What Makes a Smile Beautiful?

With everyone carrying a high-quality camera around with them at all times these days, your smile has to be ready to be photographed more than ever before. But what exactly does it mean to have a picture-perfect smile? Beauty is definitely subjective, but many characteristics about teeth tend to be viewed as more desirable than others. Keep reading to learn about four traits that are widely considered to be attractive and how cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve them.

White Teeth

When most people picture a gorgeous grin, they don’t imagine teeth that are stained or yellow. While teeth naturally darken for a number of reasons, including the natural aging process, this trait is generally not as ideal. If you wish to have a whiter smile, you may have tried over-the-counter teeth whitening products to no avail. Luckily, your cosmetic dentist can dramatically brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening. Whether you choose in-office treatment or take-home kits, you’ll be thrilled with the results.

Proportion of Gums to Teeth

You need to have healthy gums in order to support your teeth. However, if too much gum tissue is visible, people may say you have a “gummy” smile. This condition isn’t harmful to your oral health, but it often isn’t considered aesthetically appealing. Fortunately, your dentist can painlessly remove the excess gum tissue to expose more of your natural pearly whites.

Healthy-Looking Gums

Healthy gums should appear pink. If yours are red and/or swollen, or they bleed when you brush or floss, you may have gum disease. To maintain a healthy smile, it’s important to keep up with your oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly to address any signs of infection or inflammation in the mouth.

Evenly Spaced Teeth

If your teeth are too far apart or too close together, it may be seen as unattractive. Rather than spending months or years going through orthodontic treatment, your dentist can instantly correct unevenly spaced teeth by placing veneers. These thin porcelain shells mask virtually all minor aesthetic flaws in a tooth at once.

When it comes to making a smile beautiful, more variables are at play than you might have thought. If you’re ready to have a picture-perfect set of pearly whites, there are plenty of cosmetic dentistry options out there for you to choose from. Just ask your dentist which one is right for you!  

About the Author

For more than 25 years, Dr. Carroll R. Butler has helped countless patients in the Kerrville, TX community achieve pristine oral health and jaw-dropping smiles. He has become a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, demonstrating his devotion to clinical excellence and continuing education. His practice also offers all of the cosmetic dentistry services described above and more. If you would like to speak with him about making your dream smile a reality, visit his website or call his office at 830-257-4900.