- Posted on: Feb 21 2015
The easiest way to look younger?
Smile! The muscles we use to smile lift the face and make us appear younger so smiling is the easiest way to bring about a more youthful appearance. (It’s good for your immune system, stress reduction, and mood improvement too!)
But beyond flashing a grin, there are a few other ways to keep your smile and looks youthful. Here are our Top Three Tips for a Timeless Smile:
1. Take Good Care of Your Teeth
Poor dental care can lead to red, puffy gums and the need for fillings – both of which can age the look of your teeth. Simply brushing and flossing daily will help take care of your teeth and keep them looking healthy throughout your life. But brush gently – years of plaque buildup and aggressive brushing wear away at your sensitive gum line and cause it to recede. Brush with a soft-bristle brush and use circular motions.
2. Keep Your Teeth Bright
Discolored teeth also age our looks. Tooth enamel thins with age and exposes the inner dentin, which has a yellowish tint. The enamel thinning is inevitable, but you can limit your exposure to foods and drinks that stain. Avoid smoking, coffee, tea, and red wine altogether or at the least, rinse with water after you indulge.
To brighten discoloration, try mixing baking soda and water for a little at-home teeth whitening. Or come see us – we offer Zoom! Teeth Whitening in-office laser treatment and can help to whiten your teeth in under an hour.
Bonus tip: Ladies, wear red lipstick – the contrast will make your teeth appear whiter!
3. Consider Cosmetic Dentistry
Over time, our teeth shift and move. Fillings and crowns can cause crowding, and chewing and clenching wear down teeth, creating gaps. Teeth move – or even overlap – to fill the space and often the shifting ages the look of your smile. We can help correct misaligned teeth and reshape your smile with orthodontic treatments (like Invisalign) and gum recontouring,
We can also help reconstruct an aging smile with porcelain veneers. Veneers are a natural, popular solution to crooked (and also discolored) teeth. Instead of reconstructing the entire tooth, we simply design a “tooth face” made entirely of porcelain to fit on the front surface. Veneers can help revive your smile, add millimeters to the face of your teeth, and lengthen the teeth, which in turn can restore facial and lip support making you look 10 or 15 years younger.
Contact us to schedule a smile evaluation to discuss the cosmetic dentistry options that are right for you and no matter what, keep smiling!
Published by: Grand Rapids Dentistry Blog – A Life of Smiles
A Grand Rapids, Michigan based cosmetic, general & sedation dentistry
Tagged with: gum recontouring, Invisalign, orthodontic, Porcelain Veneers, Youthful Smile
Posted in: Featured Posts, Tips