4 Dental Hygiene Services That Improve Your Overall Smile

11 November 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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When seeking orthodontic treatment, most people are concerned about achieving an improved smile. The structure of your teeth and gums are the main determinants that will affect how your smile looks to you and others. That is why most orthodontic treatment involves tooth realignment via braces, clear aligners, corrective jaw surgery and many other techniques.

However, there are other hygiene-related procedures that can also improve your overall smile. While these procedures are simpler and quicker to carry out, they provide surprisingly effective results to your teeth and gums.

Here are 4 hygiene-related procedures you should consider to achieve brighter teeth and a brighter smile.

1. Professional tooth cleaning

Professional tooth cleaning is an in-depth cleaning of your teeth and gums to remove plaque. Regular brushing does not reach in-between your teeth and deep inside your gums. These regions often become areas where sugar and food participles accumulate, thus turning into plaque.

You can think of professional tooth cleaning as a preventative measure that protects your teeth from decay, yellowing, and gum infections. With regular professional cleaning from a dentist, you can end up with brighter teeth and a more attractive smile.

2. Habit breakers

Do you regularly grind your teeth, bite your nails, or suck your thumb? These activities can cause your teeth to become damaged or misaligned. For example, tooth grinding wears out your enamel and causes your teeth to become weaker. Sucking you thumb pushes nearby teeth out of position and affects your overall smile.

Luckily, orthodontists can fit you with habit breakers that are a painless, yet convenient option for correcting your smile. Habit breakers prevent you from unwillingly damaging your teeth and affecting the health of your gums.

3. Tooth sealants

Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of an unattractive smile. A decayed tooth can also infect neighbouring teeth, and the infected tooth will need to be extracted.

To prevent this complicated process, tooth sealants are an excellent preventative measure. Sealants are essentially plastic coatings that can cover vulnerable teeth to prevent them from decaying. They can be used on both back and front teeth to ensure that your overall smile remains intact.

4. Clear aligners

If your teeth are already out of position, there's still an effective treatment option available. Clear aligners straighten your teeth and jaws over time, repositioning teeth to their correct location within the mouth. In addition to a renewed smile, aligners can also solve problems related to biting and chewing food (such as overbite or underbite).