A lot of people who have had extensive damage to their teeth or changes in their smile’s appearance can begin to feel demoralized. They can think that there’s nothing to be done, that it’s too late, and there’s no way to help them. However, that is very rarely true. The sooner that you get in touch with your dentist, the sooner that you can find out that there may, indeed, be solutions at your disposal.

Getting back on track

First of all, your mind should be on the prevention of any further damage, decay, or tooth loss and if you’re not going to your dentist, then you are definitely not doing enough to protect your teeth. They can tell you more about how to improve your oral health routine at home, as well as provide in-chair cleanings to make sure that you’re not letting tartar build-up. As a result, you can prevent future tooth loss, making the other issues easier to fix.

Dealing with discoloration

One of the most common oral health issues that can undermine an individual’s confidence is the problem of discoloration. Learning what can stain your teeth is vital, as you can avoid many of the causes or learn how to mitigate them, but your dentist can also help you whiten your teeth, both with in-chair treatments, as well as recommending at-home kits and whitening oral health products, such as toothpaste that you can use. How much your teeth can be whitened is a matter for the dentist to help you work out, but you can definitely see some improvements.

Fixing the damage

It’s not just discoloration that you can fix. Chips, cracks, and broken teeth can do a lot to make you much shyer with your smile, but you don’t have to leave them as is. In fact, in many cases, it’s important to repair the damage to protect the remaining teeth. Your dentist can provide a host of restorative treatments, such as fillings, crowns, and veneers that can restore your tooth. It can look and feel totally natural, allowing you to smile with the confidence that you should have. Which option is best for you is going to depend on the extent and type of damage.

Filling the gap

You might think that nothing can be done if you have lost your tooth. It is true that you’re not going to get that tooth back unless it happens to be a baby tooth, which isn’t likely if you’re reading this. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t complete your smile. There are a range of options to replace lost teeth, including dentures and dental implants, which you can choose based on your budget and needs. Completing your smile is also important for your future dental health, preventing issues like jawbone loss, which can make future work harder, so it’s wise to do it sooner rather than later.

Some forms of damage can be irreversible, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way to fill in the gap and help restore your smile. If you’re in doubt, the best thing to do is visit your dentist.