Veneers

Veneers are an excellent long-term solution for gaps in your teeth. You have the option of getting either partial veneers or full veneers. Full veneers would cover your entire smile, while a partial veneer would only cover the gap in your teeth. Partial veneers are typically more popular as they cover a small area of your teeth and allow your natural smile to remain radiant! Veneers are extremely sturdy and can withstand the everyday wear-and- tear that your teeth experience. Porcelain or ceramic veneers are excellent cosmetic dentistry options for larger gaps in your teeth.

Dental Bonding

Also known as teeth bonding or composite bonding, this option is usually the most cost-friendly of your cosmetic dentistry options for gapped teeth. This treatment lasts between five and ten years and allows your dentist to use composite resin to help improve the appearance of the gap in your smile. Your dentist will use the resin, which seamlessly matches the natural color of your teeth, to essentially fill in the gap and make your smile appear smooth and beautiful! The resin will be applied to the teeth on either side of the gap to help close the space. This type of treatment is typically used for smaller gaps.

Invisalign Orthodontics

If you’d like to close a gap in your teeth via orthodontics, Invisalign can be a great option for you. Invisalign is different from traditional braces because people can’t see that you’re straightening your teeth or closing the gap in your smile. Invisalign uses custom-fitting clear trays that slowly and precisely move your teeth into place. This option can help close the gap in your beautiful smile and make your treatment virtually invisible! Talk with your dentist or orthodontist if you’re a candidate for Invisalign to fix the gap in your smile.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can also be effective options for gaps in your smile. A dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth that is effectively anchored to the teeth on either side of your gap, therefore effectively filling in the gap with a tooth that looks just like your other natural teeth. This option is best for people who are missing a tooth that’s creating the gap, as it can help prevent the shifting that often happens when your smile has missing teeth.

Gapped teeth can hurt more than just your self-confidence— missing teeth can cause shifting, and natural gaps can be difficult to clean, hurt your self-esteem, and lead to you avoid smiling and showing your beautiful natural teeth. Talk to your dentist about which cosmetic dentistry options for gapped teeth you qualify for— you’ll be amazed and pleasantly surprised with the results!

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Linked to Other Health Ailments

The inflammation is what ties gum disease to other health ailments. The inflammation in your mouth when periodontal disease is present is linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature birth in women who are pregnant. These are all serious health conditions that affect your quality of life and your lifespan—and let’s not forget that heart disease is the primary cause of death in men and women in the United States. Gum disease is linked to all of these health problems by the common factor of inflammation. By treating the gum disease in your mouth, you’re making it easier for your body to maintain health and eliminate the inflammatory response that comes with infection. By alleviating inflammation in your body, you can help reduce and prevent your risk of heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. Not to mention you can help save your teeth! Be aware of the signs and symptoms of gum disease—this includes bleeding gums when brushing, chronic bad breath, red gums, loose teeth, and buildup of plaque that looks brown along the gum line.

How to Treat Gum Disease?

Gum disease happens when plaque builds up on your teeth over time and eventually turns into tartar—a very hard substance that can only be scraped off and removed by a dentist. This tartar will affect the space where your gums meet your teeth, causing the gums to pull back from the teeth, infection to breed in this space, and inflammation. Inflammation of the gums is simply gingivitis, but gingivitis is a serious condition that can easily lead to periodontal disease. You can treat gingivitis or periodontal disease by visiting your dentist—he or she will properly clean your teeth and gum line to get rid of the tartar and help reduce the infection. Prevention is the best measure to take when it comes to gum disease or gingivitis. Brushing regularly (and properly), flossing to get at the hard-to-reach areas in between your teeth, and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups are all important practices for your oral health—and your body!

Being aware that inflammation in your mouth in the form of gum disease is linked a variety of other serious health ailments is important. Taking care of your oral health is just as important as taking care of your body. One affects the other and by taking care of your oral health, you help to decrease inflammation in body. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease, visit your dentist today!

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