The keys to having a "remarkable" smile

We would like to smile but we often find that between the heart and the mouth there is a lock. We dare not. We hold back. Slightly crooked, stained, sometimes very yellow teeth, lips that become hollow instead of bulging, and you lose confidence. And we lose beauty. So we stay closed… Self-confidence is being able to burst with naturalness, momentum, laughter if necessary. Smile without thinking about it, smile like you breathe and not control. In the era of “letting go”, it would be ideal to dare to give big. We hide in our clothes, or we show off. But the mouth can't hide under anything. It is a tool of seduction, communication, a sign of health. Today, good news, if we don't like it... we can improve it! Having a beautiful mouth is no longer a challenge. Teeth, lips, skin: these are the good wizards to talk to us about beauty! Advice, recipes and must-haves for an irreproachable smile...

First step: align your teeth… with Invisalign

Invisalign allows you to correct your smile without too many constraints. How's it going ? The orthodontist sets small cleats on certain teeth. These are very thin glue dots that serve as support points. The patient must then wear aligners, kinds of transparent gutters perfectly molded on the teeth. They are changed as the teeth move, about every two weeks. “These aligners are removable, invisible and practical,” as Dr. Florence Ohana-Chpindel, orthodontist in Paris, points out. "The patient can remove them for a party, a wedding... This method offers great freedom."

The duration of the treatment? “There are as many treatments as there are patients because it is essential that it be individualized.” Visits to the orthodontist take place approximately every two months. When the treatment is finished, a retainer, i.e. a very thin splint made of gold alloy, is glued behind the teeth to fix their position. “Teeth have memory and quickly resume their bad habits. This is why, in addition to the retainer, my patients then wear a gutter at night, which they can give up after a few months. Some continue to wear them: it is a small mountain at first but... it is a very pleasant feeling for some patients »

And the price? Between 3000 and 5500 euros depending on the case.

Second step: whiten your teeth…at home or at the dentist.

Outpatient method: A first clinical examination makes a general point of the mouth: absence of cavities, condition of the gums, scaling… Then prints are taken in the practice and thermoformed in the laboratory. The patient returns to take his gutters and receive the following advice: how to fill them with whitening product and what foods to avoid… The patient then wears his gutters for 1h30 a day for two weeks.

“Be careful though!, notes Dr. Gaëlle Serfaty-Grin, bleaching is perfectly contraindicated in the event of pregnancy or in the event of an immune system pathology, for children or adolescents whose teeth are immature, people with cavities, lesions, or great sensitivity to cold. Hydrogen peroxide is not dangerous for the enamel of healthy teeth, however, you must wait three years between two clarifications because excessive use could lead to premature wear of the enamel, irritation of the mucous membranes and weakening of teeth. The result is long lasting. However, I recommend two days of treatment per year to maintain the shade obtained. In the majority of cases, an improvement of eight shades is obtained. The result is better on yellow teeth and less impressive on gray teeth. »

Price: 550 euros

Chair method: The advantage of this technique is speed. Whitening is done at the dentist, in 1h30. The dentist applies the active ingredient to the teeth. It is then activated by the lamp. But the effect is less lasting and it is recommended to continue at home for a week.

Price: 850 euros

What about whitening toothpastes?

According to Dr Gaëlle Serfaty-Grin, "whitening toothpastes do not whiten but restore radiance to the smile, mechanically, by improving the elimination of plaque and reducing stains. Cleaned teeth look pretty and reflect light better. As for "optical effect" toothpastes, they contain blue pigments to color the teeth or red to color the gums. By increasing the contrasts, they give the impression that the teeth are lighter... The result is a trompe l'oeil! »

Veneers

What are they? A bit like a false nail… A very thin shell 0.6 to 0.7 mm thick that sticks to the visible part of the tooth to improve its appearance. The veneers are made of ceramic, with mechanical and optical properties close to natural teeth, or resin, less durable with a less attractive aesthetic result.

To improve what? Teeth that have a problem of shape, shade, size, color.

And the price? 1000 euros per ceramic veneer. 400 euros the facet in resin.

Third step: take care of the contour of your lips…

Isabelle Voncken, beautician at home, informs us

- A must try! : Its Top Lips treatment, a special aesthetic treatment for smiles, targeted and voluptuous. Duration: 1 hour. Price: 60 euros.

- Avoid! “Often, the hydrogen peroxide supposed to discolor the mustache makes the hair thicker and more resistant. It's even worse than a shadow. You have to epilate, in small, very fine strips, and not as I sometimes hear, Vlan once on each side! »

No beautiful mouth with a mustache…

Doctor Marc Azoulay, dermatologist in Suresnes, talks about permanent laser hair removal of the mustache:

“LASER hair removal requires the presence of black hair, thick enough on light skin as much as possible. In addition, the presence of the hair root (the bulb) is essential during the session. The "moustache" area remains the most difficult to treat even today because the hairs are light and fine: laser hair removal requires many passes without always being effective. It should not be practiced before the age of 18. Earlier, the hairs have not all "matured", some still in the fluffy state or too thin are not "perceived" and cannot disappear. The number of sessions is 3 to 5 spaced 6 to 8 weeks between each of them. The progress made in recent years has led to a great reduction in notorious effects such as pain (at most the sensation of a slight blow from the rubber band) and redness, which disappear within hours of the session.

How to fill in wrinkles on the upper lip…

“The treatment of fine lines on the upper lip (known as “bar code” by some) requires caution because this skin area is fragile”, explains Doctor Marc Azoulay. A fractional CO2 laser is currently used which is less abrasive than the dermabrasion used in the past.

Do you know TIXEL? This new device with tiny tips at 400 degrees is applied to the skin. The spikes cause invisible holes that heal within a week without sequelae. The heat causes stimulation of the dermis and therefore an increase in collagen synthesis.

Result: smoothed and tightened skin in 1 to 3 sessions at one month intervals without sun exposure the month following the procedure.

Fourth step: on a daily basis, always choose the right products...

And treat yourself by following the voluptuous protocol: scrub your lips, from time to time, with Lip Sugar Scrub by Dior, a sugar grain stick that delicately melts and exfoliates, tinting the mouth with an imperceptible shade of pink.

We redraw the outline because it becomes more refined over time… thanks to “L’Or de vie” by Dior. Fine cream, melting, it tightens, hydrates and reshapes.

We moisturize again and again, at any time of the day, with "101 Ointment" by Lanolips, a little wonder in a tube that contains only natural ingredients. Perfect for lovers of matte lipsticks who need to repair their lips.

Doping: a slack? A few drops of Flesh Sugar Lip Wonder drops Serum. This serum instantly repairs dry, chapped lips.

We're giving it a flash: with Dior Addict Lip Maximiser, an instant volume-effect collagen gloss with a sublime mint-vanilla scent.

We beautify and color by continuing to treat... with Sisley's Phyto rouge: special mention for its "hydrobooster" complex and its natural oils which maintain the water content of the lips and reinforce the moisture content of the lips with each application. skin.