Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
A smile makeover can dramatically increase your self-confidence and help you feel more at ease in social situations. Once you decide to rejuvenate your smile using various treatments, caring for it after the procedure is the next focus. Fortunately, our Okemos cosmetic dentist, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares on the blog today five secrets to prolonging your smile makeover results so that you can have a longer-lasting perfect smile and a stellar return on your investment.
Practice daily oral hygiene
The pinnacle of an attractive and healthy smile is good oral hygiene. Our Lansing family dentist explains that brushing twice daily and flossing once a day can help prevent harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup. Additionally, daily oral care dramatically reduces your gum disease and cavity risk. Even though your teeth may be covered with restorations like veneers or crowns, it’s vital to practice daily oral hygiene to prevent common problems, like gum disease and cavities, that can create advanced oral health conditions.
Use appropriate oral care products
Even though using appropriate oral care products is essential for daily oral health care, it’s especially true after you get a smile makeover. The materials used in restorations are extremely durable, but using abrasive oral care products can cause damage and result in reduced sheen over time. Therefore, our East Lansing smile makeover dentist recommends that patients use toothpaste with the ADA’s seal of approval and alcohol-free mouthwash. With multiple varieties of dental floss available at your local retail or grocery store, choose one that suits your tastes.
Below are different types of floss from which to choose
- Flavored or plain
- Waxed or non-waxed string
- Floss tape
- Floss picks
- Threaders
- Flavored or unflavored
- Electric water flossers
Visit our Okemos dental office twice a year
According to the American Dental Association, visiting the dentist once every six months or twice a year is best to maintain good oral health. During your appointment, we remove plaque and tartar buildup around your teeth and under your gums that could lead to advanced conditions such as tooth decay or gum disease. Additionally, cleaning your teeth can remove stains and brighten your smile. When you visit our Okemos dental office regularly, we can monitor your oral health and begin early treatments to prevent advanced conditions and additional dental expenses.
Eat and drink healthy food and beverages
The foods and beverages you consume can directly impact your tooth enamel, restorations, and gum health. Consuming foods high in sugar or carbohydrates can increase your risk for harmful bacteria development since bacteria feed on the sugar. Ideally, consuming a diet of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and dairy can help protect your restorations and oral health. Furthermore, our smile makeover dentist in Lansing warns patients about the beverages they consume. Sweet beverages like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, alcohol, and juice have high sugar levels that can harm your teeth. Therefore, reduce your sweetened beverage consumption and rehydrate with water to decrease your tooth and gum damage risk.
Cease tobacco use
You may know that smoking can cause other health problems, and your mouth is no exception. Not only does smoking cause bad breath, but it can also lead to gum recession and jawbone complications that disrupt your teeth and gum structure. Therefore, our East Lansing dentist encourages smokers to seek help and kick the habit, even if they use a vape.
Smile Makeover in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
After a smile makeover, you will be grinning from ear to ear. However, your new smile requires special care to protect it in the long run. Therefore, when you follow the above tips, you should be able to prolong your smile for years. If you have questions about a smile makeover or are ready to schedule an appointment at our Okemos dentist’s office, please contact Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or contact us online.