Did you know there are easy ways to look after and improve your smile without physically visiting a dentist? Here are 5 tips for achieving your healthiest and best looking smile, all hassle-free and from the comfort of your own home.
#1 Improve your smile with a tooth-friendly diet
Before brushing and flossing, dental care actually starts with what you choose to put in your mouth. Sugary treats and soda, acidic foods, staining coffee and wine, cigarettes – apart from the fact that they’re unhealthy in general, these substances also pose a threat to your dental health. Too much sugar and acid can harm your enamel and lead to enamel erosion, leaving your teeth less protected and more prone to increased staining, sensitivity and cavities. Drinks like coffee and wine stain your teeth over time, as tiny particles get trapped deep within the enamel structure. The same goes for cigarettes.
Of course, we’re not suggesting you abandon all the tasty food and drink forever. Consumed in moderation and in combination with a proper oral hygiene regime, you’ll still improve your smile and succeed in maintaining it.
#2 Proper oral hygiene regime
Oral hygiene has come a long way in the last 15 years. With revolutionary, enamel restoring toothpaste and innovative sonic toothbrushes, nothing stands in the way of your healthiest smile. The problem is that most people are stuck in the habit of taking the easy way out: only brushing once a day with a 3 month old toothbrush, not flossing regularly, and not using mouthwash. However, proper oral hygiene can be so easy nowadays, so here’s how you can give your regime a 5-star upgrade:
1) Pick the right toothpaste for you
Do you have sensitive teeth? Are you worried about your enamel? Whatever your dental situation, there’s a toothpaste out there for you. It can be hard to decide on the right one, and often it’s easiest to grab whatever is on offer. By doing a little research online, you can soon narrow your selection down to a few options that will probably suit your needs better than the current “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” offer. For example,there are specialist toothpastes for sensitivity, enamel protection, gum disease. By choosing a toothpaste that is focused on the clinical areas you need to take care of, you can help improve sensitive teeth, restore whiteness and keep your smile healthier for longer.
2) The right toothbrush
To clean effectively first of all we need to make sure our brush is clean and effective. Did you know that your toothbrush head should be changed every 3 months otherwise the cleaning effectiveness drops rapidly and the bacterial contamination of the head can cause dental health conditions to persist for you. The manual toothbrushes have done us a great service, but it’s time for an upgrade. Electric toothbrushes provide a much more thorough clean, and sonic toothbrushes even more so. By removing more food, bacteria and plaque than a manual brush could ever hope to, investing in a good electric or sonic toothbrush is one of the easiest ways to improve your smile. Most models also come with a timer system, which lets you know how long to brush in each area. As a result, you’ll find you brush better for longer. Though these toothbrushes might seem expensive to start with, over the years they will pay for themselves through the money you save on replacement brushes and dentist visits. They also produce less waste in the long run, which is another bonus!
If you enjoy that hygienist clean feeling, there is one more must have for you. Although powered toothbrushes are great at cleaning, a powered oral irrigator will take your dental care to the next level. The oral irrigator is a smart device that’s able to shoot water (or better still medicated mouthwash) between your teeth, acting like floss for a thorough and dynamic clean. The fresh sensation you get is similar to having a hygienist appointment, as the spaces between your teeth and gum pockets are properly washed.
#3 Brushing on the go to improve your smile
We’ve all been there: you’re on your lunch break, and now you have food stuck somewhere between your teeth. It’s visible when you smile, and it’s very annoying. Even more so, it’s not good for your teeth! These situations can be easily and quickly avoided by just having a small dental care kit with you: a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste. All it takes is a two minute detour to the washroom to leave you feeling fresh, clean and confident, and your teeth will thank you for it.
#4 Instant Dentist™ – your pocket dental clinic
For most of us, quick, expert dental advice is hard to come by. Appointments take days or weeks to schedule, and there are always long minutes and hours spent in the waiting room. Until now. Instant Dentist™ is the world’s 1st comprehensive teledentistry platform, accessible through your smartphone. It’s like your personal, hand-held dental clinic, with expert dental advice only a click away. Through the app, you’re directly connected to a trusted dentist, putting your dental health in your hands.
When beginning a consultation, you can select whether you would like general advice on improving your smile, or if you have a specific problem that needs dealing with. Your digital dentist will then tailor product recommendations to your individual needs. Whether you require enamel care, teeth whitening, cosmetic orthodontic treatment, toothpaste or a toothbrush – the Instant Dentist™ app allows you to order everything you need online, and have it delivered to your doorstep. Improving and maintaining your healthiest smile has never been easier.
#5 At home teeth straightening with invisible aligners
The most common complaint people have about their smile is that their teeth aren’t perfectly straight, which bothers them for aesthetic reasons. However, did you know that a straighter smile can also improve your dental health?
1) Facilitates teeth cleaning
If your teeth are crowded, you may have noticed it’s harder for you to floss your teeth properly. If it’s hard for your floss to reach those areas, you can only imagine how ineffective a handheld toothbrush is at really cleaning your teeth. Though this might not seem like a big or visible problem at first, those tight areas between crowded teeth become literal sweet-spots for sugar and other substances to get trapped in. Over time, this can lead to staining, sensitivity, and cavities, as well as damages your enamel.
2) Maintaining healthy gums
Again, the link between straight teeth and healthier gums may not be obvious at first thought, but similarly to keeping your teeth clean, straighter teeth allow better access for you to keep your gums nice and healthy. Bits of food and sugary drinks can get all the way up and under the gum lip covering the tops and bottom of your teeth, and if these areas aren’t accessible due to crooked tooth placement, there’s a good chance some unwanted substances are getting stuck there. In the long run, this can lead to gingivitis and other gum problems. For many people, sore gums isn’t enough of a reason to visit the dentist, so they’re gentler when brushing to avoid the pain, which – unsurprisingly – leads to even more buildup of irritating substances.
3) Invisible aligners for a straighter, healthier smile
Invisible aligners have been in use for decades, and they are slowly but surely replacing fixed braces as the most popular cosmetic orthodontic solution on the market. They are removable and comfortable, allowing for thorough cleaning and less irritation – two things that are known to bring about problems with metal braces. Did you know that the obstacle fixed braces present to proper oral hygiene can cause to additional dental issues? This seems a little backwards, especially now that there are such convenient and affordable alternatives.
For example, thanks to teledentistry, you can now achieve your straightest smile from home. Straight Teeth Direct™, is our first product and technological innovation in the dental space.. The aligners are made of durable, clear plastic, and by switching to a new aligner every 2 weeks, your teeth are slowly moved into their optimum position – without anyone knowing. By using the Straight Teeth Direct™ app, users are connected directly to their assigned dentists, so that they can be monitored throughout the whole process. All aligners are sent directly to your door, so all you have to do is wear them and smile.
For more information on at home teeth straightening, visit the Straight Teeth Direct™ website and get your free e-consultation to see if this method is right for you.
As you can see, dental care has come a long way, and it’s now easier than ever to improve and maintain a healthy smile from home. If there’s anything we haven’t covered or you have specific questions, feel free to contact us via your Instant Dentist™ app account, so that you can get on the fast track to your healthiest smile!
