People don’t always love their teeth, and it can have a serious mental impact on them. Damaged teeth, bad color, gaps between them, or crookedness are all factors that can lead to people feeling anxious and self-conscious when they’re in social situations.
Teeth are connected to our public appearance, so when people struggle with how they look, their confidence dips dramatically. This can spiral into further issues of low self-esteem and even depression in some cases.
This article looks at several treatment options that can help with your self-esteem and bring back your smile. So, if you’re someone who thinks, “I don’t like my teeth,” keep reading to learn how you can take control of your dental health and boost your confidence.
Main Reasons Why People Don’t Like Their Teeth
A beautiful smile can often be the entire difference between feeling confident and feeling insecure. Our teeth are a very prominent part of our face, and unfortunately, many people feel unsatisfied with their pearly whites for a variety of reasons.
The most common among them is color, many people find their teeth to be too dull or yellowed for their taste, or even discolored due to certain medications. Other common issues are size and shape, crooked, fused, or crowded teeth which prevent us from confidently smiling.
One other factor is the loss of one or more teeth due to trauma or disease which can affect our self-esteem and ability to accurately chew food.
How Can You Fix Your Teeth? Can You Fix Your Teeth Naturally?
Unfortunately, fixing one’s teeth naturally is not possible: without intervention, any existing damage will continue or worsen over time.
An article on WebMD states that tooth enamel, even though it is the hardest tissue in the body, is not living tissue, which means it cannot be naturally regenerated.
Fortunately, a variety of treatments exist which can help one fix their teeth and preserve their dental health: from fillings and crowns to dentures, dental bonding, and even braces if needed.
With proper care and the right specialist, you can look after your gums and keep your teeth healthy for years to come.
See our article: How to Straighten Teeth Without braces or Invisalign?
Metal or Ceramic Braces
Metal and ceramic braces are a type of dental appliance used by orthodontists to correct misaligned or crooked teeth. They are composed of individual brackets that bond directly to the tooth surface and hold a thin archwire in place.
These archwires come in different sizes, depending on the condition of the teeth being corrected. The wire interacts with individual brackets to provide gentle pressure on the teeth.
Treatment time varies from patient to patient, but it usually requires periodic adjustments every 6-8 weeks until alignment is achieved.
Treatment with metal and ceramic braces may be uncomfortable at times due to initial discomfort from the brackets and constant pressure throughout treatment.
However, the result tends to be straighter teeth, improved oral hygiene, and greater confidence.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are an orthodontic treatment option that differs from traditional braces because they are placed on the lingual side, or the tongue side, of the teeth. This allows them to be completely invisible to others, making them popular with adults and teens who are more concerned about the aesthetic side of teeth straightening treatment.
Lingual braces still use brackets and wires but since they attach differently than regular braces, they require specialized placement methods and special tools.
Due to the complexity of installation and adjustment, lingual braces may take slightly longer for treatment compared to traditional braces though the results usually carry a similar outcome.
Invisalign or Clear Aligners
Clear aligners such as Invisalign are quickly becoming the preferred orthodontic treatment of choice for those seeking an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable way to straighten their teeth.
These custom-made plastic retainers are perfectly fitted to your mouth and allow for gradual, guided tooth movement, all without metal brackets or wires.
Clear aligners are also removable, which makes it much easier to maintain good oral hygiene while going through orthodontic treatment.
Many clear aligner brands allow you to order them directly to your home without the need for any appointments so they not only save you time but they can also work out to be a much cheaper option for treatment overall with the same efficiency in results for mild to mid malocclusions.
See our article: Braces By Mail.
Here you can see a selection of reviews for some of the best invisible aligners available:
NewSmile Review – A cheaper option and a monthly payment program with no down payment. A video call is offered to assist you when taking your mouth impressions. A choice of day or night aligners is available and each purchase comes with a free retainer and teeth-whitening foam.
SmileDirectClub Review – A popular choice. They offer a 3D visualization showing how your teeth will look once treatment concludes. A free one-time replacement if you damage or break your aligners is also offered.
Byte Review – A top pick with a lifetime guarantee and 3D simulation.
Candid Review – The most similar product to Invisalign and offering a high level of customer service. These aligners are suitable for mild to severe teeth spacing issues.
ALIGNERCO – The cheapest at-home aligner brand with a monthly payment plan on a zero-down payment agreement. They offer 24/7 live chat support to all customers.
Veneers
Veneers are a great solution for those who want to achieve their desired appearance without going through more invasive treatments such as braces or dental crowns. They are made from either composite material or porcelain and are custom-designed to fit over the front or visible portion of the teeth.
Veneers can help address various cosmetic dental issues, such as discolored, chipped, or misshapen teeth. They are also useful in cases where the enamel has worn down, or the teeth have become too short. Veneers are popular due to their versatility, durability, and natural-looking results. They can be used to close gaps between teeth, lengthen teeth, or even give the illusion of a straighter smile.
Furthermore, the placement of veneers is minimally invasive, and the process usually involves removing only a small amount of enamel from the teeth. This means that patients can enjoy an improved smile without extensive dental work.
See our article: Teeth Veneers Pros and Cons.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a versatile cosmetic procedure used to fix minor tooth imperfections such as cracked, gapped and discolored teeth. It involves applying a special resin onto the affected tooth which is then hardened and shaped by a special light.
During the application process, patients may experience slight discomfort but it requires no preparation, and pain medication is not usually necessary. The bonding material is especially color-matched to perfectly blend with your natural teeth creating an impeccable smile.
This treatment type can last up to ten years with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits.
Implants
Dental implants are a revolutionary technology when it comes to replacing missing or damaged teeth. Implants act as an artificial tooth root, placed into the jawbone to provide support for restorative dentistry. By bonding directly with your jawbone, dental implants offer stability and long-term durability.
The implant is typically made of titanium, a biocompatible material that is highly resistant to corrosion and other forms of wear and tear. During the implant procedure, a small incision is made into the gum line to access the jawbone. The implant is then placed directly into the jawbone, where it will fuse with the bone tissue over time. This process is known as osseointegration and can take anywhere from three to six months to complete. Once the implant has fused with the bone tissue, a custom-made dental crown is attached to the implant, providing a natural-looking replacement tooth that blends seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.
Crowns
Crowns are an effective restorative procedure that helps protect teeth from further damage and preserve their healthy shape and structure. The crown itself is a type of dental cap, designed to encase the entire visible surface of the affected tooth or teeth.
Made from a variety of materials, such as porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or composites, crowns not only restore the tooth’s size, shape, and strength but also provide an aesthetically pleasing cosmetic look.
With regular professional checkups and proper care at home through brushing and flossing routinely twice a day, you can help ensure that your dental work remains intact for years to come.
Whitening
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental procedure designed to lighten the appearance of stained or discolored teeth.
The most common way to achieve whiter teeth is by using special toothpaste and other bleaching techniques, although these methods are often time-consuming and not as effective. Professional-grade teeth whitening solutions can provide much more dramatic results, brightening the natural color of your teeth by many shades in as little as one session.
Different types of whitening treatments are available ranging from in-office procedures to custom take-home trays and strips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I Do if I Don’t Like My Teeth?
A professional whitening treatment could be great if the problem is just discoloration. Veneers offer a great way to cover up chips and cracks in teeth and help keep them looking neat. For more significant problems, braces or clear aligners are a good solution depending on the severity of the issue.
How to Smile if I Don’t Like My Teeth?
One great way to make use of a smile without having to show off your teeth is by using a closed-lip smile. This involves simply curving your lips into a small smile while keeping them firmly shut. While it might not be as wide or joyous as an open-mouth smile, it still conveys warmth and friendliness.
