Smile depends on teeth and gums

Take care of your gums and teeth too

We have been discussing how to get a beautiful smile. Apart from what you can do with with your lips and how to whiten your teeth, there are other components of a smile that only a cosmetic dentist can correct. San Francisco cosmetic dentist Josh Bernstein highlights some of the other problems related to oral care and how they can be treated:

Misaligned bite and tooth grinding Photo of a beautiful woman with a great set of teeth and friendly smile.

An overbite creates a recessed chin, which can cause a "turkey neck" appearance and a jowly look. An overbite also makes your teeth difficult to see (how to take care of your teeth) when you smile and it makes your lips look very thin. An under bite creates a protruding chin and a "bulldog" look. Both accentuate the natural effects of aging, making you look older than you really are.

Even if you do not have an overbite or under bite, a misaligned bite of any kind contributes to temporomandibular joint disease (TMD). TMD (or TMJ) places strain on neck, shoulder, and back muscles, and can cause debilitating back pain and headaches. TMJ can cause very poor posture, making you look and feel hunched, old, and tired. Your jaw posture affects your overall posture.

Tooth grinding not only damages your teeth, but it can affect the muscles in your face and your profile. Teeth can become visibly worn, chipped, and cracked. The distance between your chin and nose eventually decreases, and deep wrinkles can form.

Neuromuscular dentistry is an advanced form of dentistry, which corrects TMJ and bite problems relieving pain, improving the appearance, and preventing serious future dental problems.

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Receding gum line

Bone loss is a natural result of aging and one way that it becomes visible is through gum shrinkage. Other things, such as gum disease and overly vigorous brushing, can cause gum lines to recede, as well. Subconsciously, we recognize a receding or uneven gum line as a sign of age, no matter what the cause. Laser gum re-contouring and gum grafts can correct the appearance of receding and uneven gum lines. An unbalanced bite is sometimes overlooked as a major cause of gum recession.

Crowded or missing teeth and gaps

Crowded and missing teeth are also recognized subconsciously as signs of aging. Crowded teeth can be improved by tooth straightening. Missing teeth and gaps can be addressed in many ways. Depending on the size and position of the gap, porcelain veneers (Invisalign), bonding, and tooth implants can all be good solutions for missing teeth and gaps.

Want a perfect smile?

Take care of your gums and teeth too