Youthful Yearnings: 3 Ways Aging Impacts Your Smile

Although aging is a natural process that we all experience, many people struggle with the effects it has on their teeth. Years of general use can leave your once beautiful smile looking a little worse for wear. Fortunately, your dentist can reverse the clock by addressing aesthetic imperfections with various cosmetic services. Keep reading to learn about 3 ways that your pearly whites change in later adulthood and how your dentist can help you improve your appearance.

Concern #1: Stains

Your teeth naturally darken as you get older as the many dark foods and beverages you’ve consumed leave their marks. Even those who maintained a consistent dental hygiene routine throughout their life are bound to notice a certain amount of discoloration in later adulthood.

Teeth whitening is considered one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to upgrade your grin. While you can find plenty of commercially available products, they often contain abrasive ingredients that cause tooth sensitivity. Your dentist, meanwhile, has access to professional-grade solutions that get better results while minimizing any potential discomfort. They can brighten your teeth by several shades in a single in-office visit to restore a more youthful visage. Many providers also offer take-home kits with customized trays so you can get the same results from the comfort of your own home.

Concern #2: Shifting Teeth

A lifetime of exposure to gravity inevitably starts to take its toll as you age. For example, you may already have noticed that you continue to develop additional wrinkles and sagging skin. As the muscles in your face begin to droop, the pressure exerted on your teeth changes, and your dental arches narrow. This can push your pearly whites out of their natural places and result in overcrowding. Crooked teeth can be both embarrassing and risky to your oral health because it’s harder to clean them when you can’t reach all their sides.

Thankfully, your dentist can reposition them with clear aligners. This alternative to traditional braces has gained popularity because it’s much less visibly noticeable. Instead of using bulky metal brackets, your dentist can create a series of transparent plastic aligner trays that fit snuggly over your teeth to gently move them to their ideal placements. Having an even grin can improve your self-confidence in addition to your dental well-being.

Concern #3: Weakened Enamel

Although enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, it does wear down over time. This leaves your teeth more vulnerable to harm in later adulthood because they don’t have the added layer of protection that they used to. They’re more likely to break and crack as you age, especially if you frequently grind them.

Cosmetic dental bonding is a great way to mend or mask aesthetic flaws like chips, fractures, discoloration, and minor gaps. To do so, your dentist applies color-matched composited resin directly to your tooth and molds it into the ideal shape. Then, they harden it in place using a curing light so it bonds with the surface of your tooth. Your newly perfected teeth can remain that way for 5 to 10+ years making this an excellent long-term solution.

Call your dentist today and you’ll have started your journey to recover your youthful smile!

About the Author

Dr. Maryam Ashraghi enjoys increasing her patients’ quality of life by improving their oral health. She first graduated from dental school in 2003 and then had several years of specialty training in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Now, she’s an expert with 20+ years of experience providing a wide range of services to meet all your dental needs. She uses upgraded technology to enhance your comfort while providing accurate, long-term results. If you’d like a cosmetic consultation, you’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (703) 440-7010.