Six essential tips to get the picture-perfect smile you've always wanted

 

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A beautiful smile goes a long way in boosting your self-esteem, increasing self-confidence, and keeping you clear of unnecessary dental bills. A crooked and unappealing smile, on the other hand, can put a damper on many things.

Fortunately, today there is no stone left unturned in terms of solutions for dental problems; everything from crooked and broken teeth to gum disease and over or under bites has a reliable and guaranteed solution.

Unfortunately, in Ohio, a significant proportion of adults (39.4%), i.e., 3,433,000 have no dental coverage; only 14.1% weren't insured for medical care.

However, Beavercreek and other cities have lots of facilities catered towards preventative dentistry. But, for many, it is a matter of choice; perhaps not everyone prioritizes oral hygiene. There is also no doubt that maintaining a picture-perfect smile is easier said than done.

If done right, you can save yourself a great deal of time, effort, and money that would otherwise go into avoidable dental procedures.

The following are some handy tips that can help you achieve the picture-perfect smile you have always dreamed of:

1.         Visit your oral hygienist at least twice a year

Plaque, periodontal disease, bleeding gums, broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, discoloration, and numerous other oral problems can be avoided and treated in time through frequent dental check-ups.

It would be best to identify and treat a problem in time than to allow it to escalate to a more painful degree. To do so, visiting the dentist regularly is a must. It shouldn't be too challenging to locate a nearby  Orthodontist in Beavercreek, OH, and schedule a visit.

Some dental insurance companies offer free routine check-ups; when you don't have this support, you must take the responsibility yourself. Once you get into the routine, maintaining it will be easy. It will also pay off in the form of 'pearly whites' that remain free of stains and tartar.

2.         Treat crooked and misaligned teeth

The situation isn't hopeless if you have crooked or misaligned teeth, regardless of your genes or circumstances. With the advances in dental care procedures today, 'straightening' out the problem, quite literally, isn't impossible.

Misaligned and crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites can cause aesthetic issues. It could even lead to difficulties in chewing, brushing, and maintaining oral hygiene.

The popular traditional treatment for this was using braces, but today a more aesthetic alternative is clear aligners. Metal braces are usually a less expensive option, sometimes even cheaper than clear (ceramic) braces.

In Beavercreek, OH, metal braces can cost between $3000 and $7000 based on how long you need them and the nature of the problem.

3.         Fill in the gaps

Missing teeth are a terrible thing to deal with; it could compromise your entire smile. In fact, missing teeth can even reshape your entire jaw and disturb the bite by giving the remaining teeth space to shift.

It is easy to neglect a  missing tooth if it is at the back of the mouth and not visible in your smile. That missing tooth can disturb speech, make eating difficult, damage the shape of your face, and cause complications in the long run.

Whether it is because of tooth decay, injury, gum disease, or a genetic condition that one or more of your teeth are missing, there are several solutions you can go for.

Dental implants are the preferred alternative for replacing one missing tooth. For more than one tooth in the same area, a fixed dental bridge is an option.

4.         Brush regularly and properly

'Brush twice a day' has become a redundant phrase we have heard since childhood. But if you abide by it today, you're still better off with oral hygiene than those who don't.

Many of us have neglected the brushing-at-night routine; it cannot be stressed enough how important night-time brushing is. The night is the perfect time for the natural bacteria in the mouth to feed on the food particles remaining in the mouth and produce acid.

As important as brushing is, this is only helpful if you brush right; in fact, bad brushing is almost as bad, if not worse, for your gums, as not brushing. The  right way to brush is at a 45° angle, back and forth, both on the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth.

Brushing your tongue should help give you a fresher breath and eliminate odor-causing bacteria.

5.         Flossing is equally important

Brushing alone is ineffective in removing all the food particles, and often crevices between teeth remain untouched. Flossing gets the job done where brushing lacks.

Usually, the brush cannot remove plaque from below the gum line; this plaque causes discoloration and erodes the enamel.

In addition to removing the food stuck between teeth, flossing is known to stimulate your gums, lower inflammation, and reduce plaque. Regular flossing can lower the risk of cavities, prevent gingivitis, minimize soreness, puffiness, and redness, and improve breath.

Preferably, it would be best to floss at least once a day, ideally before brushing your teeth. Unfortunately, the American Dental Association reports that only 40% of Americans floss once daily, and 20% don't.

6.         Watch your diet

As difficult as it might sound, you must abandon certain foods and beverages to get that picture-perfect smile. The long-term satisfaction of a beautiful smile is worth giving up the temporary pleasure!

It is time you give up smoking, chewy sweets, and fizzy drinks. Red wine, cola, coffee, dark berries, and tea also stain teeth. Fizzy drinks are acidic and can erode the enamel in the long run. Moderation is key.

Final words

A straighter, brighter, and more photogenic smile isn't too far if you can follow the tips we've mentioned in this article.

Visit the dentist regularly, seek treatment for misaligned and missing teeth, brush and floss regularly, and monitor your diet.

A bit of investment of time and effort in these will reap excellent benefits for your oral health, aesthetics, and confidence.