Having bad teeth may make you feel discouraged. Your teeth play an important role in your health, meaning they also play an important role in your overall quality of life. It’s easier than you think to fix bad teeth, and it will add to your confidence and health.
There are many reasons that make someone feel that their teeth are bad. It could be simply about the way they look, but perhaps you have bigger problems, for example broken or decayed teeth. Luckily there are solutions to these problems. And no matter why you feel your teeth are bad, your dentist will be able to help you fix them.
How to fix an unattractive smile
If your teeth are crooked, discolored, or misshapen, one of the best options are porcelain veneers. Veneers are a good choice if your teeth aren’t prone to decay and you maintain good dental hygiene (meaning you brush twice daily and floss often).
The procedure for getting veneers doesn’t take long, but it is permanent. So if you get veneers, you’ll never be able to have them permanently removed without replacing them.
To get veneers, you can contact your local prosthodontist to book an appointment where you discuss the procedure. Prosthodontists are dentists who specialize in creating and placing veneers, bridges, crowns, and implants. If you have any cosmetic dental work, you should find a prosthodontist.
After your initial appointment with your prosthodontist, you’ll go in the have the veneers placed. During the procedure, your dentist will remove a thin layer from the surface of your teeth. This is so the veneers will fit in your mouth. It’s also why veneers are a permanent procedure. You can’t have veneers permanently removed because your teeth will no longer be the same without them.
Your dentist will remove a thin layer from each tooth, then they’ll fit the veneers on top.
How to fix unhealthy teeth that decay
If your teeth are prone to breaking, rotting, or even falling out, the challenge you face may be discouraging. It’s difficult to feel like your dental hygiene is out of your control.
The good news is that you can help yourself by getting informed on this problem! Besides practicing good oral hygiene like brushing and flossing daily, there are a few things you should avoid:
• Sweet foods: This doesn’t mean you can’t ever eat sweet things. But if you indulge in excessive amounts of sweet foods and drinks, this will have a negative impact on your dental health.
• Acidic foods: Acid causing foods, like coffee and soda (as well as any food that tastes very sour) eats away at your tooth enamel and causes decay.
• Dry mouth: Did you know that when your mouth is dry, it actually causes teeth to wear away? To help prevent your mouth from drying out, you should avoid drinking too much alcohol and drink plenty of water. Some drugs, like anti-histamines can cause your mouth to be dry. So it’s wise to avoid taking them if it’s not absolutely necessary, especially if you take them often. But if your doctor prescribed any medicine that’s associated with dental problems, you should still take them as prescribed. And later you can return to your doctor to discuss alternatives.
These are the things you can do to prevent further damage to your teeth. But if there’s tooth decay you need to fix, the above guidelines won’t be enough. You’ll need to visit your dentist for help and advice regarding how to fix bad teeth.
How your dentist will fix bad teeth
Depending on the current state of your teeth, your dentist is likely to advise the following treatments to fix your teeth:
• Fillings: In cases that aren’t too advanced, your dentist will be able to fix your teeth by placing fillings.
• Crowns: Teeth that are too decayed and damaged to support fillings can often still be crowned. In severe cases, dentists can even place a crown when there’s very little of your tooth left besides a healthy root.
• Extraction and replacement: This is the worst case scenario. Your dentist might recommend extraction and replacement, in which case you can replace your teeth with either dentures or all-on-4 dental implants. While dental implants are better, both options will be better for your than living with bad teeth.
Living with bad teeth can be cause a lot of emotional pain, especially if you’re scared to lose your teeth. But it should comfort you to realize that a good dentist would never recommend extraction and replacement unless it’s necessary to improve your overall quality of life.
