Ever wondered how celebrities manage to maintain such a bright and healthy smile?
From the big screen, on TV and in magazines, all celebrities alike can be seen smiling with a perfect smile.
Even those who are approaching the age of 60 are somehow still able to retain a set of pearly whites.
Meanwhile, there’s us, your typical day-to-day citizen who practices decent oral hygiene — brush twice a day, floss at least once a day — and somehow, I can’t seem to achieve that celebrity-like smile.
What are we missing? Is there some sort of secret formula? Do I need to be rich? Do I need plastic surgery?
Thankfully, it’s none of those and no, you don’t need to go under the knife.
As a matter of fact, it all starts with good oral hygiene, healthy habits and not skipping your regular 6 monthly visits to the dentist.
You may also want to consider cosmetic dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, veneers and invisalign.
Good oral hygiene at home
Fingers crossed — you are already practicing good oral hygiene, but if you aren’t, it’s time to pay attention.
Step one to achieving a beautiful white smile, is to have a good dental hygiene routine. What does this entail?
It starts with brushing your teeth at least twice a day with the proper brushing techniques and flossing properly at least once a day.
Not only does good oral hygiene help with achieving whiter teeth, it also helps remove the buildup of plaque and prevent gum disease.
Cosmetic dental treatments
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are one of the most effective dental solutions to cover various tooth imperfections, including broken, worn, chipped or cracked, discoloration and staining for a whiter smile. Veneers are custom made from porcelain and can change the color, shape, size or length of your current teeth’s appearance once bonded into place, or made to match existing.
It is a two-step process, with the first dentist appointment involving an impression of your teeth taken. It is then sent off to a dental lab to be made. On your next visit, the veneers are then bonded into place.
Teeth whitening
Getting your teeth whitened is one of the most common and cost effective cosmetic dental solutions available. Teeth whitening involves a whitening solution applied to the teeth using various methods, including in-dentist applications such as PolaWhite, take home packages from your dentist, and standard teeth whitening kits from your pharmacy. Of course, you can always opt for teeth whitening toothpaste, however, you may not achieve the same results as a dentist can.
Invisalign
Clear aligners are the most popular choice of orthodontic treatments for adults for the fact that they are transparent. They are appealing for people who wish to hide their dental treatments or don’t want to wear obtrusive braces. Most suitable for crooked or crowded teeth, or for people who had braces prior and their teeth are moving back to original positions. Invisalign is more comfortable than braces, as they don’t use metal brackets or wires to be held in place, and therefore much less painful.
Dental checkups every 6 months
A question often asked by many, why are regular dental check-ups so important?
Many oral professionals find the 6-month recall mark to be the safest amount of time to allow for detection of any possible signs of tooth decay, gum disease or oral cancer.
Regular visits are usually followed with a routine clean and scale to remove any hardened plaque from your teeth.
This also provides time for your dentist to give you advice on how to improve your oral care and hygiene to help reduce the risk of developing gum disease or any other severe oral health issues.
This is also a great opportunity for you to raise any concerns, ask questions or let your dentist know if you are currently experiencing pain or discomfort.
And…. there you have it! The not-so-secret way of achieving a celebrity-like smile. By practicing good oral habits and a couple of dental check-ups a year, you not only maintain your oral hygiene, but give yourself the best possible chances of enjoying a healthier, whiter smile.
