As summer quickly approaches, we tend to grow increasingly more preoccupied with health, fitness and beauty. As many of our patients diet and exercise, they begin to realize that their smile is an important element not only in their health, but also in their confidence (and we all know this is the true origination of beauty). When polled, fifty percent of people admitted that the smile is the first thing they notice about someone. Being confident in your smile adds to your sense of well-being and ensure a great first, and lasting, impression.
One of the easiest ways to be more confident in your smile is to have brighter, whiter teeth. Thankfully, due to advances in the dental industry, teeth whitening is no longer reserved only for the rich and famous. It is important to maintain realistic expectations, but there are a variety of whitening procedures available that will allow a patient to achieve a smile up to eight shades whiter.
One of the questions we hear all the time is, “What about those Crest whitening strips?” While there’s nothing clinically wrong with this over-the-counter option and it initially seems cheaper, be aware that it is not the best long-term investment. Because the strips are made one size fits all and do not contour to your teeth, you will not see as much movement in color and you may feel increased sensitivity as the strip covers portions of the gum line. Alternative treatments include having custom trays made at your dental office, and/or in-office Zoom whitening. If a patient wants to see rapid movement, the Zoom in-office whitening will allow for the quickest, most effective brightening, in under two hours. Zoom whitening is generally done once a year, and the custom trays allow for additional at-home touch ups throughout the year as needed. For many, doing Zoom once a year is plenty, but depending on your personal habits such as coffee, red wine, tea and other staining foods consumption, many of us need at least one to two touch ups throughout the year and the take home whitening trays allow the flexibility of that being done on our schedule, when we desire.
Teeth bleaching has proven to be a safe and effective way of achieving a more youthful and healthy-looking smile. You should first have a dental exam to find out which treatment, or combination of treatments is right for you. A recent dental cleaning will also make your in-office whitening session more effective. There’s a staggering statistic that “Americans spend $100 billion annually on hair care products and only $2 billion on dental care products.” When you’re focused on beauty, incorporate your health and know that having a healthier mouth will automatically make you feel better and more beautiful. A whiter, brighter, smile is just the beginning.
To learn more about Dr. Marc Lazare, visit http://www.drmarclazare.com.
DASHA® wellness & spa is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
