Self-consciousness and self-esteem can be directly related to your mouth. Having crooked, stained or missing teeth can result in a person’s unwillingness to smile or socialize. Smiling releases endorphins which make you feel happy. Which is why purposely not smiling can result in low self-esteem. There are a few solutions for the varying reasons people don’t wish to show off their pearly whites.
Crooked teeth hinder many people from bearing a grin. People may feel that their out of place teeth are a distraction and people may grow insecure at the thought of people staring at them. Of course, braces offer a solution to crooked teeth. However, many adults late in life do not wish to don the “metal mouth”. The alternative is Invisalign. A clear, corrective aligner individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. Invisalign is the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life.
For crooked, chipped or even missing teeth, some may consider veneers. Porcelain veneers are extremely thin casings of ceramic that are bonded to the front of the patient’s tooth to create a new smile. They are bonded to the teeth and can change the shape, size, shade and position of teeth. This option can also be suitable for people with grey or beige teeth on which traditional teeth whitening consistently fails. Some people’s teeth enamel simply resist teeth whitening efforts. Veneers are custom made to mold to your teeth so the effect is as natural as possible.
Receding gums are another unsightly condition that makes people insecure about smiling or socializing. To open your mouth and expose how much of your tooth is exposed from the root makes some self-conscious when speaking. Thankfully there is a modern technique for correcting this problem. The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a nonsurgical procedure to restore the appearance of the gums. A dental tool is used to create a pinhole in the receded gums and other specially designed tools are used to gently soften the gum tissue surrounding the tooth and pull it down over the tooth. This procedure can possibly correct gum recession in just one session. Sometimes referred to as “the lunchtime gum lift”, in most cases, patients can have this procedure done over lunch and be okay to eat dinner. The recovery time is minimal.
Another possible reason some people may not wish to smile and mingle may be because of chronic bad breath. Chronic bad breath, or Halitosis, can be caused by bacteria in the mouth, habits like smoking or frequently eating foods with a heavy odor, like garlic or onions. Halitosis isn’t something you have to deal with on your own. People suffering from bad breath should see their dental hygienist for regular cleanings and to come up with a treatment plan.
The office of Beautiful Smiles of Long Island wants you to feel beautiful when it comes to your smile! It’s in the name! If your social life is suffering because of your mouth, make an appointment with us to discuss your options today!
