Page 47 - Waterfall City_Issue 10_2022

UNMASK

THAT SMILE

There have been many lessons learnt from the pandemic – one of the

most important being how often we used to overlook the value of a

simple smile. Dr Sheryl Smithies believes that understanding the frame

of your face and smile is key to your personal beauty.

U sually, a smile is the first and showing your teeth when smiling, skin gets looser and thinner, which

you automatically create the illusion
causes our teeth to become weaker,
thing noticed on a person
move and become more crooked.
when you look at their face.
that your face is symmetrical. Ideally
Widely considered to reveal
more of front teeth when you smile
the beauty of the soul, a smile exudes you want to reveal at least 3mm or Our gums also move and in some
cases even shrink, which can cause
warmth and approachability, and to create proportionality in the face. If recession. The good news though is
is the facilitator of conversation. A you feel embarrassed by the condition that there are many ways we can slow
pretty smile is not just nice to look at of your teeth, then start with a gentle the aging process around the mouth.
though – a glistening smile generally and thorough cleansing regime –
means rosy cheeks and bright incorporating good dental hygiene and Facial fillers can help make our
eyes – which are all signs of good teeth whitening practices if necessary. bone structure appear to stay in the
health, vigour and youthfulness. same youthful shape, while tooth
2. Jaws, Jaws, Jaws alignment can straighten the teeth
Yet, just like the rest of our body, The positioning, size and shape of your and prevent movement. A simple
our smile changes over time. Dental top and bottom jaws will affect the gum surgery can be performed
surgeon and facial aesthetic practitioner, overall look of your smile – eg. you may to bring the teeth forward (within
Dr Sheryl Smithies shares her three have a small, dark smile, or a very large reason), while the upper lip, which
top tips to ensure your smile is always and gummy type of smile. tends to droop as we age, can be
healthy, picture-perfect, and beautifully lifted with another simple surgery.
complements your facial features. The positioning of your jaws also plays There are also plenty of antiaging
a big role in how your face presents treatments on the market, including
THREE WAYS TO ALIGN itself, as it affects how far forward or peels, fillers, toxins, and threads –
YOUR SMILE WITH YOUR back your chin is and whether your and in the most extreme cases, smile
FACIAL FEATURES nose tip goes down or up, for example. rehabilitation can be done using
1. Smile widely to create symmetry Straightening your jaws will help bonding or porcelain veneers to
Dr Smithies says that so many people straighten your teeth and improve create an entirely new smile.
feel ashamed to smile properly because your smile. In some cases, it can also
they are unhappy with their teeth. Not improve the way you bite and chew Smiling is so important. As well as
opening the lips when smiling might food. Chat to your dentist about any being highly contagious, a smile can
seem like the best solution to conceal concerns you may have and consider make a person feel more attractive,
discoloured or crooked teeth, but this bonding or veneers to bring back a positive and happy. Research has also
does more harm than good. A closed youthful jaw shape over time. shown that smiling helps you live
mouth pulls other facial muscles into a longer and can even reduce stress
different position and, after a while, this 3. Maintain a natural youthful and blood pressure levels.
can make the face look unnatural and appearance
cartoon-like. Our bone, skin, gums, and teeth all The path to the perfect smile starts
age as we do, and over time this with good dental hygiene and
Although no one has a perfectly changes our facial structure and understanding how your smile can
symmetrical face, by parting your lips alters our smile. As we get older, our enhance your existing facial features.

Waterfall City Issue 10 2022 45