Do you want to look younger? Maybe you should check your teeth!
Few things add more years to your appearance than yellowed or damaged teeth, so caring for your smile should be the cornerstone of your anti-aging routine.
Do white teeth make you look younger? In one recent study, participants were shown two photos of a model, one with white teeth and one with yellow teeth, and asked to estimate her age in each. On average, the group believed the woman was 13 years older in the image with yellowed teeth, demonstrating a strong tendency to associate aging with a dingy smile.
If you’re concerned that your teeth make you look older, there are a few simple things you can do. Daily brushing and flossing are the first line of defense. It’s also important to come in about every 6 months for regular checkups, not only to combat staining, but also to prevent more serious damage to teeth.
Your eating and drinking habits are also key to preventing yellowed teeth; we even wrote a whole blog post on the topic, which you can read here.
Naturally, your teeth age right along with the rest of you. As you get older, your enamel thins, allowing the yellowish or grayish dentin below to show through. Paired with the staining that commonly occurs as we age, this can cause the yellow appearance we all worry about.
The issue isn’t purely cosmetic. There are also serious dental issues associated with aging, such as gum disease and tooth decay, so daily care and regular visits to the dentist are especially important as you get older. If your mouth has become dry with age, you are at increased risk, and should plan a visit to My Family Dentistry soon.
A lifetime of use takes its toll even on the healthiest smile, and damaged teeth can give the impression of age. Teeth with fillings or other dental work are at greater risk of cracking and chipping because they are no longer structurally intact. Grinding or clenching also damages the teeth and puts them at increased risk of decay. If you’ve had dental work done or tend to grind your teeth, be sure to come in to My Family Dentistry for regular checkups.
If yellowed, damaged teeth are making you self-conscious about your smile, My Family Dentistry can help. From basic whitening to an all-out “Smile Makeover”, we can help you feel more confident and even look younger!
Contact us any time with questions or to set up an appointment, or get in touch with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
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