At New Hope Dental Care, we provide high quality services for cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC. On a frequent basis, we see patients who have suffered damage to their teeth and gums over the years from any number of different causes. Our teeth are amazingly durable structures, but they do have their limits. Accidents can break teeth or push them out of alignment, lifelong bad habits can grind down enamel and expose nerves, and various substances like tobacco, coffee, and sugar can discolor or decay teeth. While we love seeing the look on a patient’s face when we are able to restore their beautiful, white smile, we sometimes wish we could go back in time and help them prevent the damage to their oral health in the first place! Here are some tips for helping you and your family avoid the future need for cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC altogether.
PROTECT YOUR TEETH FROM IMPACT
This tip is primarily for the younger ones among us, although adults who continue playing sports will also want to pay attention to it. Mouth guards are not particularly comfortable to wear, and for that reason many kids conveniently “forget” them when they hit the football, soccer, or softball field. But that little safety device is often the key to preventing a very painful injury to the mouth. That injury hurts a lot at first, but it also has the potential to create years of discomfort, multiple dentist and orthodontist visits for corrective procedures, and long-term use of braces or other devices to get the teeth back into proper alignment. If a tooth is broken or lost in the injury, it could require dramatic cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC to replace the lost tooth material. Getting into the habit of using a mouth guard is worth it, just like putting on a batting helmet or strapping on shin guards.
STOP BAD HABITS
A sudden impact injury is instantly painful, but bad habits that affect the teeth cause nearly constant long-term pain. Most of the bad habits that our experts in cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC see cause some form of grinding of the tooth enamel. A common, seemingly innocent habit is that of chewing on ice. It may seem like a harmless, zero-calorie alternative to munching on more fattening items, but over the course of years, the habit will take its toll on the protective enamel of your teeth and expose the nerves underneath. The body does not create new tooth enamel, so once the grinding reaches that point, the only solution is to cover the tooth with a crown or other artificial substance. Other common bad habits include opening tough plastic packaging with the teeth. Take a few extra moments and reach for the scissors instead of jeopardizing your oral health!
KEEP THOSE TEETH WHITE!
One of the most popular types of cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC is teeth whitening. Everyone knows that it is important to have a mouth full of shining white teeth, particularly if you are in a business that places great value on image and first impressions. But the best way to achieve a beautiful smile is simply to maintain the original high quality of your teeth. Substances like coffee, tea, and soda are not off-limits, but they do require you to follow a strict oral hygiene plan in order to keep them from staining your teeth long-term. Everyone knows that sugar is harmful to the teeth, but the same rule holds true: as long as you brush and floss carefully on a daily basis and remove those substances from your teeth, they won’t linger and cause permanent stains or decay.
EXPERT COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN RALEIGH, NC
Hopefully you can take this tips to heart and help yourself and your family avoid the bad habits that lead to the need for cosmetic dentistry in Raleigh, NC. If you already have tooth discoloration, misaligned teeth, or broken teeth, there is still some good news for you! Modern equipment and methods have minimized the discomfort and expense required to restore your smile to the way it looked before. We invite you to get in touch with our office to meet our expert staff and schedule your appointment today.