But whether you’re trying to get a picture perfect smile for the holidays, build confidence, or make sure you stay as healthy as possible as you age – your dentist’s office could hold the key to living your best life.
As the old saying goes, a smile can change the world.
But for some, smiles can be hard to come by.
“I’ve heard stories from people that they smile less because they’re not confident in their teeth,” said Dr. Navdeep Thind, who works at Oak Park Family Dentistry.
That’s why Dr. Thind has made it her mission to give patients their smile – and their confidence back.
“And with that confidence, people feel like they can meet new people, or they apply for a job, so I think it’s a great thing for us to be able to educate our patients and help them get to where they want to be.”
It all starts, she said, with proper oral hygiene.
“Flossing at least once a day, brushing two times a day, morning and at night.”
And not overindulging in things that can make your pearly whites look dingy and stained.
“I’m an avid coffee drinker, people that drink wine – those are all things that are going to stain your teeth -even teas. Everything in moderation is great. One helpful tip I would recommend is swishing your mouth with water right after to reduce the acidity in your mouth and try to reduce some of that staining.”
And if they’ve already lost their luster…
“We do offer a couple of options for people who want to get their teeth whitened.”
One of them takes a couple of hours in the dentist’s office; the other is a take-home option.
“So, we take impressions of their teeth. We get the bleaching trays made and we send them home with the solution.”
And the results?
“I’ve had people hug me after; I’ve had people in tears sometimes.”
While some are looking for a whiter smile… for others, it’s the smile itself that could use a little work.
“A lot of people, it’s just, ‘I want that perfect smile. I want straight square teeth.'”
Dr. Thind said the key is starting with the foundation first.
“I think that’s the one thing I always try to push for my patients, that before we start to touch your tooth, why don’t we do a more healthier approach, and if you’re still not satisfied with the look, then we can start talking about more cosmetic dentistry.”
All of which can make a big difference and get a patient on a journey to better health.
“I think a lot of people neglect that your oral cavity is kind of the gateway to the rest of your body.”
“Every patient that comes into my chair is to do an oral examination on, so I’m not just looking at the teeth; I’m looking at the surrounding areas.”
And what they can find might surprise you.
“Diabetes is one, we can see how much inflammation in gum tissues you have.”
