How to Deal With Having Bad Teeth

Co-authored by Tu Anh Vu, DMD

Last Updated: September 9, 2022 References

Many people are concerned with the appearance of their teeth and are worried that other people will notice. If you feel like you have bad teeth, there are easy steps you can take to make them look better. Whether you take care of your teeth, gain a little self-confidence, or work with your dentist, you can have better teeth and feel better about the way they look.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Gaining Confidence

1
Know your teeth are not that bad. Despite what you think about your teeth, there are always people with worse teeth than you. There may be something about your teeth, such as the crooked tooth in the front, the gap in between the top and bottom teeth, or their color, that you think is so apparent and awful that no one will ever want to look at you. This is usually not the case. You stare at your teeth every day and see each and every imperfection. Most people pay very little attention to your teeth and will never notice the imperfections you see.
- Even if they do notice, most people won't care. Very few people have perfect teeth.^{[1]
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2
Smile anyway. Even if you feel self conscious, you should own your teeth. Present yourself with confidence and a sincere smile and no one will pay attention to things such as bad teeth. The confidence and smile can give a great impression no matter the condition of your teeth.
- Practice smiling confidently in the mirror.
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3
Don't draw attention to your mouth. If you are really worried about your teeth, try not to draw too much attention to your mouth. Don't wear bright, bold lipstick or lip liner. This will cause people's eye to go directly to your mouth. Instead, wear clear gloss or balm. This will make your lips look normal and not draw attention to them.
- You also shouldn't place your hands near your mouth or chew on your fingernails. If you do, people will look at your mouth and teeth, which is not what you want.
4
Attract attention to your eyes. If you are worried about people paying too much attention to your teeth, trying pulling people's attention away from it. Try wearing mascara or bright eyeshadow if you wear makeup. If you don't, try an interesting pair of glasses to draw attention to your eyes instead of your teeth.
- Be expressive with your eyes, especially when smiling. Using your eyes to show your emotion not only makes your smile feel warmer and more engaging, it also draws attention away from your teeth.^{[2]
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5
Draw attention to other features. If your best feature is not your teeth, try calling attention to the parts of you appearance that you do like. This will direct attention to parts of your appearance you feel confident about instead of your teeth. If you wear jewelry, wear attractive earrings, such as a pair with sparkles or ones that dangle. They will do a great job of drawing attention.
- Try wearing more accessories. Pick out a new hat, grab a new bracelet or wrist cuff, wear a great pair of shoes, or throw on a flashy necklace. This will make people notice you for how stylish you look, not for your teeth.
- Get an alluring haircut. Try styles with a dramatic cut or bold color to focus attention on your hair. You can try fun hairstyles as well.^{[3]
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6
Smile without showing your teeth. If you still fill self conscious about your teeth, you can try seeming confident without showing your teeth. Many people smile like this anyway, so it won't seem out of the ordinary if you try it. This way, you will seem nice and friendly without having to show your teeth.
- Practice smiling different ways in the mirror. Also try opening your mouth more or less to see what looks good but still looks natural.
- Look at old photographs of yourself smiling and find the smiles you like best.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Helping Your Teeth Look Better

1
Try a teeth whitening product. If your issue with your teeth is that they aren't white enough, you can use whitening products to make them whiter. This may help you feel more confident about your smile, even if you have other dental issues.^{[4]
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Research source} There are many whitening products you can try. The cheapest and best to start with is whitening toothpastes. These are easy to use because you use them just like any other toothpaste.
- Also try whitening gels. These come with trays to hold the gel against your teeth. These can be more expensive, especially if you get custom trays from a dentist shaped to your teeth.
- You may also want to try whitening strips. These stick onto your teeth to whiten them. These are quite expensive and you will likely have to use these repeatedly, so the cost can add up.
- If you want extreme whitening, you can also get professional whitening treatments done by your dentist.^{[5]
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  American Dental Association
  World's largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health
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2
Brush your teeth. Something as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day can help your overall teeth health and make you more confident about your teeth. Brushing can improve the way your teeth look even if they are not straight. Brushing will keep teeth healthy and make it easier to get dental work to fix more complex problems.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist
Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
- Choose a fluoride toothpaste. It will do a better job of preventing cavities and tooth decay than a non-fluoride toothpaste.^{[7]
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  Tu Anh Vu, DMD
  Board Certified Dentist
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
3
Floss your teeth. Brushing is not the only maintenance that you should perform on your teeth everyday. Floss daily using either normal floss, floss toothpicks or interdental brushes. This will help remove bacteria, plaque, and food from your teeth that is missed by your toothbrush. It will also keep your teeth healthier and looking better.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist
Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
- Mouthwash will also help maintain your teeth and make you feel more confident about your smile. Plus, it has the added bonus of killing bacteria and giving you fresh breath.
4
Eat less sugar. Excessive sugar in the diet is a leading cause of tooth decay. Each time you eat sugar, an acid is created that starts to deteriorate your teeth. Instead of eating multiple sweets really close together, try limiting the amount you intake to one sweet every 4-5 hours. This will give your teeth time to stabilize before you add any more sugar to your mouth.
- Be aware of hidden sugars in sodas, juices, and products labeled "no sugar added". These all have sugar in them that can harm your teeth. Try diet sodas, sugar free products, or natural sweeteners. These have no effect on your teeth and will help you preserve your teeth.
- You don't have to cut sweets out all together, just reduce the amount of sugar you eat each day.
- Try eating sugar-free sweets if you are having a hard time reducing the amount of sugar in your diet.^{[11]
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Avoid other harmful activities. There are other activities and habits that can make your teeth worse. You should stop smoking because cigarettes stain your teeth. Coffee, dark colored soda, tea, and red wine can stain your teeth, so try to drink less of them on a daily basis.^{[12]
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- If you really like dark liquids, try drinking them through a straw to reduce staining.
- Dry mouth can also lead to tooth decay, so try to keep your mouth moist by drinking more water or chewing sugar free gum.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seeking Professional Help

1
Talk to your dentist. If your teeth are a severe problem that is effective your quality of life, you may need to do something about it. Visit your dentist to talk to him about options that will help your particular situation. He can help you with professionally cleaning teeth, whitening, adding sealant to keep teeth white and healthy, fixing broken teeth, replacing missing teeth, or adding veneers to cover discolored, chipped, or uneven teeth.
- If you are worried about the cost of dental care, you can find low cost care at dental schools or through local programs. There are online sources that can help you find low cost dental care in your area.
- You should see a dentist every six months to help you keep your teeth healthy and looking great.^{[14]
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  Tu Anh Vu, DMD
  Board Certified Dentist
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
2
Visit an orthodontist. If you are worried about crooked or uneven teeth, you may need to see an orthodontist. She can work with you to correct many problems you have with the alignment of your teeth. Although orthodontists can be expensive, you might be able to fix issues with orthodontic procedures, such as braces, clear aligners, or retainers.
- You will likely need a referral to an orthodontist, so ask your dentist about ones in your area.
3
Consider seeing a psychologist. If you try different ways to make yourself feel better about your teeth but nothing works, you may have an underlying issue related to your self esteem that goes deeper than your teeth. A psychologist or counselor can help you with social anxiety related to your teeth. She can also help you with anxiety about seeing a dentist or having dental work done.
- Look for a psychologist that fits you. You want to be comfortable so you can talk with them about your fears and anxieties without feeling stupid or shy.^{[15]
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