8 Steps to Your Most Beautiful Smile
A Beautiful Smile: An Indulgence You Don't Have to Feel Guilty About
Why People Have Stopped Treating Themselves
During challenging financial times, indulgence items and services are often the first go to when you’re evaluating your budget. That daily espresso that once seemed so trivial is suddenly categorized as an expense and eliminated. The routine manicure and pedicure is no longer considered a “need” but rather, an indulgence. And, all too often, non-urgent medical or dental issues are put on the back burner.
What a Beautiful Smile Will do for You
Beautiful smiles increase self-confidence. Beautiful smiles give a more youthful appearance. Beautiful smiles can sometimes even make people feel confident enough to make major life changes. When people make changes to achieve a beautiful smile, dentists often notice other changes during follow-up visits. Sometimes people who suddenly feel confident with their beautiful smile will come to the dentist office sporting new hairstyles. A beautiful smile can prompt someone to lose weight. With a beautiful smile, people tend to buy more stylish clothing. Is a beautiful smile the cure-all? No, but a beautiful smile is a start to feeling better about oneself. It’s amazing how something as simple as a beautiful smile can boost one’s confidence and change one’s life.
A study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® indicates:
- 99.7% of adults see a beautiful smile as an important asset socially.
- 96% of adults believe a beautiful smile attracts members of the opposite sex.
- 74% of adults feel that not having a beautiful smile can affect your career or job opportunities.
Are You Happy with Your Smile?
Do you think that you have a beautiful smile? Answer the following questions to determine if cosmetic dentistry is an option that you should explore in pursuing your most beautiful smile.
- If someone has a beautiful smile, is that the first thing you notice? Do you automatically compare his or her teeth to yours and feel self-conscious?
- Do you avoid showing your teeth when you smile, look down to smile, or cover your smile with your hand?
- Do you avoid photos, or smile with a closed lip smile?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be missing out on the beautiful smile that will give you the self-confidence you deserve.
8 Steps to a Beautiful Smile
- Brush your teeth several times a day. Some dentists suggest twice, while others go as far as to suggest five times a day: morning, evening, and after every meal. Seek input from your dental care provider to determine what is best for your specific needs.
- Avoid smoking, coffee drinks, red wine, and carbonated beverages. All of these things stain the teeth. If you have minor
- Floss frequently to prevent plaque buildup in hard-to-reach areas between the teeth.
- Use a mouthwash such as Listerine.
- If your teeth aren’t straight, consider having them teeth straightened with Invisalign.
- Try whitening strips or a whitening toothpaste that can be purchased at drugstores and discount superstores.
- Visit your dentist for a cleaning every 6-9 months.
- Consider cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics if you have issues that you can’t correct on your own.
Considering Cosmetic Dentistry to Achieve a Beautiful Smile?
Tips 1-7 can help you to maintain an already beautiful smile or temporarily resolve minor damage. However, if you have issues that need more extensive attention, cosmetic dentistry may be an area for you to explore.
Common procedures:
How to Choose the Right Dentist
- Your dentist should be a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).
- Ensure that your dentist is trained in all procedures so that he or she can help you make the best decisions about your beautiful smile.
- Ask to see his portfolio of before and after photos of existing clients.
- Ask around. Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to find reviews of everything, including medical practitioners. This website will give you tips on choosing the right cosmetic dentist for you.
- Lastly, make sure that your dentist is the one performing the procedure. Often, his assistants may perform routing procedures. It’s your smile and your health. You deserve to make sure you’re making the right choice.
More Information on Achieving Your Beautiful Smile
For more information on how you can get a beautiful smile, visit the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) website at www.aacd.com or the orthodontic website at www.braces.org.
When you treat yourself to a beautiful smile, it’s more than a treat. Your beautiful smile is an investment in you .