If you list the things that make someone look young, chances are you’ll think of glowing skin, perfect hair and, you guessed it, a radiant smile. Bright white teeth and healthy gums can do a lot to make you look younger than your years. The problem is that, over time, just like your skin wrinkles and your hair greys, your teeth show signs of ageing too. The appearance of your teeth and gums can add years to how you look. All is not lost, though. With the help of good oral hygiene and some nifty cosmetic dental treatments, You can turn back the clock, fight the signs of ageing and hold on to your youthful smile.
How Your Teeth Change as You Get Older
Your teeth are amazingly strong, but a lifetime of crunching and grinding will begin to wear away the outer layer of enamel and flatten the biting edges. Meanwhile, exposure to acidic foods will dissolve the enamel and regular consumption of tea, coffee and wine will stain your teeth. What’s more, the dentin inside your teeth will yellow as you age and, when the enamel thins and cracks, it shows through. The result is that, as you get older, your teeth become more susceptible to damage, decay and discolouration.
Fortunately, while no one can prevent the ageing process entirely, there are things you can do to restore your teeth and make your smile look more youthful.
Whitening and Brightening Your Outlook
There is no doubt that a set of pearly whites is seen as a sign of youth and vitality. As the enamel on your teeth thins and the yellow dentin shows below, however, it can be difficult to keep the same sparkle. While maintaining good oral hygiene and watching what you eat and drink will help, you don’t have to go it alone. Professional teeth whitening sessions with your Sydney Dentist may take less than an hour, but they can make a world of difference.
There are many over-the-counter whitening products that you can buy. However, there are no guarantees that you will get the best results or that you won’t experience problems with sensitivity. By consulting with your Bexley dentist, you can find out what you can realistically achieve with teeth whitening and benefit from the latest technology to give you the longest-lasting results possible.
Covering Your Imperfections
Sometimes teeth whitening isn’t enough to brighten severely discoloured teeth. What’s more, if you have missing or broken teeth as well as discolouration, you may not have the confidence you once did in your smile. Fortunately, there are other ways to cover imperfections in your teeth and give you a brighter and straighter smile.
Veneers, thin porcelain shells, can be bonded to your teeth to quickly correct their shape, size and colour. Crowns can be used to cover badly shaped teeth and protect weak teeth from fracturing. And, bridges can be used alongside crowns to fill any gaps that you might have. What’s even better is that while all these treatments will improve your smile, they’ll also improve your oral health. Now, that is something to smile about.
Does Your Smile Need a Makeover?
There are lots of things you can do at home to improve your teeth, your oral health and, in turn, your smile. It’s all about maintaining your oral hygiene routine, watching what you eat and drink and considering your lifestyle choices. That said, we all need a helping hand from time to time.
If you want to look younger, your teeth are a great place to start. With the help of cosmetic dental procedures, you can make a huge difference to how you look and take years off your age.
