Revitalize Your Smile: Expert Tips for Aging Teeth and Gum Care
Revitalize Your Smile: Expert Tips for Aging Teeth and Gum Care
If your teeth are looking a bit yellow or you’ve noticed some shifting, don’t worry. Discolored teeth, receding gums, chips, and gaps are all natural signs of aging. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to manage these issues and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.
The Signs of Aging Teeth
Teeth endure a lot over the years, and not everyone is pleased with the effects of decades of wear and tear. According to dentists, the top issues associated with aging teeth include:
- Discoloration
- Crowding or gaps
- Loss of enamel
Loss of enamel can result in darker and shorter teeth, which can lead to crowding, overlapping, and gaps. Gum recession is also common among older adults. When gums recede, the roots of the teeth can be exposed, leading to tooth damage or tooth loss if left untreated. Addressing these age-related issues usually requires a comprehensive approach that considers aesthetic, functional, and health concerns.
How to Prevent Aging Teeth
If your teeth are still in good shape, prevention is key. Avoid acidic foods like coffee, tea, sparkling water, soda, and red wine. Good daily oral hygiene and professional teeth cleaning every three to six months are also essential.
- Brush well after eating foods that can stain teeth, such as blueberries and beets.
- Avoid bad habits like biting pens or fingernails and chewing ice.
Try Nightguards and Clear Aligners
Dentists often recommend a nightguard to protect teeth from grinding while you sleep. Grinding and clenching can move teeth, leading to spacing or crowding. For teeth that have already shifted, clear aligners can help achieve a brighter, straighter smile. These can cost between $3,500 to $8,000, depending on the condition of your teeth and where you live. Less expensive options have also emerged, offering faster and more affordable treatments.
Consider Teeth Whitening
One common way to remedy darkening or yellowing teeth is whitening. For external stains, a whitening toothpaste with activated charcoal can be effective. Over-the-counter whitening products include strips, gels, and rinses, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to show results. For internal tooth stains, professional whitening at your dentist’s office or custom bleach trays may be more effective.
Invest in Bonding, Crowns, or Veneers
To improve the shape of your teeth or repair broken, uneven teeth, consider bonding, crowns, or veneers. Bonding is typically used for small cracks, visible front surface decay, and chips. Crowns are the gold standard for tooth repair, while veneers are best used cosmetically to transform your smile. However, veneers can be expensive, costing around $1,000 to $4,000 per tooth.
Ask Your Dentist About Gum Grafting
Dentists usually recommend gum grafting to cover the area of the tooth exposed when gums recede. A new technique involves lifting and repositioning existing gum to cover the exposed area, which is less painful and more effective. The cost depends on the number of teeth treated and typically ranges from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
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