Age-Proof Your Smile
Tending to your teeth is the number one way to turn back time.
Jan. 15, 2012— -- When you meet someone, one of the first things you notice is their smile. "Teeth are the brightest, most visual feature on your face," says Michael Apa, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. Or at least they should be. Your choppers can make you look older or younger, depending on how well you care for them. Here are the most common age-related dental issues and how to deal with them.
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Shifting Teeth
Teeth have memory in their fibers, so the minute you get your braces off, the little buggers will try to make a beeline for their original spots, according to Arthur Glosman, D.D.S., a dentist and cosmetic dental surgeon in Beverly Hills. And don't think you're off the hook if your teeth are naturally straight: Fillings and crowns can cause crowding, and chewing and clenching wear down teeth over time, making them smaller and creating gaps--and anytime there's a gap, teeth will move or even overlap to fill the space.
You can't prevent shifty teeth, unless you're willing to wear a retainer or mouth guard every night for the rest of your life. Brushing and flossing can help ward off cavities and the need for fillings, but all teeth shift over time. If yours have become crazy-crooked, ask your dentist about Invisalign, clear aligners you wear day and night (except when eating, brushing, or flossing) for about a year. It's no bargain at $5,000, but most insurance companies offer partial coverage.
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A Teeth Whitening System That Is Right For YouDiscolored Teeth
Hair gets whiter as you climb in years, but your teeth don't. With age, the outermost layer of tooth enamel thins and exposes the inner dentin, which has a yellowish hue, says Apa. This is unavoidable, but smoking and consuming food or drink that would stain your clothes will contribute to discolored teeth, especially if you don't brush immediately afterward, says Timothy Chase, D.M.D., a New York City cosmetic dentist.
Gray teeth are a different beast. "This is caused by the antibiotic tetracycline, which is used to treat bacterial and respiratory infections and acne. It increases calcium levels in your enamel, making it seem darker," says Apa. If you took this drug when your adult teeth were developing, they probably started to look gray when you were a teen and will continue to gray with age. (The antibiotic is no longer given to children under the age of 8 or to pregnant women, as it can affect the baby's teeth later in life.)
For mild yellowing, Chase recommends Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips ($50, at drugstores); it contains a higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide than other brands and can give you the sparkling results you'd get from a dentist. To prevent "zingers" (brief shooting pains), throbbing, and soreness afterward, pop two pain relievers a few minutes before applying the strips, says Glosman. Steer clear of strips that claim to whiten in 30 minutes or less (they contain more sensitizing peroxide) and don't whiten more than twice a year, as overdoing it can make teeth look weirdly translucent. Maintain results by brushing with a whitening fluoride toothpaste daily. Rembrandt Deeply White + Peroxide Fresh Mint Toothpaste ($7, at drugstores) is a dentist favorite.
If your stains are more brown than yellow, see your dentist for Zoom! laser whitening, which takes about an hour and costs roughly $500. But not even the most intense whitening treatment tackles grayness--this issue requires veneers, which are sheets of ceramic bonded to each tooth (cost: $1,000 to $3,000 per tooth).
Receding Gums
The thickness of your gum tissue is genetic; gum disease (or gingivitis) is your own doing. Years of plaque buildup and aggressive brushing wear away at your sensitive gum line, giving it a peeled-back appearance, says Robert W. Gerlach, D.D.S., of P&G Global Oral Care Clinical. Plus, aging decreases the flow of saliva, which helps to wash away plaque-causing bacteria.
Not to sound like your mom, but brushing your teeth correctly is a must. Here's how: At least two times a day, use a soft-bristle toothbrush (it's gentler on gums than a firm one) to gently massage your teeth in small circular motions along the front, back, and sides. To ensure thorough brushing, imagine your mouth in quadrants--top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right--and brush each for 30 seconds, says Apa. And don't forget to floss! "It removes food, prevents plaque, and allows oxygen to flow through the teeth and gums," says Glosman. Try floss picks--they're easy to maneuver around your mouth--or opt for the Philips Sonicare AirFloss ($90, drugstore.com), which emits bursts of air to deep-clean between teeth.
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