We all need a little confidence boost from time to time. As the summer wanes — along with your holiday tan — and the autumn days set in, we list the top three easy-fix cosmetic dental treatments that will recharge your batteries and fire up the ‘feelgood’ factor. This trio of treatments are so easy on the purse — anyone can afford to indulge a little!
1. Book an appointment with a hygienist
A dental hygienist should be a key part of your beauty or grooming routine. Every three months or so, why not book an appointment? These days, you no longer have to see your dentist first. Dental hygienists are perfectly placed to offer your mouth an all-essential ‘MOT’. A scale and polish will remove unwanted sticky tartar and shift stubborn and unwanted stains while polishing the teeth to make them sparkle. Air polishing can naturally whiten teeth, by blasting off stains such as coffee, tea, red wine and nicotine with bicarbonate of soda. And some dental hygienists use Airflow, a treatment that uses a revolutionary, new technology to gently remove surface stains with air, water and a specialist powder, for a fresh and sparkling smile. Find a dental hygienist today >
2. Invest in a new electric toothbrush
Some experts suggest that power brushes remove significantly more plaque from teeth ¬— as well as improve gum health — and are far more efficient than a manual toothbrush. While the jury is out on this one, power brushes are definitely helpful if you’re not that great at brushing your teeth effectively. Some power brushes have inbuilt timers that let you know how much time you spend in each quadrant of your mouth and others have sensors that warn you if you’re pressing too hard that can do damage to teeth and gums. A powered toothbrush can give your mouth that fresh ‘just been to the dentist’ feeling — and, although they come with a high price tag, the long-term investment is a sound one. Electric toothbrushes come in all different shapes and sizes — some have a brush head that rotates and oscillates whilst others have a compact head or a full-sized head. Whatever you choose, make sure you commit to the twice-daily two minutes a day regime and remember to change the brush head every three months.
3. Go white, go bright!
Whiter teeth can take years off your appearance and boost your confidence, too. Teeth whitening is an affordable, fast and painless way of achieving a smile makeover and can bring back the natural, healthy colour of your teeth, without causing any structural changes. It is entirely safe and legal as long as it is dentist-administered and prescribed. There are several systems or brands available and some will work better for certain patients. A dental professional is the best person to assess your smile and advise on which system is best for you. Once you’ve had the teeth-whitening treatment, maintenance is simple and requires you to wear a custom-made whitening tray once every two to three months. Other methods to maintain white teeth include using some whitening toothpastes or whitening strips. It’s worth noting that most kits bought over the counter do not work as effectively as those administered by a dental professional. Book an appointment today >
