Are you not confident in your smile? Our smiles, though they come in many shapes and sizes and all are unique in their own way, can become a massive point of insecurity for us. Whether that’s a result of looking in the mirror and seeing that we don’t live up to an unrealistic, idealized beauty standard, or simply the aftermath of someone in our lives picking at flaws they think they perceive in us, our image of our smiles can quickly become tarnished.
Yet, our smiles are important to us, having significant benefits for those of us who smile more often. We were wired to smile, and our bodies tend to thank us for expressing joy and maintaining a positive attitude as often as we can: letting insecurities that are unfounded and distorted impact our mental health negatively is unfair, both to ourselves and to those around us.
Still, if you’re insecure about your smile or worried about your oral health, there are steps you can take to improve your opinion of your smile (and thus, your mental health), setting you on a course toward being able to smile confidently. The tips and tricks listed below will improve your oral health, brighten and whiten your teeth, and slowly help you build up the confidence you need to blow off the negative influences haranguing your smile. It should be noted that most of the methods described below will take time, so go into this process knowing that, while some products promise instant results, true improvement takes both time and effort: also, you can ask your dentist or orthodontist about any of the tips below.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Teeth Whitening
This is one of the most common minor improvements that people ask for nowadays. Most people’s teeth have a natural off-white or yellowish tint to them, so if you look in the mirror and you see that your teeth aren’t a bright, bleached white, don’t be alarmed: it’s completely normal, and there’s not necessarily anything wrong with your teeth. If the coloring of your teeth is a recent development, you might want to see a dentist, but otherwise, it’s likely just your teeth’s natural color showing itself.
Still, if you aren’t satisfied with the natural color of your teeth, you have two options: you can either use at-home products that are “guaranteed” to whiten your teeth, or you can see a professional. Whitening toothpaste and strips have been known to have an effect, bleaching your teeth slowly over time, but seeing a professional has a more immediate impact on the color of your teeth.
Smile Veneers
If you look in the mirror and you notice chips or staining on your teeth, and you want to avoid the cost involved in repairing that cosmetic damage, a good way to conceal it is by investing in temporary smile veneers. These products, also known as clip-on teeth, cover perceived imperfections in your smile, giving others the impression of a movie-star, picture-perfect grin. These can be used in conjunction with other methods on this list to help you get through the interim period while you’re working on your teeth and can also be used to cover up gaps in your smile without investing in something more expensive.
Regular Dentist Visits
While this may be common sense, if you’re concerned about the state of your smile or your oral health in general, you should see a reputable dentist every six months or so. In addition to helping you keep your teeth clean, a dentist you trust can keep track of the developments in your smile, recommend an orthodontist, and get you treatments like the aforementioned whitening at a discounted price. While at-home care can do a lot of good, especially if done diligently, there’s really no substitute for having a professional work on your teeth.
Everyone’s smile is unique, and the intent of this article isn’t to make you feel more negative about your smile: only to show you ways, if you’re struggling with your mental health and your smile is part of the cause, to improve it. Remember that no matter what stage your smile is at, it’s still beautiful and unique.
