If you were asked to name someone with the perfect smile, chances are that person would be a Hollywood celebrity. At least your short list would have a few famous names on it, whether it be Emma Watson, Ryan Gosling, Julia Roberts or Idris Elba. It’s true, movie stars and other celebs generally have above average smiles, but it’s also true that they likely weren’t born with them.
Lots of work that goes into those red-carpet smiles, from dental work to facial and physical training but a perfect smile seems to be almost requisite for the famous. Let’s take a more detailed look at what’s behind a great smile and see if you we can’t take a few pointers to improve our own. Keep reading!
Smile secrets of the rich and famous
That headline might be a bit misleading, because let’s face it, we’re living in 2021 (soon to be 2022) and most of us know that many celebrity smiles aren’t all-natural.
The first “secret” on our list would be the smile makeover from a cosmetic dentist. This often includes porcelain veneers or crowns that alter the size and shape of teeth, the amount of gumline that’s left exposed and of course the colour of the teeth. A professional cosmetic dentist will be able to match the size and shape of the teeth to the persons face to give a better fitting aesthetic and perfect proportions.
This totally manicured approach isn’t cheap, and totals often run over a hundred thousand dollars for a complete makeover. Not everyone needs to spend a fortune though. If a smile isn’t too misaligned and teeth are generally healthy, much less cosmetic work will need to be done. Many younger smiles can also be altered through orthodontic straightening and simple whitening instead of making drastic changes. To that end there’s a lot of celebs wearing Invisalign style clear aligners (especially at night) or full-on braces when they’re still kids.
Our society places a high value on beauty, associating straight, white teeth with health, sex and youth. For these reasons a nice smile increases confidence and that’s something you’d definitely need if you spend a lot of time in the limelight or in front of cameras.
Top tools of the perfect smile trade
- Teeth whitening
- Porcelain Veneers
- Dental crowns
- Orthodontic appliances (braces, clear aligners)
Can it be done without a 100K budget?
Luckily, most people aren’t in need of complete cosmetic overhaul to get their smile to shine. If your teeth aren’t straight, visiting an orthodontist to ask about braces or clear aligners can work wonders to align your bite and put your pearly whites in a neat row. These options can be quite affordable, and while they aren’t an instant fix, the results can really be worth the wait.
As your teeth are straightening, remember to keep a top-notch hygiene routine. This should include brushing at least twice daily, flossing regularly and even rinsing after meals or if you’ve drank something other than water. Staying cavity and gum disease free is the first (and most important) thing, after which would come alignment and colour.
To that end, teeth whitening products and services have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. For us as consumers there’s a ton of choice, from at-home whitening products, to quick, single session whitening appointments at your dentist. The latter variety of whitening will garner the best results but DIY at home kits can be very effective as well.
Another aspect that shouldn’t be ignored is diet and lifestyle. Eating lots of raw vegetables can help naturally whiten teeth and an overall healthy diet helps ward off gum disease, tooth decay and will help your teeth stay white. Avoid sugary foods and drinks and limit heavy staining beverages like coffee and wine – and no smoking.
If all these fail to convert your smile into the one you want, then speak with your dentist about veneers or crowns. Your dentist will be able to let you know what’s recommended, how much it could cost and what results you can expect.
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