perfect

Not only can looking after your teeth and gums improve the way you look and your confidence, it can also help to improve your overall health and wellbeing. Patients who invest in their smiles are much more likely to take good care of their teeth. It makes sense – when you’ve paid to improve your smile, you want to keep it that way.

Whatever the occasion,we have some advice to help you make sure that your smile is always picture perfect. From taking care of the basics, to simple cosmetic procedures that can deliver incredible results, we have suggestions to help you smile with confidence, all year round.

1. Put in place a good oral hygiene routine

Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, for at least two minutes. You should also use interdental aids such as floss or interdental brushes to clean in between teeth daily. Brushing alone will only reach around 60% off tooth surfaces.

It is important to ensure that you clean in between teeth to remove any trapped food particles which if left can provide a food source for bacteria in your mouth and in the long term lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

2. Visit your dentist for routine appointments

You should visit your dentist for routine appointments as often as they recommend. When you attend for your dental examination your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and this enables any problems to be identified early and treated quickly.

The dentist may also refer you to the hygienist for regular scaling and polishing, this ensures that you do not get a buildup of plaque and calculus keeping your teeth looking their best. Airflow polishing is a simple way to remove surface stains from your teeth and it could leave you with a whiter and brighter smile.

3. Consider teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to lighten the natural colour of your teeth and give you a brighter smile. Teeth whitening can be effective in lightening staining caused by food, drink and smoking. It can also improve staining caused by certain antibiotics and the general ageing process.

When handled by a professional, teeth whitening is very safe and effective. The professional whitening formulas used by your dentist are stronger than anything available over the counter. So, ditch the whitening strips and see real results with the help of professional whitening.

4. Teeth straightening

If you find that your crooked, twisted or misaligned teeth are affecting your confidence, why not consider adult braces as the way to create a beautiful smile? With many different treatment options you are bound to find the solution for you, whether that be Invisalign or Fixed Braces.

Straighter teeth can not only improve your confidence but can also improve the functionality of your teeth and bite. Straight teeth are also much easier to care for, as you’ll be able to access all tooth surfaces when brushing and flossing. So while a teeth straightening treatment can help to improve your smile aesthetically, it also provides functional benefits.

5. Consider a smile makeover

For those people who would like to completely rejuvenate their smile, a smile makeover may be the treatment for you. The dentist will complete a detailed assessment of your mouth and will come up with a treatment plan.

This may involve replacing old restorations with new crowns, dental implants, bridges, veneers and teeth whitening to help achieve a younger and brighter smile. A smile makeover is unique to you, so we’ll start with your concerns and insecurities and then design a treatment plan that will enable us to address these.

6. Explore composite bonding

Composite bonding is a highly effective way to conceal small imperfections in your smile. A soft resin is colour matched to your desired shade and then applied directly to the teeth before it is shaped. This can then be set hard with a bright UV light, and then refined and polished to perfection.

Composite bonding is excellent for addressing things like chips, cracks, small gaps, rotations, discoloured teeth and thinning enamel. You could also opt for composite veneers, which will allow you to completely transform your smile.

7. Try porcelain veneers

The ultimate Hollywood smile makeover can be found with porcelain veneers. This treatment plan involves placing small porcelain shells over the front of your teeth to completely change the appearance. This is a fast and effective treatment that will typically last around 12-15 years with good care.

If you choose to have veneer treatment, you’ll need to commit to taking good care of your teeth and being careful when you eat. Biting into very hard or crunchy food will be off limits, and you’ll need to avoid things like chewing on ice or using your teeth to open packages.

8. Choose the right care products

Switching to a whitening toothpaste could help to banish some of the surface stains that make your smile appear dull after eating certain things. Choosing a mouthwash with a blue shade could help to boost the whiteness of your teeth while also ensuring that your teeth are healthy.

Next steps?

Not sure which treatment is right for you? Benfleet Dental Centre are able to offer you a full range of treatments including teeth straightening, smile makeovers and other cosmetic procedures.

We can also guide you through the process of choosing cosmetic dental care for your unique needs. Before you get attached to a particular treatment plan, get in touch with our team to find out if you’re a good candidate.

Call 01702 557766 to book a consultation appointment and start your journey to a better smile today.