Tinsel Town Teeth

When watching my favourite celebrities, I constantly find myself wondering how they have such beautiful teeth and amazing smiles. As jealous as I am, it makes me wonder if they were born with amazingly healthy teeth. What are they doing that I’m not? My questions brought me to cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian Friedman who has been in the industry for over 22 years, and services clients from Forest Hill, Rosedale and Lawrence Park in Toronto. He gave me the inside scoop on how I can achieve the look of the stars and  taught me how quickly and comfortably my smile could be transformed.

Jamie Daw: What are the main roles your teeth play?

Dr. Friedman: There are a few main factors that affect your teeth – function (which is the most important), health

and aesthetics. What you have is an orthopedic system just like how you walk with your hips, legs and feet all working as a system. Your teeth are the exact same way, so always ensure that your teeth are functioning efficiently.

JD:What does it mean to have a healthy smile?

Dr. F: Making sure that your teeth are healthy is very important to achieving a healthy smile. Plaque, tartar and bacteria build-up can lead to cavities, and any swelling, deep pockets or bleeding from your gums should be looked at by your dentist. In order to have a healthy smile, you need to be proactive and not wait for problems to go see your dentist. Daily maintenance is also very important in order to maintain your healthy smile.

JD:What can I do to achieve a brighter and whiter smile?

Dr. F: After doing hundreds of in-office whitening treatments, what we offer is a two-prong solution. It came from me noticing that sending my patients home with a take-home tray to apply to their teeth for a few nights post-treatment really allowed their teeth to stay brighter for much longer. There are also some great products that you can buy in stores that are an alternative, but consulting a dentist for an in-office whitening is really what I recommend.

JD:What is Invisalign?

Dr. F: Invisalign is a great product. It is easy to get accustomed to, and is typically worn for a year and a few months, when traditional braces can go for up to 2 years. It doesn’t fix every issue that the traditional method does; however, for many people Invisalign is a great solution and will fix most problems. It’s definitely a product I recommend if you are looking at getting braces.

Dr. Friedman is located at 30 St. Clair
Ave. West (Yonge and St. Clair,) 
(416)482 – 9100, toenhance.com•