Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, you might have aesthetic concerns. For example, you could have a stained or missing tooth, or perhaps one tooth overlaps another. Your dentist in Lodi or Elk Grove can help. We can consult you on these issues and develop solutions for your budget and lifestyle.
Of course, you can correct some aesthetic concerns through healthy habits and better lifestyle choices.
This blog explores six ways to enhance the aesthetics of your smile, either on your own or with the help of your dentist.
#1 See the Dentist Regularly
Regular dental care, especially professional cleanings, rid your teeth of the ingredients that cause tooth discoloration and staining. The culprits include:
- Tartar
- Bacteria
- Plaque
Only professional teeth cleanings rid your teeth of stubborn tartar! You should visit us every six months.
#2 Brush and Floss Frequently
Some dentists recommend flossing at least once and brushing at least twice daily. However, try brushing and flossing after every meal to mitigate your tooth stain risks.
When you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean the teeth on all surfaces. We recommend spending at least two minutes. Always use a fresh string section when flossing to avoid moving debris around.
#3 Avoid Tooth-Staining Foods, Drinks, and Habits
Teeth stain for various reasons, including as a natural part of aging and due to certain medications. However, you can lower your risks for stubborn stains by reducing or eliminating tooth-staining foods, drinks, and habits.
Consider the following tooth-staining culprits:
- Red or dark wines
- Red or dark sauces
- Coffee and tea
- Bright berries
- Curry
- Tobacco
Tobacco not only leads to tooth stains; it also harms your oral and physical health. In dentistry, it puts you at risk for discolored teeth, dry mouth, slow healing, gum disease, and oral cancer.
#4 Talk to Your Dentist or Hygienist
Every patient has a unique oral health profile, meaning teeth stain and discolor for various reasons. Your dentist or hygienist can recommend specific products to help you optimize your at-home oral care routine. They can also discuss brushing techniques to optimize your sessions.
Additionally, your dentist can recommend cosmetic dentistry options to address only the issues that cause concern when you look in the mirror.
#5 Consider Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry can address most aesthetic concerns, and our dental office offers a full range of treatments.
Options for cosmetic dentistry in Lodi or Elk Grove include the following:
- Dental Veneers
- Clear Braces—Invisalign® or ClearCorrect®
- Dental Bonding
- Tooth-Colored Restorations—Crowns and Fillings
- Professional Teeth Whitening
- Full Smile Makeovers
Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain that conceal most smile imperfections, including short teeth, slightly crooked teeth, worn teeth, and more. Clear braces can straighten your teeth without metal and wires.
Options like dental bonding hide general tooth imperfections affordably using composite filling materials.
Tooth-colored restorations can restore broken or decayed teeth cosmetically without silver amalgam.
Finally, your dentist can combine cosmetic options (smile makeover) to transform your smile!
#6 Consider Tooth Replacement
If you have missing teeth, tooth replacement addresses the aesthetic issue and improves your oral health.
A complete smile contributes to better digestion and jawbone health (in the case of implant dentistry). It also helps prevent tooth migration and oral health complications in the future, including tooth wear and new cavities.
Our tooth replacement options include:
- Dental Implants: Single tooth replacement
- All-on-4 Dental Implants: Full arch tooth replacement, using approximately six implants
- Dental Bridges: Restoration teeth connected to healthy teeth via crowns
- Full Dentures: Removable arches of restoration teeth that stand in for full tooth loss
- Partial Dentures: Removable arches of restoration teeth that stand in for partial tooth loss
Contact Your Dentist in Lodi or Elk Grove
Contact a dental team member today to schedule your next checkup and teeth cleaning, or if you have questions about smile aesthetics.
We have two convenient locations to serve you and offer periodic specials to help patients budget their dental care. At the time of this blog’s posting, we’re offering a free Invisalign consultation in Lodi or Elk Grove!