It is sadly incredibly common that many people feel ashamed of their smiles and it’s something we see a lot in our patients here at Darwen Orthodontics. For various reasons, it could be they have crooked or overcrowded teeth, too much or too little gum on show, or they have missing teeth, whatever the reason, we think it’s a shame that the world is deprived of smiles.
One of the reasons we see a lot is a smile being too narrow, with patients wanting to make their smile wider, to create a more youthful appearance. So, we thought it would be beneficial to investigate if it is possible to make your smile wider and just how to do it.
Definitions of a Broad and Narrow Smile
When discussing smiles, many dental professionals will refer to the ‘Smile Arc’, this is the term used to describe the way a smile follows the contour of the bottom lip. A perfect smile arc is considered to be when the teeth match the contour of the lip, creating an aesthetically pleasing, balanced look.
There is also the width of the smile that comes into play, and you may be familiar with the term ‘ear-to-ear’ grin. This refers to the broadness of the smile, and the fact that the wider the smile, the happier a person must be. Although we know realistically this is not the case, it is thought that a wide smile can create a more youthful appearance. A narrow smile is often defined as having 6 or fewer teeth showing with an open-lipped smile.
Factors that Affect the Width of Your Smile
Narrow smiles can be caused by several factors including:
- The alignment of the teeth.
- The alignment of the jaws.
- Missing teeth.
- Small maxillary arch.
It’s important to note, that if a narrow smile is noted when a child is still young, other methods may need to be employed to widen the palate.
Is it Possible to Make Your Smile Wider?
It is possible to make your smile wider and there are a few options to choose from to get the smile of your dreams. Veneers are used to widen smiles as they can change the shape, colour, and appearance of the teeth and they are popular due to their minimally invasive and fast-acting nature. Another option is to use braces, as they can naturally widen the smile by straightening the teeth and using pressure to guide the teeth and jaws into the desired position.
How Braces Can Help Widen your smile
Simply by straightening the teeth and creating proper spacing in the mouth, you can make your smile wider. Braces work by using tension to create force, which shifts teeth into proper alignment and as they become more evenly spaced across the mouth, it can create a broader smile. There are various brace systems to choose from, such as:
- Fixed Braces – traditional metal and ceramic braces work by affixing brackets and wires to the front of the teeth, which are then adjusted every 6 to 8 weeks by your orthodontist to keep them moving into alignment.
- Lingual Braces – much the same as traditional and ceramic braces, except the brackets and wires are attached to the backs of the teeth. They are still adjusted in the same way to create a more evenly spaced, broader smile.
- Invisalign – this is a more popular option for creating wider smiles as they are virtually invisible aligners that use gentle pressure to guide the teeth into the desired position.
Find Out More at a Specialist Orthodontist in Darwen
Here at Darwen Orthodontics, we have years of experience in making our patients happy with their smiles, so whether you’re looking to correct bite issues, align crooked teeth or create a wider smile, we have the expertise to help. It may be that this can be achieved through braces treatment, including Invisalign, but for more severe cases orthognathic surgery may be needed.
One thing is for certain, if you are seeking to improve your smile, your expert orthodontist in Darwen can provide you with the information, advice, and support you need to ensure that you get the most out of your treatment.
Contact your specialist orthodontist in Darwen today and book your free consultation.
