When you smile the muscles in your face trigger the release of Endorphins which are responsible for making us feel happy and reduce stress levels. So we all should all be smiling for most of the time with these free feel good chemicals… shouldn’t we?! What’s stopping you? OK ignoring the pressures of life, work, family, money (Blah Blah Blah), we did some simple research with our clients to find out the most common tangible reasons people don’t want to smile more or why they covered up their mouth when they smile or talk…
The Top 5 Reasons were…
- 1. Crooked teeth
- 2. Stained teeth
- 3. Missing teeth
- 4. Old looking teeth
- 5. Dark or yellow teeth
The good news is that all of these issues can be fixed through a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures. The great news is that some of them really don’t cost a great to sort out either.
Here are a few tips and treatments that can help…
1. Buy a good electric toothbrush. Use it twice a day for 2 minutes each time and remember to replace the brush head approx. every three months (or as the bristles spread apart and the indicator colour wears off). Not only will this brushing help maintain a healthy mouth, it can also remove some of the simple staining and discolouration of your teeth if you use a good quality toothpaste.
2. Visit a dental hygienist and try and see them every three months. These are the experts that love to remove the plaque and calculus that normal brushing and flossing doesn’t. It is usually more cost effect to see a hygienist for cleaning rather than your dentist as their hourly rates are less. Some practices now offer Direct Access appointments so you don’t even need to be registered with the practice.
3. Book a Deep Clean session with your hygienist. Techniques such as Air-Flow can be used to blast tiny particles of sodium bicarbonate powder across the surface of your teeth to remove the stains caused by tea, coffee, red wine & smoking.
4. Get your teeth whitened. There are a variety of professional teeth whitening systems that can be use at home or in the dental surgery. Always make sure that you receive these from a dental professional. Whilst some beauticians claim to be able to offer this service, it is in fact illegal for them to do so in the UK.
5. Book a cosmetic dentistry consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. In addition to the simple solutions above, your dentist can advise you on more complex treatments such as dental implants for missing teeth, short-term orthodontics to straighten crooked teeth and the use of crowns and veneers to repair unsightly or damaged teeth.
Don’t let your smile let you down. The benefits of a happy and healthy mouth outweigh the short-term costs to sorting out your smile. Remember smiling can help you become more approachable in work and social situations and life in general is often easier and more fulfilling when smiles and laughter is shared.
