How To Keep Your Smile Makeover: Our Guide

If you are considering investing in cosmetic dentistry, you may wonder how to keep your smile makeover results. A smile makeover is a bespoke package of cosmetic dental procedures designed to help you get the smile of your dreams.

Each smile makeover is as unique as each individual smile. This article isn’t a substitute for personalized dental care since only a skilled cosmetic dentist can give you a smile makeover.

Whether you had a smile makeover and hope to maintain the results long-term, or you are thinking about getting one, it may help to get a sense of how to keep your radiant smile.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you and remember. A confident smile radiates charisma and joy. While that isn’t just about appearances, having an aesthetically pleasing smile makes everyone feel a little more confident.

Whether you feel self-conscious or simply want a more attractive smile, a smile makeover may be for you. First, let’s briefly consider a few fundamentals about smile makeovers. Your maintenance plan will vary depending on which procedures are part of your custom makeover package.

What May Be Included In Your Smile Makeover?

A cosmetic dentist will first meet with you to learn about your hopes and goals. Your dentist will also assess whether you are a good candidate for a smile makeover. Your dental health is key in how you respond to specific procedures.

A smile makeover may include any combination of:

• Teeth whitening
• Other stain removal techniques
• Invisalign invisible aligners
• Veneers
• Implants
• Bonding
• Caps
• Replace visible silver fillings with more subtle tooth-colored fillings
• Strategic Botox to improve the appearance of a gummy smile
• Other cosmetic dental practices

These treatments may address the appearance of:

• Stained or discolored teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Chipped, cracked, fractured teeth
• Misshapen teeth or disproportionate
• Large or uneven gaps between teeth
• Worn down teeth
• Missing visible front teeth
• Overlapping teeth
• Visible silver fillings or crowns
• Just about any other visible imperfection

Some treatments that can improve your smile appearance also have functional and therapeutic benefits. For example, crowns protect and reinforce a weakened tooth. In many cases, your oral health and comfort may improve along with your appearance.

How to Maintain Your Smile Makeover Results

You may notice a few themes in these tips and techniques to help you keep the results from your smile makeover. Some of these are guidelines for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. After all, good oral health is the foundation for maintaining a bright smile.

First of all, maintain consistent oral hygiene habits. This may vary depending on your dental treatments, but for most people, it means:

• Brush your teeth twice daily for at least 2-3 minutes per session
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently use circular motions to clean every surface of each tooth
• Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen and reinforce your teeth
• Floss your teeth daily to remove bacteria below the gum line and between the teeth where you can’t effectively brush
• Change your toothbrush every three months
• Follow any other special oral hygiene instructions from your dentist. For example, if you use Invisalign, you will need to rinse your aligners between meals and drinks
• Check with your dentist about recommended products. For example, if you have veneers, you may need to use a special nonabrasive toothpaste to avoid damaging the veneers. An alcohol-free mouthwash may also be recommended in some cases
• Ask your dentist or hygienist about the best techniques to clean your teeth and take care of them without potentially causing damage

Often, a smile makeover includes tooth whitening treatment since, over time, the teeth become more yellow with age. If you had stain removal or tooth whitening treatments, consider why you needed this treatment. To maintain your bright smile, you may want to make dietary adjustments, including:

• Limit consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, and other beverages that may stain the teeth
• Also, limit foods that stain teeth, including tomatoes, berries, pomegranates, etc.
• Quit smoking if you are a smoker
• Some foods and beverages that stain teeth are healthy; try to confine them to meals where you can brush your teeth shortly after eating them
• Wait 20 minutes after eating acidic foods before brushing your teeth since the acids temporarily weaken the teeth
• Favor plain ice water or water since it helps keep the mouth hydrated and dilute acids in the mouth
• Limit high-sugar and starchy foods

While you can’t guarantee a life without trauma or accidents, you may take steps to decrease your risk. Protect your teeth from the unnecessary risk of premature damage by:

• Avoid hard or sticky foods that could break a tooth, damage a cap, etc.
• Wear a seatbelt whenever you drive or ride in a car
• Wear a mouthguard if you play contact sports or sports that involve flying balls or objects
• Wear a mouthguard at night if you grind your teeth
• Avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles

Keep in mind that veneers and crowns don’t last forever, but if you need to replace them prematurely, that results in extra stress and expense.

See your dentist as scheduled for cleanings and examinations to proactively deal with any new oral health problems and monitor your dental appliances’ condition. Also, if you had whitening treatment, you may need follow-up treatment to maintain your results. Talk with your dentist about the recommended maintenance schedule.

Your Next Step to a Glowing Smile

If you are considering a smile makeover, your next step is to schedule a consultation with a skilled cosmetic dentist. The team at Southview Dentistry proudly serves Charlotte-area residents who seek a glowing, confident smile.

We love seeing our patients face the world with confidence. A smile makeover can make you feel proud to smile, express yourself, speak, pose for photographs, laugh, and engage with the world.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment.