When you notice visible signs of aging, whether it’s a new gray hair sprouting or a wrinkle forming that wasn’t there before, chances are pretty good you book an appointment with a professional to help you manage it. What you might not realize is that your teeth can change as you age — and all the salon or esthetician visits in the world won’t help disguise the visible signs of aging if your smile gives you away.
While your teeth naturally change as you grow older, it doesn’t mean you have to live with a close-lipped smile for the rest of your days. There are a few tell-tale signs of aging that show up on your teeth and, thankfully, they’re pretty easy and painless to deal with.
Braces & Invisalign | Dental History
Throughout history people have wanted straight teeth and a perfect smile. Cultures across the planet and through time have been obsessed with finding ways to improve what nature gave out and stopped at nothing to align jaws, fix bite issues and get a better smile. These days, thankfully, we have painless and nearly transparent orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, but the history of orthodontics wasn’t always so pretty, pleasant or painless.
Cosmetic Dentistry | Dental Benefits | Teeth Whitening
When you think of celebrities, there’s probably many enviable traits you can list off: great abs, amazing hair, killer legs. There’s one characteristic you can easily steal from your favorite Hollywood A-Lister: their smile. While getting a great smile isn’t exactly effortless — after all, treatments like teeth whitening and Invisalign take time and care — it’s a lot less work than hitting the gym for eight hours a day in pursuit of a celebrity body that’s been photoshopped to the moon and back.
While Hollywood performers are in the business of looking good, there are some winning grins that stand heads above the rest. Here are five of the best smiles in Hollywood that you can emulate with a little help from your dentist.
Dental Fear | Oral Health | Wellness
Whether you’re a boss babe in the boardroom or are running for MVP of the PTA, chances are high you face more than your fair share of stress in a day. The demands of your career, the needs of your family and finding time for yourself can seem impossible to navigate all at once.
The link between stress and declining general health is clear, but you might not realize that anxiety and chaos in your life aren’t just giving you fewer reasons to smile: stress might also be ruining your teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry | Teeth Whitening
The push toward natural care and hygiene products isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Wanting to be an informed patient and consumer is fabulous: it means you’re proactive about your health and want to know what’s going on. Too much of a good thing, however, can be problematic. Not everything “all natural” is good for you — poison ivy, after all, is all natural, organic and grows freely but it’s definitely not going to make a list of top home remedies.
Some natural teeth whitening options are harmless but ineffective, some provide a temporary quick fix and others are downright harmful to your mouth, your teeth and your smile. Since tooth damage is costly — both financially and time-wise — to fix, here’s five things to consider before trying the new “all natural” tooth whitening quick-fix of the hour.
General Dentistry | Oral Health
Keeping your smile looking its best, your breath fresh and your teeth and gums healthy are responsibilities you probably don’t take lightly. After all, good oral health confers so many benefits, both socially and to your overall health, we’d be hard-pressed to list them all. Regular brushing, flossing and, of course, visits to your dentist all play a part in keeping your mouth healthy and beautiful, but there’s one unsung hero of the oral health world that’s often overlooked: mouthwash.
With so many options to choose from, each boasting about a new benefit or feature, it can be tough to separate fact from advertising fiction. Here are five need-to-know facts about this small but powerful part of your everyday dental health routine:
General Dentistry | Oral Health
Chances are pretty good you’ve got a long list of things you’d rather do than sit in a dental chair for a cleaning, not including the other responsibilities you’ve got. Whether your days are full with running your kids to and from after-school activities or more leisurely pursuits like lunches and dates with friends, it can be tough to face the prospect of losing time to a dental cleaning. Regular cleanings are essential not just to your dental health, but to the appearance of your teeth as well. If you haven’t had time for a cleaning, here’s five good reasons to make today the day you grin and bear it. (more…)
Cosmetic Dentistry | Dental Fear | Teeth Whitening
Sensitive teeth and gums make dental care a chore rather than a much-needed chance for self-care. When your pearly whites are looking less than bright, it’s time for you to get into the office for a teeth whitening procedure. The old adage of “beauty is pain” shouldn’t apply to keeping your smile in tip-top shape; however, those with sensitive teeth may view pain as an essential part of dentistry. Teeth whitening doesn’t need to hurt, though. Painless dentistry can make the treatment not just tolerable, but manageable.
Dental Benefits | General Dentistry
Just mention that you’re going for a dental visit and you’re sure to hear a horror story from a well-meaning friend, usually involving some degree of pain. Many people expect dentistry to be painful — after all, it’s a medical field and sometimes medical procedures hurt, right? Wrong. There’s absolutely no need to experience pain when undergoing a dental procedure. Painless dentistry isn’t an oxymoron, and it isn’t a myth: it’s a standard of care that is becoming the rule rather than the exception.
Your teen may want the latest gadget or trendy item, but Christmas is the perfect time to give a gift that endures far longer than tech toys that quickly become outdated or other momentary whims and wants. Your child’s smile will follow them through life, and a good smile has been shown to improve everything from job prospects to romantic partnerships.
Giving the gift of Invisalign to your teen this holiday season is an investment in their future and self esteem — a heartfelt gift that will keep giving for a lifetime.
