Simple Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Smile
The team at Brenda Copeland, DDS, PA seeks to help our patients obtain healthier smiles. For some, that means making changes to their lifestyle and nutritional habits, and for others, that entails opting for cosmetic dental improvements. No matter what aesthetic perfections you’re trying to make we’re here to help.
Adjustments for a Healthier Smile
You can take some simple steps to achieve a brighter smile, including minor things you can do at home. Dietary and nutrition habits affect how our smile looks in big ways and making mindful changes can mean the difference between yellowed or bright teeth.
We advise that patients eliminate foods and beverages that aren’t enamel-friendly, meaning they’re highly acidic or have high sugar content. Some common culprits include citrus fruit and food cooked with citrus, in addition to foods containing high amounts of phosphoric acid. What’s more, health concerns such as GERD (acid reflux) can also erode enamel, so it’s important to avoid foods that trigger your symptoms if you currently suffer from this condition.
If protecting tooth enamel is a concern, you can also opt for adding fibrous foods to your diet. Fiber stimulates salivary flow which helps create mineral defenses that thwart tooth decay.
In addition to protecting your enamel, it’s important to protect your teeth form surface stains caused by food and drink. Many darkly-pigmented beverages such as red wine, coffee, tea, and soda cause easily-avoidable staining. Drinking through a straw or rinsing afterward can eliminate the most severe staining.
Finally, bad habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided. Both contain harmful components that cause dry mouth, which can lead to both enamel erosion and staining.
Professional Solutions for Minor Imperfections
If you’re more interested in cosmetic dental improvements, there are treatment options that allow you to painlessly improve the aesthetics of your smile, and we’re happy to provide a consultation for these options.
Some of the more common cosmetic requests include filling in gaps or spacing, which can be accomplished in two distinct ways. If gaps and spacing issues are minor, cosmetic bonding can fill in areas between teeth and give them a wider appearance. If dramatic spacing issues are present, in addition to minor alignment concerns or unevenness in teeth, veneers are a great treatment option to transform a patient’s smile.
Additional treatment options that provide a noticeable improvement in a patient’s smile include professional teeth whitening, dental crowns, and bridges, as well as composite fillings – all of which can be performed in our office.
Contact Brenda Copeland, DDS, for Cosmetic Procedures
Are you ready to take the next step in improving your smile? Try these at-home best practices or inquire about cosmetic enhancements during your next routine exam.