Teeth: they’re one of the first things we see when we look at someone – boy do we notice when they’re bad – and they can indicate how young, old, healthy or unhealthy we are. In fact, a 2012 study undertaken by the dating website Match.com found that 71% of women ranked teeth the most important thing they look for when on a date with a man, in comparison to 60% of men. The stats are high, meaning the stakes are high – teeth are not just for eating, guys. So as it’s National Smile Month, now is as good a time as any to get the ball rolling. Here are your five steps to better teeth.
Step One
We might have a doctor, a dermatologist, a gynaecologist and even a facialist but it doesn’t always go without saying that we have a dentist. “Hygiene and healthy teeth are crucial components to maintaining your smile and avoiding more intrusive dental work and fillings, so seeing a dentist is your first port of call to perfecting your teeth,” says Dr. Sameer Patel, clinic director at elleven Dental in London. They can spot tooth decay, gum disease (the biggest cause of tooth loss), plaque and any more serious issues, including early signs of oral cancer. They can also advise on more cosmetic problems, like the colour and shape of your smile.
Dr. Patel recommends visiting a dentist for a check-up at least once a year and seeing a hygienist, who will professionally clean your teeth, every six months. How to pick a dentist if you don’t already have one? “Ask around, do your research, read the reviews and get advice from people you know or live near and see who they recommend,” advises Patel.
Step Two
The boring truth of the matter is that keeping teeth and gums in good shape is all down to good practice in your day-to-day life. That means brushing and flossing correctly and keeping sugary foods and drinks to a minimum.
Firstly, cut the junk food and try to forgo sugar where possible. Most dentists recommend eating no more than four teaspoons of sugar a day (to put it in perspective, one can of Coke has more than double that), as sugar is converted to acid by teeth’s plaque bacteria, causing cavities. Try and eat as much vitamin C (found in red peppers and broccoli) as possible as it helps with gum health, as well as vegetables like carrots and celery to help naturally clean plaque and freshen breath. Avoid too much fruit as it's sugar-packed. Sugar-free gum is also great to chew between meals as it stimulates saliva flow, which helps prevent cavities.
Brushing twice a day is also paramount for great teeth. Use a soft-bristled brush (like Colgate’s Slim Soft toothbrush and Oral-B’s Sensitive Clean Electric toothbrush heads) as it’s gentler on gums, and hold it at a 45 degree angle to reach in between the teeth. Circular motions are key if you’re using a manual brush but if you’re an electric kind of person, try Philips’ Sonicare Diamond Clean – it has 30-second reminders to move to the next area. Two minutes is all it takes for a proper clean.
Simple toothpaste is best – just make sure it contains fluoride as this reduces the chance of tooth decay and, while charcoal toothpastes promise whiter teeth (the jury’s out on this), they’re not as good for daily use.
And finally, floss. A lot of us simply don’t see it as a big part of our nightly routine, but we need to make it one. From helping to remove food and plaque to allowing oxygen flow to the teeth and gums, it takes no time to get big results. The trick is to avoid just moving the floss in and out, but instead angle it so you’re cleaning around the whole tooth. Try Oral B’s Glide Pro-Health Clinical Protection Floss.
Step Three
Never underestimate the power of a bright, pearly white smile. It can make you look a lot younger and boost confidence, too. Teeth can become stained from all sorts of things, including tea, coffee, red wine, fizzy drinks, highly coloured foods and smoking; the rule is, anything that would stain a white T-shirt will also stain your teeth. And you’re probably ingesting at least one of these things every week.
The first thing to consider is how and where you whiten your teeth. There are myriad at-home whitening kits which can be fairly effective, but there is also a lot of marketing puff so it’s good to do your research and speak to a dentist where possible. The rule of thumb is that anything you can buy over the counter without visiting a dentist won’t change colour drastically, so forget buying anything in Boots – many of these products don’t have the ingredients or the concentration to do much to teeth. Your whitening toothpaste or mouthwash isn’t going to cut it, basically. You need to see a qualified dental practitioner.
One of the most popular options is at-home whitening. Your dentist will mould dental trays to your teeth and provide you with a whitening gel (which should contain no more than 6% hydrogen peroxide) to be worn in the trays on teeth overnight. It takes about four days to see a difference and two weeks for maximum results. You choose how white you go – just avoid the Ross-from- Friends look. During this time and for two weeks after, steer clear of teeth-staining food and drink as teeth become more porous, meaning they’re far more susceptible to discolouration. Be warned that whitening gels heighten tooth sensitivity so the treatment isn’t always the most comfortable, but any pain goes as soon as you stop using the gel. And in its place you'll have a set of the whitest gnashers – they do say no pain, no gain.
The second option is ‘in-chair whitening’ which involves coating teeth with a peroxide-based gel, then using an ultraviolet light laser to speed up the whitening process. This way, your teeth become whiter in a lot less time, and it’s very effective on teeth that are verging on brown, rather than just stained; but expect to pay more (elleven charges £795 for in-clinic whitening, in comparison to £495 for at-home).
It’s important that your teeth are relatively clean – i.e. not covered in plaque – before you start any whitening treatment, otherwise the whitening agent won’t be able to reach the tooth’s surface as well. So pay a visit to your hygienist for a deep clean first.
Step Four
Having your teeth straightened can help with all manner of concerns, including tooth health (crooked teeth can wear each other down) and, most importantly, how you feel. “Adult braces are extremely popular,” says Dr. Patel, “especially now that they are far more discreet and can fit in well with individual routines.” There are different options available, but they do come at a price.
One of the most popular is Invisalign, which uses a series of plastic trays (reminiscent of gum shields) to move teeth a minuscule amount each time you get a new tray, which is every two weeks. They’re custom-made to your mouth and can be removed, unlike their more daunting fixed counterparts, the ‘train track’ brace. You can’t see them, which as an adult makes a big difference, and you’re required to wear them for 22 hours a day. The amount of time it takes is dependent on the individual but it can be up to a year, if not slightly longer. See the orthodontic experts at Dawood & Tanner for Invisalign – Dr. Husain knows all there is to know.
Your other option for invisible straightening is lingual braces. These are fixed onto teeth but, like Invisalign, are completely invisible and can be fitted to the inside of the teeth if required (and paid for – they can cost up to £7,000). They're great for those who might not suit Invisalign but what's best for you is very much dependent on your smile.
Step Five
The reason for the majority of celebrities' crazily perfect smiles? Veneers: thin layers of porcelain glued over the top of your existing tooth (or teeth), essentially changing the appearance of the tooth. These are by no means cheap – per tooth you are looking at between £800 and £1,200 – but they can create a smile that’s pretty damn close to perfect.
A veneer is created specifically for your smile and is applied under local anaesthetic, after the dentist has filed away some of your tooth’s enamel. All in all, the process takes around an hour but they can last a lifetime if treated correctly.
Dr. Patel recommends veneers for patients whose teeth are very damaged by grinding or have drastically worn away over time; they are something to discuss with your dentist if you have an issue with a specific tooth (i.e. it might be very different from the others, very chipped and so on).
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