Investing in a smile makeover is a great way to achieve a smile you never thought possible, but this is an incredibly costly treatment. When you choose to invest this much time and money into your smile, you want to do everything in your power to keep it looking its best. But, you may be weary of the things you’re doing and whether you’re making good choices for your smile makeover.
In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the easiest and best ways to keep your smile makeover looking its best, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your investment.
Remember to Brush and Floss Regularly
One of the easiest ways to maintain the appearance of your smile makeover is to brush and floss regularly. You should brush your teeth twice daily to remove tough food particles, bacteria, and plaque. You should also floss at least once daily to reach the bacteria and food particles. Be mindful when brushing that you aren’t using a hard-bristled brush and that your oral hygiene products, including your toothpaste and mouthwash, are fluoride-rich. These products will help strengthen your teeth and protect you from gum disease and cavity development.
Don’t Use Tobacco Products
While it can be difficult to give up these products, it is essential that you begin decreasing your tobacco use throughout the day. Tobacco products like cigarettes and nicotine pouches are incredibly detrimental to your overall oral health. With frequent tobacco use, you can destroy your gum tissue and supporting structure, which compromises the well-being of your new dental devices. If you are trying to reduce your tobacco use, consider reaching out to support groups and using nicotine replacement therapies.
Avoid Tooth-Staining Foods and Drinks
If you choose to get veneers or teeth whitening, you need to be mindful of the foods and beverages you consume after the service. If you are a frequent coffee, tea, or wine drinker or eat plenty of dark-colored foods like berries, soy sauce, curries, and tomatoes, it is best to limit the amount you consume. If you want to continue consuming these foods and beverages, you should try to brush your teeth 30 minutes after consumption. Brushing your teeth after consumption can reduce your risk of staining.
Eat a Healthy Diet
In addition to avoiding tooth-staining foods, it is important that you eat a healthy diet to support your smile makeover. You should remember to incorporate plenty of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables into your everyday diet. Some raw vegetables, like carrots and broccoli, are especially good for your teeth, as they help remove plaque buildup between brushing. Consuming these foods and limiting sugary foods and beverages can help you protect your teeth from decay and ensure your smile makeover lasts a lifetime.
Drink Plenty of Water
Dry mouth can be detrimental to your oral health and may be especially harmful to your smile makeover. If you want to avoid chronic dry mouth, you should drink plenty of water throughout the day. On average, you should drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to maintain good hydration. If you find that drinking water isn’t sufficient enough to help you avoid dry mouth, you might want to talk to your dentist about whether they know of oral hygiene products that can help you boost your saliva production.
Wear a Nightguard If You Have a History of Bruxism
For dental patients who have a history of bruxism (teeth grinding), you might want to talk to your dentist about whether you should get a nightguard to protect your smile makeover. Some dental treatments, like veneers and dental implants, are incredibly strong but are still susceptible to damage if they are exposed to excessive pressure from habits like teeth grinding. Your dental provider can help you create a custom nightguard to protect your teeth if you are still dealing with teeth grinding after your smile makeover.
Avoid Smile-Damaging Habits
In addition to avoiding teeth grinding, you should do everything in your power to avoid any other smile-damaging habits. Some of these habits include using your teeth as tools, chewing on hard items, and biting your nails. While these might not seem too damaging, they can quickly lead to chips and cracks in your teeth. These cracks and chips may lead to increased tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, and more significant and costly damage to dental devices. While it can be difficult to break these habits, it is important to do everything in your power to break them if you want to protect your smile makeover.
Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings
The final step in protecting your smile makeover is remembering to schedule regular dental cleanings and checkups. During these appointments, your dental team can catch signs of minor oral health conditions, like the start of cavities and gum irritation that might indicate gum disease. They will also be able to check on your dental devices to ensure they are in good condition and that your oral hygiene routine is sufficient enough to protect your teeth, gums, and dental devices from oral health diseases.
Your Smile Makeover Partner in Bismarck, ND
If you’re ready to invest in a smile makeover and are looking for a reliable dental provider in the Bismarck area, turn to our team at Bismarck Advanced Dental and Implants. With our team on your side, we can help you craft the smile of your dreams. Whether you want veneers, dental implants, whitenings, or orthodontic services, our team will help you do it all.
When you’re ready to schedule a consultation with our team to discuss a smile makeover, don’t hesitate to contact us today.