Too often, there is a noticeable difference between the youthful smiles of our past and our current ones. Bright coloration and natural glossiness are considered signs of healthy teeth, but, as we get older these traits tend to fade. Luckily, there are some techniques you can use to help keep that youthful smile.
Thankfully, there are several things to do to keep your teeth looking younger. These things also keep your teeth healthy, so they’re each great ideas for improving your oral health overall!
8 Ways to Maintain a Youthful Smile
1. Brush and Floss Daily
You’ve heard it before, but this piece of advice is repeated often for a reason – it’s your first (and best) line of defense against tooth decay and other oral hygiene problems. Brush at least twice a day, and floss before you brush and rinse at night.
While brushing is essential, it’s also important not to overdo it. Too much brushing can actually cause damage to your tooth enamel. Ensure you are using a toothbrush with soft bristles and make sure you brush in gentle circles. Applying too much pressure to the gums and teeth can cause more harm than good.
2. Avoid Staining and Acidic Foods
A huge factor in preventing your teeth from aging is to avoid staining and acidic foods and drinks. Some of the foods and beverages to avoid include chocolate, tea, coffee, and red wine. Food and drink are responsible for the vast majority of staining of our teeth.
Some acidic items to avoid include soda (even clear sodas), vinegar, white wine, and fruit juices. If you do find yourself consuming these items, make sure that you rinse your mouth with water afterward to help neutralize the acids and keep your teeth clean.
3. Sugar-Free Foods
We have all heard that overeating sugar will give your cavities — and it’s true. Because of this, stick to sugar-free drinks, gums, and foods whenever possible. Chewing sugarless gum helps get saliva flowing, so it can help wash away food debris.
4. No Smoking
The best rule for smoking is simply not to do it. It is proven to be horrible for your overall health, and your oral health is no different. Not only can nicotine products stain your teeth, but the harsh chemicals can affect your gums as well–potentially leading to gum disease. As a result, your gums can recede and even lead to periodontitis and bone loss.
Smoking can increase your risk of losing teeth as well. Smoking also makes it more difficult to get dental implants in order to replace missing teeth.
5. See Your Dentist Regularly
Scheduling dental checkups regularly is an important task. Sure, you can brush, floss and rinse at home — but you can’t do what your dentist can. Dental professionals can remove unseen tartar buildup, polish your teeth, provide whitening treatments, perform extractions and fillings, as well as a whole host of cosmetic procedures to keep your smile looking young and bright.
6. Repair Aging Restorations
Cavities result from harm to your teeth, and the damage needs repaired. Make sure you know what kind of restoration you are going for. Metal amalgam fillings are getting phased out, and they’ll only make your teeth look older, especially as time goes on. This is also true for traditional dentures and metal crowns.
Ceramic dental crowns and tooth-colored fillings are essential for maintaining your youthful smile. These repairs treat decay without showing the damage. If you need dentures, choose high-quality ones that are made with modern dental techniques.
7. Maintain Your Healthy Bite
Wear is among the most considerable impacts for your teeth. Wear, to some degree, is inevitable. However, you can prevent the majority of it and you obviously want to make sure you’re not speeding up the process.
It’s never too late for orthodontic improvement. Dental professionals can help ensure your bite is balanced so that your teeth are protected from misalignment and resulting wear, keeping taking years off your smile in the process.
8. Avoid At-Home Teeth Whitening
It can be tempting to try to make your teeth whiter at home, but you shouldn’t try do-it-yourself whitening recipes. They are seldom effective and typically do more harm than good. Your teeth may look whiter initially, but the enamel loss leaves your teeth porous and more prone to accepting stains and discoloration, as well as makes your teeth susceptible to chipping, wear, and cracking.
If you’re interested in whitening your teeth, consult your dentist. Modern dentistry has come a long way and modern in-office whitening treatments are gentle, painless, and can quickly restore the luster of your youthful pearly whites.
Find the Right Dentist Today
Mountain and Sea Dental takes a holistic approach to dentistry for you and your smile. We recognize that every system in your body is connected and we aim to offer outstanding whole person oral care that takes your body and health into consideration.
We listen to your health goals and work with you to chart a holistic treatment that will take into account nutrition and overall dental health.Please don’t settle for less than quality care. You and your smile are worth it — contact us today to book an appointment.