A Healthy Smile Can Also Be A Gorgeous Smile
What factors can affect both the health and the beauty of a smile? One factor is wear. Worn teeth can actually change the length of the face because the teeth are shortened. This means the jaw has to close further in order for the teeth to touch. This can make the upper lip appear sunken and the creases around the corners of the mouth to deepen. Lengthening of worn teeth is usually accomplished with crowns, veneers or sometimes bridges or partials.This improves the contour of the lips and decreases the lines around the mouth, as well as providing a youthful, inviting smile.
What are the causes of worn teeth? The loss of enamel through bruxism, or grinding and clenching, is one cause. Most people are unaware of this because much of it happens during sleep. Another culprit is abrasion, where the enamel on the teeth is worn away by brushing too hard, chewing on pens or pencils, biting fingernails and piercings in the lip or tongue. Erosion, caused by acidic agents, is also a factor in the wear of teeth. These agents include citrus fruit, fruit juices, energy and sports drinks, and soft drinks. Several things to avoid are: drinking numerous soft drinks, energy drinks, cups of coffee or tea and lemonade daily. Acid reflux can also contribute significantly to erosion. Rinsing after eating or drinking something acidic is helpful to reduce the effect of the acid.
Older dental work can also cause teeth to both be unhealthy and look unhealthy. Many people don’t like to smile because some of their teeth are dark and unsightly because of fillings that may have been placed decades ago. These “silver fillings” are from materials that expand and contract, often causing teeth to crack, split or break. The dark color also gives the appearance of teeth that are not healthy. Composite restorations, or “white fillings”, are able to replace the dark fillings, which not only help keep the teeth from cracks and breakage, but allow the teeth to look natural once again.
Having worn teeth and old silver fillings corrected offers not only a healthy smile, but a gorgeous one, as well.
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12908 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, Virginia 20182
Tel: 703.594.2151
Fax: 703.594.2991