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Keeping Your Teeth White Between Dental Visits


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Keeping Your Teeth White Between Dental Visits

Taking care of your teeth might seem mundane, but without enough attention, those pearly whites of yours can easily turn tinged and stained. Sure, having your teeth cleaned every few months at your dentist's office is a great start to maintaining a beautiful smile, but it isn't enough to keep each tooth pearly white on an ongoing basis. Now, don't get me wrong – you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on professional maintenance in order to get the results you want. You can use a variety of methods at home, like creating your own whitening mouthwash, that can help to keep you teeth white between dentist visits. Hopefully, the tips and techniques offered on this blog is enough to get you the results that you're after.

4 Steps For Treating An Overbite

An overbite is one of the most common tooth alignment problems. A slight overbite is healthy, but too much of an overbite can lead to bite problems. It may make it difficult to fully close your mouth, and it can even affect the look of your smile. If you suspect you have an overbite, there are steps you can take to fix it. Here are four things you should do to treat an overbite:

1. Visit an orthodontist.

Your dentist is your primary source for dental care, but when it comes to tooth alignment, you'll need to see a specialist. Orthodontists specialize in the alignment of your teeth. If your teeth are crooked or if you have an overbite, you should schedule an appointment with an orthodontist for an examination. During your initial visit, your orthodontist will examine your teeth, and they may take x-rays. Based on their findings, they may recommend orthodontic treatment if they believe you're a good candidate.

2. Select a type of orthodontic treatment.

If you decide to go ahead and treat your overbite, there are several methods of tooth realignment to choose from. Metal braces are the most common option. They're inexpensive and require no upkeep beyond your ordinary tooth-care routine. However, some people find the look of metal braces distracting, especially if they're adults. Clear aligners are another option. They're removable, and most people won't even notice that you're wearing them. You have to make sure to be diligent about wearing them, otherwise you won't get the best results.

3. Start your treatment.

You'll return to your orthodontist after you make your decision. If you decide to get clear aligners, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth so your clear aligners can be created to fit perfectly. You'll return to the dentist periodically so they can check your progress and give you new aligners when the time comes. If you decide to get braces, your orthodontist will install them by gluing the brackets to your teeth and attaching wires to provide tension. At regular intervals, your orthodontist will tighten your braces.

4. Follow all instructions.

Your orthodontist may send you home with instructions about the care of your orthodontic device. Make sure to follow all of them to keep your braces or clear aligners in good condition. In general, you should make sure to keep them clean and avoid foods that might damage them, such as sticky taffy or popcorn.

Visit your dentist or orthodontist to get started treating your overbite today or to learn more.