Smile, you’re on camera … tips for teeth in the Zoom age

IT SEEMS that people are looking for a bright new future following a couple of years of video conferencing. A new survey commissioned by Bupa Dental Care shows that there is a demand for sprucing up smiles, be it whitening teeth or straightening them up.

And the experts predict that the so-called Zoom Boom, which saw people increase their investment in their personal health and wellness during the pandemic, will continue this year.

The most popular teeth whitening and straightening treatments have been taken up by almost a quarter (24%) of Brits, and owe their increased popularity to video conferencing calls, with Brits citing the top reasons for their treatments as looking to improve their dental health (41%), improving their smiles (32%), and the way they look (29%).

For those seeking a smile makeover but finding it a bit of minefield, Dr Richard Jones, an Orthodontist from Bupa Dental Care has prepared an explainer.

When starting your teeth straightening journey, Dr Jones says: “There are many options to consider when you’re thinking of having braces fitted, including the type of braces that are most suitable for you and how they look.

“You need to understand which type of treatment will give you the results you want and which will be the most suitable for your teeth.”

Braces often fall into four different categories:

Fixed braces: commonly known as ‘train tracks’. These have brackets which are glued onto your teeth and joined together with metal wire, guiding the movement of the teeth, gradually over time.

Lingual braces: also known as ‘hidden braces’ or ‘braces behind the teeth’, which work in a similar way to fixed braces, except the brackets are fixed to the inner, rather than outer, surface of your teeth

Removable, near-invisible aligners: a popular example would be Invisalign. These are custom made to gradually straighten your teeth in stages without the need for any metal wires or brackets

Removable braces: simple braces used for specific treatments; for example, if you have an under or overbite, you may be given a functional removable brace as a pretreatment before having a fixed brace or aligners.

Once you have chosen the most suitable alignment option for you, it’s important to look after them.

“In order to both minimise damage to both your braces and teeth, you must maintain proper and consistent care throughout your journey; otherwise, it will reverse the progress your teeth have made and result in the overall process taking even longer,” Dr Jones said.

Braces are generally relatively pain-free, but with fixed braces, you may get more sensitive teeth in the first week or two after you’ve had them fitted as your teeth adjust, Dr Jones said.

Most patients don’t need to take painkillers, but an anti-inflammatory option, such as Ibuprofen, is recommended.

Those experiencing irritation, orthodontic wax is a useful tool and protects the inside of your gums, lips, and cheeks from the brackets, minimising friction.

Eating softer foods such as pasta, soup, low-sugar or natural yoghurts, or cheese, that need little or no chewing, can also ease discomfort.

Avoid foods such as Bolognese, curry, and anything strong in spices, will avoid fixed braces trapping food and encouraging staining.

And drinks such as red wine may stain the teeth slightly, in the same way as coffee and tea would, so it’s important to clean around your fixed braces properly.

To safely clean your aligners or retainers, brush them with water and your toothbrush.

Dr Jones said: “Teeth move with age and have a ‘memory’ – they’ll do their best to move back to where they were before you had braces.

“Teeth straightening is truly a lifelong commitment, and regularly wearing a retainer will help you maintain the effect of your treatment.

“Start by wearing your retainer every night, and then after a while, you’ll be able to reduce this gradually. Fixed retainers can also be a great option for those that worry they might forget this crucial step.

“While this might seem like a lengthy process, the treatment and proper aftercare will leave you with a confident smile.”

For more details, log on to: www.bupadentalcare.co.uk