With the world slowly returning to normal after time apart, many families opt to celebrate in person again. It’s natural to want to look your best during the holidays, especially if you have not had the opportunity to visit your loved ones in quite some time. Since Christmas is just around the corner, why not gift yourself with a smile makeover? In this blog, Dr. Abbey Lee, a Grant Park Cosmetic Dentist, addresses three common cosmetic concerns and explains how to resolve them so that you can upgrade your smile just in time for the holidays.

Freshen Your Breath

Now that many people choose to stand closer than six feet again, it is wise to manage embarrassing oral health problems. Plaque is a bacterial, sticky substance that continuously builds on dental surfaces, and daily brushing and flossing regularly remove plaque from dental surfaces.

If it stays intact, the plaque reacts with minerals in saliva and solidifies into tartar (which can only be removed by specialty dental tools in the hand of a dental professional). An unexpected symptom of tartar build-up is halitosis (or bad breath). If you struggle with halitosis or haven’t been to the dentist in over six months, schedule a professional dental cleaning or scaling and root planing to freshen a disagreeable stench.

Conceal Cosmetic Imperfections

When people are unsatisfied with the way their teeth look, they often also struggle with self-esteem. A recent survey suggests that 70% of people with bad teeth report that it negatively affects their lives. If you struggle with low-self esteem and painful self-consciousness, socializing with others can be challenging. Some may even totally miss out on holiday events to bypass intense feelings of anxiety or dread in social settings.

If your smile is causing you to feel anxious or avoid social events, consider taking steps to make your smile more visually appealing and symmetric. Here are four techniques that cosmetic dentists utilize to improve smiles and hide chips, gaps, and more in a short amount of time.

• Dental Bonding involves a cosmetic dentist filling in flaws with color-matched composite resin and UV light.
• Veneers are thin sheets of porcelain placed that cover the front of the teeth to hide imperfections.
• Lumineers® (or “no-prep” veneers) are a slimmer brand of veneers that require less preparation.
• Snap-On Smile® is a tailored, removable dental arch that fits right over natural teeth for an improved smile.

Brighten and Whiten

Hands down, whitening treatments are the most sought out cosmetic dentistry procedure on the market today. While there are many at-home and DIY solutions for teeth whitening, professional whitening solutions are the most efficient way to whiten teeth. Chairside and take-home whitening treatments prescribed by the dentist have higher (yet still safe) concentrations of active ingredients than store-bought solutions, which help dramatically and effectively whiten teeth.

However, it’s important to note that deep, intrinsic staining does not respond to whitening treatments. Speak with your cosmetic dentist about potential solutions for your type of staining.

Schedule an Appointment with a Grant Park Cosmetic Dentist

Upgrading with subtle enhancements can make a dramatic difference. Put your best face forward this holiday season by scheduling a cosmetic dentistry appointment at Smiles for Grant Park. Call 404-328-7177 or message us online to book your next appointment with a caring and detail-oriented cosmetic dentist in Atlanta, GA.