Shine on social with a super smile
Knock knock, it’s the great outdoors calling! With the weather warming up and the trees starting to show some cheeky green, it’s tempting to go out and snap some pics. A walk in the park? The first BBQ of the season? Taking up kayaking? The list of outdoor adventures to document goes on. You don’t have to be a professional photog to give yourself a glamour shot on a beautiful day, but nothing can ruin a springtime selfie like a dull or crooked smile. Thankfully, there are procedures available to give you the confidence to get out there and strut your stuff.
Brightening
Teeth brightening addresses one of the most easily fixed cosmetic dental problems. Teeth are naturally porous, and easily absorb dark pigments from things like coffee, red wine, berries, and tobacco products. Professional teeth whitening is achieved with the use of a bleaching gel. This can mean your dentist makes a custom mold of your teeth that you fill with whitening gel and wear at home, or you can opt to have it done in-office, where your dentist will be able to use a much stronger gel and aid it with the use of a blast of UV light. In less than an hour, your teeth could be multiple shades whiter.
Veneers or Bonding
Some issues aren’t easily resolved with alignment or whitening alone. This is where veneers and bonding can save the day. But what is the difference? Dental bonding is the use of shaded composite material applied directly onto the teeth to address imperfections like chips or gaps. It is non-permanent and may need to be touched up over time. Veneers are often a good option for excessive staining, cracking, severely misshapen teeth, and even crooked teeth. The front of the tooth is reshaped and the veneer fits over the top. Porcelain veneers are sent to special labs to be created and sculpted to fit your teeth. They are generally longer lasting and more lifelike than dental bonding.
Relax a Little
Avoid the robot look by closing your eyes and relaxing your face. Right before you press the shutter button, slowly open your eyes and grin for a more natural-looking smile.
Use Your Tongue
Lift your tongue up against your hard palate, just behind your front teeth, for a wider and less toothy grin and an instant lift for your chin.
Change It Up
Take multiple photos with both a closed and open mouth, with some smirks and pouts in between. This prevents your facial muscles from becoming cramped and gives you options when choosing the winning shot.
Selfie Boot Camp: Tricks to Try
1. Lighting is crucial. Make sure your back is never facing your light source—slowly spin around with your camera open to see how different lighting positions highlight your face.
2. Find your best side. Photos taken head-on often look austere and unflattering. Turn your head to the side and take multiple shots as you slowly turn toward the camera. Repeat with the other side. Chose the angle that is most flattering and practice striking that angle for future photo-ops.
3. Keep it natural. Cropping a shot for better composition or using a filter to bring out the best colors can be great, but be careful not to over-edit. Harsh filters may be hard on the eyes and too much smoothing, blurring, or sharpening will give you a mannequin-like, plastic look.
