A great smile is one of the most impactful elements of a person’s appearance, and does a lot of the heavy lifting when generating a first impression.
If you’ve made the decision to embark on the journey of achieving the dazzling smile of your dreams, know that it’s a worthwhile investment. Form usually follows function, so even if you’re doing this purely for cosmetic reasons, the steps you’ll put in place will have an important carryover to your oral health and hygiene, too.
In this article, you’ll learn all about how to achieve a fantastic smile in four easy-to-understand steps!
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1. Getting the Basics Down: Oral Hygiene
A great smile starts with tending to your oral hygiene. If you’re not brushing twice per day, start doing so. The most important tooth brushing session is at night, so that you remove the food buildup that’s accumulated throughout the day, and a brushing session should last for about two minutes.
It’s also essential to floss, as brushing only goes so far. Flossing enables you to get in between your teeth and remove any food particles that are stuck there that brushing cannot reach. You could also include mouthwash to ensure you’ve eliminated as much bacteria as possible.
2. Choosing a Reputable Dentist
Once you’ve gotten the basics down, you’ll want to approach a dentist well-versed in cosmetic treatments. A cosmetic dentist can explore all possible treatment options with you to decide upon a method (or combination of methods) which will work best for you.
This could be anything from basic whitening procedures to full dental implants to replace missing teeth; every case is different, and you may need to attend several consultations, and perhaps have some dental imaging done, before you land upon the ideal plan.
3. The Potential Need for Re-Alignment
Having consulted with your dentist, they may suggest that consulting between them and an orthodontist may be appropriate in your case. If you have severe overcrowding or significant bite issues, you might be advised that it would be in your best interest – both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint – to correct those elements with alignment devices.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you would need braces: many people have clear aligners such as those provided by Invisalign, offering an unintrusive way to straighten teeth safely and effectively.
4. Maintaining Your Results
Once you’ve had the treatment you required, the most important work begins after. To maintain your results, you’ll have to keep a rigorous schedule; if your teeth have been realigned, make sure you diligently wear your retainer as instructed, and if you’ve had dental whitening, you may need a ‘top-up’ procedure every now and then and should try drinking staining drinks like coffee through a straw.
Your dentist will be able to advise on the specific measures you need to take to keep your teeth looking brilliant forever.
Wrapping Up
Significantly improving your smile is often simpler than you think: it just requires some investment, patience, and consistency. Good luck on your journey!
