Eating And Smiling With Confidence

Are you happy with your teeth or would you like to see improvements?

We probably spend most of our time not even giving our teeth a second thought, except perhaps when we brush them. Even this though, can be second nature and we do it as a matter of fact rather than putting any real thought into it.

This isn’t always the case though and there may be moments when we catch a glimpse of our smile and notice it isn’t as we would really like it to be, or perhaps we are given food to eat that makes us wonder how our teeth will cope with chewing it.

If the last part of the above paragraph rings a bell with you, you are not alone. Most people would ideally like to see some changes to their teeth, whether from a practical or aesthetic angle. The good news is that, with the range of treatments available at the Foxhall Dental Practice, our Ipswich patients can have both stronger and healthier teeth as well as make improvements to their smile.

Challenges in eating

If you have any untreated oral problems such as cavities in your teeth, it is very likely that every time you eat, you are going to experience significant levels of discomfort. Mealtimes might be something that you dread rather than look forward to. There really is no reason to put up with this and any problems like this should be treated straight away. If left untreated, the pain and degree of damage will only increase, so make that appointment today.

Not all problems are so noticeable but can still create problems when we eat. One of these is when the enamel of our teeth has become worn down and makes our teeth much more sensitive. This can make eating or drinking hot and cold food and drinks an unpleasant experience, and one which might see us wince with pain at times. Even if you can’t see any obvious damage, but experience sensitivity, you should make an appointment to see one of our Ipswich dentists as soon as possible. It could be that a tooth has a small crack in it or that you have enamel erosion. In the latter case, the fitting of teeth veneers can provide a long term solution for this problem.

If you have received a lot of dental treatment over the years, perhaps due to neglect during your earlier life, you might find that you don’t feel overly confident about eating harder foods with your teeth in case they are too weak to deal with it and might break. This can lead to avoidance of certain foods and choosing only those that you feel your teeth can cope with. Although this is a manageable strategy, it does remove a lot of the enjoyment from eating if you are restricted in what you can eat. In extreme circumstances, it could even lead to lack of nutrition.

Finally, if you find chewing your food difficult to do, you are likely to swallow larger pieces rather than starting the digestion process in the mouth as you should. This can lead to stomach problems such as indigestion and constipation.

If you recognise any of the above problems in yourself, there are a range of procedures that can help to restore your teeth to a much more functional state. These include fillings, crowns, veneers and dental implants amongst others. Don’t put up with poor quality teeth and contact us to see how we can help you.

Improving a smile

Even if you are happy with the functionality of your teeth and don’t have any problems with eating, there is every chance that there are aesthetic issues with your teeth that you wish weren’t there. This will vary with each individual and might include dull or discoloured teeth, gaps in the teeth or even crooked and uneven teeth. Improvements made in these areas can transform your smile from an OK one to one that you are very proud of and which makes you feel  more confident when you smile.

Whiter teeth

A dull smile is still a smile but probably not one that you are particularly happy with. There is no denying that being greeted by a nice white smile is much nicer than a set of dull or discoloured teeth. In fact, it is said that we make up our minds about people within a few seconds of meeting them. A white smile will certainly help to make a good initial impression. The severity of discolouration or staining will determine the treatment that we provide, with milder discolouration usually treated with a teeth whitening procedure and more significant discolouration sometimes requiring porcelain veneers to be fitted.

Gappy or crooked teeth

Teeth that have gaps between them or are crooked can detract from even the whitest of smiles. There are a number of procedures available that can correct these issues. You will first of all need to see a dentist to discuss the most appropriate solution. Where the gaps are largely aesthetic, it may be possible to close these using bonding or veneers; for example, in the case of a small gap between the top two front teeth. Where more significant issues are present though, orthodontic treatment may be the preferred option. Modern orthodontics such as Invisalign allow your teeth to be straightened in an almost invisible way through the use of a series of transparent trays that fit over your teeth, rather than the more visible wires and brackets of old.

Whatever problems you have with your teeth, whether aesthetic or functional, our friendly team are here to help you in our modern Ipswich clinic. If you would like to make an appointment to discuss your issue with one of our experienced team, you can contact us today by calling the Foxhall Dental Practice on 01473 258396.