Closing an Unattractive Gap between Your Two Front Teeth

The condition of your oral health can have an effect on your body's overall health and also on your physical appearance and self-esteem. For this reason, is important to keep your teeth and gums in good health and looking nice. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you keep your oral health maintained in good condition for a nice smile with professional services and at-home care.

Seek Professional Services

For Prevention

It is a good practice to prevent any adverse oral health conditions by taking steps to keep your teeth free of plaque and tartar build-up and resulting gum inflammation. Plaque is the sticky substance that forms on your teeth after eating and drinking, and it can be easily cleaned off by regular tooth brushing. But when you don't clean it from your teeth, it can begin to harden into tartar within 24 to 48 hours. When it harden,s it will need to be scraped from your teeth, which your dental hygienist can complete for you.

Regular check-ups and dental cleanings with your dentist are recommended to scrape this tartar from your teeth so it does not have a chance to cause cavity formation on your teeth. Depending on any underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or a smoking habit, your dentist can recommend a cleaning schedule of anywhere from two to three times per year.

For Repairs

You can also repair any existing oral health problems with help from your dental professional. Your dental professional can help you with repairing and replacing any damaged, missing, or decaying teeth or with whitening your existing teeth.

If you have missing teeth, it can affect your appearance and your self esteem, but your dentist can help you with tooth replacement by filling the gap with a dental implant. In addition to helping your smile, dental implants help prevent bone loss in your face, as your jaw bones need tooth stimulation from chewing to keep them from deteriorating. With a missing tooth, you are at risk of losing bone mass, and your face can become sunken in appearance.

Dental implants consist of a titanium implant placed into the bone and fused with a crown that looks like your real tooth. Because the implant eventually fuses with your bone, the implant is permanent and provides the bone stimulation you need.

Teeth veneers are another method to restore your crooked or cracked teeth or a large gap between two teeth by covering your existing teeth with a new tooth overlay made of ceramic. The tooth veneer is attached permanently with an adhesive to keep it in place.

There are many teeth whitening products available on the market today, but some of them can be harsh to your tooth enamel and cause you tooth sensitivity. Talk to your dentist about a safe and effective tooth whitening procedure they complete for you in their office. This will help lighten tooth stains and enamel discoloration from smoking or eating and drinking tooth-staining food and drinks.

Complete At-Home Care

Between your regular dental visits for cleaning and dental repairs, you can take care of your teeth using regular maintenance at home. This consists of brushing your teeth at least twice a day: in the morning and at night. This brushing removes the soft, sticky plaque from your teeth to prevent cavity formation and gum inflammation. You can further take care of your gums by flossing daily to remove plaque and other build-up between your teeth. Flossing also strengthens your gums to help them remain free of inflammation.

Along with brushing and flossing you can improve the appearance of your teeth with a safe whitening practice using coconut oil. Each morning, place one to two teaspoons of coconut oil into your mouth and swish it around for up to 20 minutes, then spit it into the trash. During the swishing process, the coconut oil removes toxins from your mouth and plaque and cavity causing bacteria from your teeth while whitening the surface of your teeth. This coconut oil pulling can also reduce gum inflammation.

Contact a dentist like Rutherford Gregory S DDS for more information.