How to Maintain Your Smile Makeover Results

Undergoing a smile makeover is a great way to restore your confidence and a healthy, beautiful smile. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral disease affects nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. 

If you receive a smile correction from your dentist, it's important to understand how to maintain it for lasting results.

Read on to discover some helpful smile maintenance tips that will make your smile makeover a smart investment for years to come.

Why You May Need Smile Correction

There are several reasons why patients may need a smile makeover or smile correction. First, those with misshapen teeth or teeth that are too short could require extra dental work.

Other examples of times when a person might need a smile makeover include if they have a gap between one or more teeth or if they're missing teeth altogether. Tooth discoloration or chipped, broken, or cracked teeth are other examples of when a patient might want to consider getting a smile makeover.

The process of a smile makeover will vary depending on the issues you face. For example, your dentist may want to correct the shape of your tooth and fill gaps in the teeth, or they may need to replace missing teeth with something temporary or permanent. They might also want to help you restore your teeth to their original appearance via procedures like teeth whitening or porcelain veneers.

Here are some examples of what you may receive during a smile makeover:

• Dental bonding
• Teeth whitening
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental implants
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Complete or partial dentures

Whether you get one, some, or all of these procedures, it's crucial to know how to practice proper care and follow-up for long-lasting smile results. Let's take a closer look at some things you can (and should) do to maintain your brand-new smile.

Follow Your Dentist's Advice

Your dentist will provide you with information about how to maintain your new smile once the procedure is over. They may prescribe you medication including antibiotics to help prevent any pain, infection, or inflammation. Always follow the dosage instructions for any medicine you receive as directed for the best results.

Your dentist could also show you how to clean the area using a specific technique. They could also have you avoid eating certain foods or drinking certain beverages until everything is completely healed.

Certain dental treatments, namely tooth removal, require the formation of clots to help you heal. This might mean that you need to refrain from spitting or drinking liquids from a straw for a few days. There's also a good chance that your dentist will tell you not to smoke while the clots form to prevent dry sockets. 

The dentist may prescribe pain medicine if you're in any pain after your smile makeover procedure. They could also suggest using a cold compress or rinse your mouth with salt water to help ease the pain. Fortunately, most dental pain subsides within a few hours to a few days. 

Brushing Tips

You'll still need to brush your teeth after your smile makeover. However, you may feel like the area is too sensitive or that you don't need to brush regularly to keep your new smile looking beautiful.

However, brushing is particularly important after the procedure to keep your mouth clean, fight germs and bacteria, and prevent infection. Use a very soft-bristled toothbrush, and try a toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth to make brushing easier. Be as gentle as possible whenever you brush near the treated area. 

It's also a good idea to rinse your mouth with mouthwash to remove food particles and debris after brushing your teeth. Use a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol to prevent dry mouth.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes

After a smile makeover, you may need to make a few adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. This is particularly true for cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening. 

Coffee, red wine, tea, and cola are all beverages that can wreck your brand-new, white smile. Food like curry, berries, beets, or balsamic vinegar may also stain teeth, so it's best to avoid eating and drinking them for a few days to a few weeks after your smile makeover.

It's also a good idea to avoid extremely hot or cold food that could make pain or sensitivity worse. Avoid hard, sticky, or tough foods, which can cause discomfort and damage your brand-new dental work. 

Lifestyle Tips

Aside from watching what you eat and drink, you may need to make a few lifestyle changes to maintain your bright smile. First, stop smoking if possible and avoid drinking excess alcohol.

You should also stop grinding your teeth and stop chewing on objects (like pen caps), which can damage your teeth and your new dental veneers, fillings, or crowns. Although it may seem difficult, focusing on quitting these unhealthy habits now will help to protect your beautiful new smile long into the future. 

Dentists always recommend that their patients avoid consuming sugary food and drinks since they can cause cavities. This is especially true if you've just had a smile makeover since sugar promotes the growth of bacteria which causes plaque to form on your teeth, resulting in cavities or tooth decay.

After your smile makeover is complete, your dentist will likely schedule at least one follow-up appointment. You should attend this appointment to ensure that your smile makeover is still looking good and that your dentist can monitor the progress.

Make Your Smile Brand-New 

Getting a smile correction or a smile makeover is a great way to restore your healthy, beautiful smile. Whether you get veneers, a crown, fillings, or dental implants, it's important that you follow these post-makeover dental care tips to achieve long-lasting smile results.



The amazing team at Dr. Rosado & Associates is here to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. If you'd like to schedule a consultation or an appointment in the Miami area, call our office at (305) 697-7249 today!