Among other things, your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. An attractive smile communicates confidence, approachability, and beauty, helping you look and feel your best. Unfortunately, even the smallest imbalance or blemish can ruin your smile.

A beautiful smile is a combination of several aesthetic factors. When an Oldsmar master dental smile designer wants to improve how it looks, they may fix the shape, size, and color of your teeth or the amount of gum tissue in your mouth. Here is a look at five things that make the perfect smile.

Tooth Color

Over time, the foods and drinks you consume may discolor or stain your teeth. This is also true of tobacco products and some medications. Discolored teeth can appear yellowish or brown and make your teeth appear dirty or rotted, which can mar your smile.

Your cosmetic dentist can fix mildly discolored teeth through professional teeth whitening. If the staining is severe, they can apply veneers to cover your enamel. Both of these treatments restore the natural white appearance of your teeth, making your smile brighter and more attractive.

Tooth Spacing and Alignment

Even with clean, white teeth, improper tooth spacing, and alignment can throw off your smile. This problem often manifests as crowded teeth, overbites, gaps in the teeth, or underbites. The only way to treat improper teeth alignment and spacing is through orthodontic treatments.

Braces are the most common orthodontic treatment and they use pressure to realign your teeth. However, traditional dentures can be restrictive and unsightly. If you are worried about this, you can discuss clear aligners like Invisalign with your dentist.

Tooth Structural Integrity

The structural integrity of your teeth can be compromised through trauma or infection. Tooth decay, for instance, can eat away at your enamel, leaving gaps in your teeth. Trauma, on the other hand, can cause chips, cracks, and breaks in your teeth that can also affect your smile.

The ideal treatment for compromised teeth will usually depend on the nature and severity of the problem. Mild cracks can be corrected through veneers and cavities can be filled or replaced with crowns. If the damage is extensive, your dentist can remove and replace the tooth with an implant.

Gum Line, Display, and Color

Your gums also play a key role in the appearance of your smile. Gums that appear red or black, for instance, can make you appear unhealthy. In addition to color, the amount of gum tissue you have can make your smile appear “toothy” or gummy.”

Your dentist can fix a gummy smile by pushing back or removing excess gum tissue. For a receding gum line, which can make your teeth appear too long, you may benefit from a graft. Your dentist can also clean gum infections to restore your gums’ natural color.

Tooth Shape

Finally, the shape of your teeth can define your smile. The incisal edge, in particular, is the edge of your upper teeth that first touches food when you bite down. If this line is symmetrical, it should curve slightly upward from your incisors toward your molars.

Any disruptions in your incisal edge can greatly alter the appearance of your smile. Long, sharp canines, for instance, can make your face appear more masculine. Other disruptions that your dentist can correct include missing teeth, short molars, small teeth, and missing teeth.

Get the Smile of Your Dreams with Cosmetic Dentistry

When it comes to the perfect smile, symmetry is crucial. Your teeth do not just need to be white – your gums must also be healthy, your teeth the right size, and your jaws in alignment with each other. Any disruptions in these factors can turn your smile unattractive.

If you have a problem with the way your smile looks, your dentist can fix it by putting all of these factors in harmony. They will usually examine your teeth to determine which cosmetic treatments best meet your needs. You can learn more by calling a provider near you today.