Everyone deserves to feel good about their smile. Having good oral hygiene and healthy teeth and gums can go a long way in boosting your self-esteem, and is also important for your overall health.
In this guide, we unpack 14 ways to improve your teeth and achieve the perfect smile. We’ll cover hygiene tips to incorporate into your dental care routine, and then explain which cosmetic dentistry procedures you can consider to repair chipped or damaged teeth.
Why Is Oral Hygiene Important?
Good oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Habits like flossing and brushing twice a day are a great start, but there is a range of other things you can do to keep your teeth in great shape.
Oral health is about more than cavities and gum disease. Research tells us that there is a strong correlation between our oral health and overall health. When left untreated, decay and gum disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infections, malnutrition and speech impairment. In this instance, All on 4 dental implants can also be your alternative solutions.
The condition of your teeth is also important for your mental health. Studies have proven that our dental aesthetic has a very real impact on our self-esteem and psychological well being.
With proper dental treatment, you can improve your teeth and enjoy a smile you feel proud of, leading to a healthier body and mind.
Ways to Improve Your Teeth
Wondering how to get perfect teeth?
It all starts with your daily dental care routine. Here’s how to improve your teeth, from an oral hygiene perspective.
1- Brush Your Teeth Regularly (and Gently)
Brushing your teeth twice daily is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health.
Brushing helps to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth, keeping them clean and preventing cavities.
Make sure you’re brushing properly (yes, there is a right and wrong way to do it!). Brush gently using small circular motions, covering the front, back, and top of each tooth. The process should take 2 to 3 minutes.
Avoid using saw-like back and forth motions, as this method won’t thoroughly clean the whole tooth. Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristle brush can actually harm your teeth and gums, causing tooth sensitivity and damage to the tooth enamel.
Be sure to brush your tongue as well; brushing your tongue leads to fresher breath and a cleaner mouth-feel.
2- Use Fluoride
Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and is usually included in toothpaste and mouthwash products. Be sure to pick products that contain fluoride.
Most water systems have added fluoride, and you can find out if your local water supply contains fluoride by contacting your local government.
Opt for tap water where you can, as most bottle water doesn’t contain any fluoride.
3- Floss Your Teeth
Flossing is essential as it removes plaque and bacteria from those hard-to-reach spots in between the teeth. It also helps to prevent bad breath.
Gently push the floss down to the gum line and work in a triangle up-and-down motion to reach the gum lining on both sides of the tooth.
4- Attend Regular Dentist Check-Ups
Keep up with biannual dentist check-up appointments.
At your check-up, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth and check for any signs of tooth decay.
If they identify damage, they will be able to treat it straight away or book you in for any procedures you may require. This helps to prevent more serious issues from developing down the line.
5- Don’t Smoke
Tobacco use is very harmful to our oral health.
Not only does it lead to yellowing of the teeth and bad breath, but it also increases the risk of gum disease and mouth cancer.
Smoking also affects the body’s immune system, making it harder for the tissues in the mouth to heal properly after injury, surgery, or damage.
6- Use a Mouthwash
Certain mouthwashes can help you maintain good oral health.
One study found that mouthwash containing the antibacterial agent chlorhexidine helped to reduce the risk of plaque buildup and gingivitis.
You can add a mouthwash to your oral care routine, using it after you have flossed and brushed your teeth.
7- Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
Sugary, starchy foods and drinks are the leading cause of tooth decay.
So, how does tooth decay occur?
The bacteria that live in our mouths create a film over our teeth, which is known as dental plaque. When we consume sugary foods and beverages, the bacteria in the plaque feeds on these sugars. When this occurs, an acid is produced. It slowly chips away at the tooth enamel until cavities form.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends people limit their daily sugar intake to at least below 10% of their daily calories to minimise the risk of tooth decay.
Avoid sugary beverages where you can, and rehydrate with fluoride-containing water instead.
8- Reduce Snacking
Snacking on sugary foods and drinks regularly throughout the day gives the bacteria in our mouths a constant energy supply. This leads to more acid production, and therefore weaker tooth enamel.
If you do need to snack, make sure you’re consuming carb-free snacks or rinsing your mouth with water after eating. This will help to dilute the sugar and help your saliva neutralise the acid.
How to Get a Perfect Smile
If your oral hygiene is under control and your dental issues are cosmetic in nature, there are a number of things you can do to achieve a picture-perfect smile.
1- Orthodontic Work
If your teeth are misaligned, crooked, crowded, or you have issues with your bite, it’s worth considering orthodontic work.
Braces are the oldest and most popular form of orthodontics. They can treat both minor and complex dental issues. Brackets and wires are adhered to the teeth and work to guide the teeth into desired positions.
Alternatively, Invisalign is a more discreet tooth-straightening option. Invisalign aligners are clear, removable trays that apply pressure to the teeth and guide them into desired spots. They are better suited to minor dental concerns. Nowadays, finding an invisalign full cost would be your least concern as you can simply check out prices on dental websites online.
2- Dental Shaping
If your smile is slightly crooked or uneven, dental shaping may be the right option for you. Your dentist will gently file the teeth in areas that are too long or misshapen to create a straighter smile.
Dental shaping is most commonly recommended for people whose front teeth are longer than the rest of their teeth, or for people who have one misshapen tooth.
3- Veneers
Veneers are thin coverings that are applied to the front of the tooth to improve the appearance of the teeth.
You’ve likely seen veneers on your favourite celebrities; that white, bright, straight smile is usually courtesy of veneers!
Veneers eliminate the appearance of stained, chipped, crooked, or misshapen teeth, and can also help to close the gaps between teeth.
With the right care, they typically last for over 10 years, do not stain, and don’t require maintenance. However, veneers are more prone to chipping than dental crowns are.
4- Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are only recommended if your teeth are very damaged. They are generally not recommended if your dental concerns are purely aesthetic.
Crowns improve both the appearance of the teeth and the strength and longevity of the teeth.
As with veneers, dental crowns fit over your tooth. However, part of your original tooth will need to be removed for your dental crown.
Dental crowns typically last 5 to 15 years. Your dentist will let you know how often you need to come in to have your dental crowns checked and maintained.
5- Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a cheaper procedure than crowns and veneers.
The treatment involves applying composite resin directly to the tooth to repair damage such as cracking, chipping, or gaps between the teeth.
Dental bonding can be completed in a single session, and the results usually last 3 to 10 years.
However, the resin is not stain-resistant and is weaker than the material used to create veneers, so dental bonding carries a higher risk of chipping.
6- Teeth Whitening
Professional tooth whitening can be completed by your dentist to brighten and whiten your smile.
The procedure involves soaking your teeth in bleach to remove discolouration and yellowing. Your dentist will then use a light or laser to activate the bleach.
While you can purchase DIY whitening kits, professional whitening will deliver more effective and longer-lasting results.
Improve Your Teeth and Achieve a Perfect Smile
A healthy smile is essential for your overall physical health, and can make a real difference to your confidence and self-esteem.
You can improve your teeth by incorporating the above dental care practices into your daily routine. A little effort will go a long way!
When it comes to achieving a picture-perfect smile, there are a number of cosmetic treatments that can help. Chat with your dentist about your options to work out which treatment will be right for you.