What Aging Does To Your Smile And How To Fix it
Several years ago, I became very self conscious of my smile. My teeth had shifted position over time, partly negating the years of orthodonture I endured as a kid, plus, they were not quite as pearly as I like them to be. Whereas many people are dentist-phobic, I am not one of them, not in the least. I booked my appointment to discuss cosmetic dentistry procedures with my dentist, Dr. Robert Sattler of Sattler Family Dentistry and, after discussions of braces, whitening bleaches and other alternatives, I decided that my best choice to address positioning and discoloration were veneers. I could not be happier with the result. I told Dr. Sattler at the time that he had given me back my high school smile. Was the process painless? It was for me, although it did entail hours in the dentist’s chair with my mouth agape. But, some good music playing in my headphones and a dentist and assistant who were experts at understanding my open-mouthed speech helped the process along.
One of the things that immediately gives away our age is the condition of our teeth. Admittedly, veneers are an expensive and perhaps last ditch effort to rejuvenate our smiles, but you need not go to that extreme to improve the look of your pearly whites. EverBeautiful.com consulted with Dr. Stuart Frost, an orthodontist and author of The Artist Orthodontist: Creating An Artistic Smile is More Than Just Straightening Teeth for his take on rejuvenating an aging smile.
“Many adults come to me complaining they have lost their smile,” says Dr. Frost. “Older patients may have multiple issues that affect their smile, including mutilated or worn teeth, a misaligned bite, crowding, or problems with inflammation or recession of their gums. They may even have experienced the collapse of the underlying structures of the face due to missing teeth.“
Frost says some of the specific situations older people face with their smiles include:
Wear and tear. Some adult teeth have unattractive chips and pits that take away from a smile. These issues can be addressed with hard-tissue contouring techniques that restore the anatomy of individual teeth. Hard-tissue contouring can also eliminate the need for expensive cosmetic veneers or bonding.
Gum recession. The phrase “looking long in the tooth” comes from the fact gums recede, causing the teeth to look longer and unsightly. There are a few reasons gum recession might happen, Frost says. For example, using a toothbrush with coarse bristles can cause gum problems. Also, food can get trapped between the gum tissue and develop into tartar. Over time, tartar turns into calculus, which Frost says “acts like acid on steroids” to cause inflammation of the gums. That can eventually irritate the bone and cause it to shrink away, a condition known as gingivitis. The good news is that gum tissue can be recontoured as part of the last steps in a treatment plan. Recontouring the teeth can eliminate the little dark triangle that appears in between the teeth and the gum when the gum recedes which can be fixed with recontouring the teeth.Misalignments. Teeth that are crowded, flared or misaligned not only affect the look of your smile, they also can have an impact on your ability to chew and can even cause some people to clench and grind their teeth, Frost says. “By aligning the teeth with braces and ensuring each tooth is in the correct position, we can bring back the functionality and youthfulness of the bite,” he says.
Narrow arch. Narrowing of the arches is typically due to extractions earlier in life. Frost says there are ways to return a more youthful appearance by widening the arch shape to broaden the smile and creates better upper lip support. As a bonus, he says, a broader arch and smile promotes better contouring of the cheekbones, which can take years off someone’s appearance.
“The last 50 years have seen a revolution in dental techniques for improving your smile that many people have yet to discover,” Frost says. “Investigating and taking advantage of some of those options can change someone’s life, regardless of age.”
I would like to add that bi-annual (at least, more often if you have an issue) dental visits, daily flossing, the gentle use of a toothbrush – I’m a bear when it comes to brushing. Gentle is best, I learned the hard way – and non-alcoholic mouthwash (I like Closys) are of paramount importance to maintaining your smile. Consult with your dentist on best ways for you to rejuvenate and maintain your beautiful smile. One last thing, teeth are not tools. Treat them lovingly and they’ll return the favor.
Get Dr. Frost’s Book here …
Get Closys here …
Over 55? Try Closys Silver …
About Dr. Stuart Frost
Besides authoring his aforementioned book, Orthodontist Dr. Stuart Frost is a sought-after speaker who has given seminars, lectures, and speeches throughout the world to dentists and the general public on groundbreaking dentistry. He graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and has continued his education at the University of Rochester, where he accomplished a one-year fellowship in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and a two-year certificate in orthodontics.
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I used to think that whitening teeth could be a solution. But the chemical can damage the enamel.