As many people age, they use a variety of methods to maintain a youthful appearance. Some focus on the skin, and they adopt an expensive skincare routine to keep the wrinkles away. Some adopt a healthy workout routine to look more fit and maintain their mobility. With many advances in cosmetic surgery, there are even entire menus of options for those willing to go under the surgeon’s scalpel. But there’s one area many overlook that can shave years off the overall appearance of your face: your teeth.
In this post, we’ll tell you about some of the top cosmetic dentistry options we recommend if a patient asks us about things they can do to look younger.
Have Your Teeth Professionally Whitened
As you age, your teeth inevitably change color because they absorb things like tannins from coffee or wine. Tannins are organic compounds that give drinks like coffee their bitter flavor. Historically they’ve been used to dye fabrics. If you have stained, discolored, or mismatched teeth, freshening your smile with a professional teeth whitening can do wonders. Before you purchase over-the-counter whitening strips or toothpastes, talk to your dentist about the difference between store-bought products and a professional service.
Replace Your Amalgam Fillings with Composite Fillings
Silver fillings were starting to get phased out and replaced by favor to tooth-colored fillings in about the mid-90s. Because of this, silver fillings can really highlight your age, especially if you’ve had a lot of dental work done in your life. If you’d like to revisit some of your silver fillings, ask your dentist what composite filling options are available for your situation.
Consider Clear Aligners If You Have Gaps or Crooked Teeth
If you’ve been self-conscious about your smile for a while but feel like you’re well past the age for braces, talk to your dentist about clear aligners. They’ve come a long way over the past few decades. At our practice, we’re Invisalign® preferred providers, and we’ve had great success with some of our older patients with this system. Straightening your teeth will also improve your oral health by making it easier to reach all the important spaces with your toothbrush and floss.
Stop Bone Resorption with a Dental Implant
If you have a missing tooth, eventually you’ll experience bone resorption. Bone resorption is the process your body goes through when it breaks down and absorbs bone material. When this happens on your bottom jaw, it can cause your skin to sag and give you the appearance of having jowls. Getting a dental implant stops bone resorption from happening because the implant post stimulates your bottom jaw and promotes bone growth.
Thanks for Reading!
We hope some of these tips help you see the value of cosmetic dentistry when it comes to your anti-aging goals. It can make a huge difference! There are many affordable, non-invasive treatments.
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