Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations
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Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

Dental implants can make a smile look fabulous – I know I have them. However, if you are just thinking about getting them, you may have a lot of questions. You may be wondering how smoking affects implants, whether or not wine will stain them, if they can be whitened or other concerns. I also know from experience that it can be intimidating to ask some of these questions to your dentist. In my dental implant blog, I am going to answer the questions that can be hard to ask. I hope you find the info you need in this blog and that it guides you to the right decision about dental implants. Thanks for reading!

Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

Mistakes to Avoid In Improving the Appearance of Teeth

Isobel Berry

The appearance of your teeth can have quite an impact on your overall self-esteem, as teeth are obviously very noticeable every time you open your mouth to talk to someone! Very crooked teeth can also make it difficult to eat certain foods, and may even cause headaches and neck aches, as teeth should easily rest on each other for support. When you want to improve the appearance of your teeth, note some mistakes to avoid, so you know you'll always be happy with your teeth and with the end result of any procedure or treatment you choose.

Bleaching teeth yourself

There are many over-the-counter tooth bleaching products you can purchase, but it's usually not recommended that you rely on these for a whiter smile. One reason is that many of these products contain only a small amount of bleach, so that they make no difference in the colour of your teeth, and are just a waste of money. Other products, however, may contain too much bleach, and may be damaging to your teeth. This might be especially true if your teeth have already suffered enamel erosion or decay.

This also applies to having your teeth bleached at a salon or spa. A person who works at such a location may not be qualified to care for your teeth properly, and may apply too much bleach or other harsh products, causing damage to the teeth. Rather than relying on these products, or on the services of someone who is not a dental professional, see a dentist about having your teeth professionally bleached or even painted, as needed.

Not wearing appliances long enough

Dental trays are a very popular option for straightening teeth, as they're nearly invisible and may nudge teeth into place faster than standard braces. However, one mistake that many dental patients make is not wearing those trays as often as they should throughout the day. While these trays might be removed for eating and other such occasions, they need to sit against your teeth uninterrupted for a certain amount of time to actually push teeth into position.

For those who have had braces, and even for some who have used trays, a retainer might be needed after teeth are straightened. These also need to be worn for a certain amount of time every day, and for a certain length of time after teeth have been straightened. Don't assume that retainers are unimportant and that your teeth are now fine, once they've been straightened, but be sure you use them for as long as recommended.

Reach out to a family dentist if you have more questions about how to improve the appearance of your smile.


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