| | Healthy teeth are a secret to looking young
Here are the basics to keep your gums healthy and your teeth white and free of decay:
Use a toothbrush and floss
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Sounds simple…but do you follow through? Make sure it’s a soft-bristle brush and, to prevent gum erosion, clean your teeth with a short, vertical sweeping motion, not a horizontal scrubbing one. Alternatively, many dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush. When you floss, slide the thread down under your gumline, not just between your teeth. Plaque and bacteria can get stuck in those hidden recesses, causing inflammation and decay.
Rinse with water
Simply rinsing your mouth after every meal is a small move that can make a big difference. A subtle swishing and swallowing of water right away at the table or just after eating helps minimize residue, staining, and tooth decay (which also discolors teeth). And if you've had a glass of wine, it’s essential: Wine has acids that penetrate the enamel, allowing staining and decaying food particles to penetrate more easily.
Eat a healthy diet
You already know that sugar as well as anything that sticks to your teeth (from raisins to crackers) increases your risk of tooth decay, which can discolor—not to mention destroy—teeth. So you should eat less of the sweet and sticky stuff and more fruits and vegetables. Research shows that the higher your consumption of folic acid from food (produce being a great source), the lower your risk of bleeding gums. Yogurt may help keep your smile healthy, too. One study found that people who consumed at least 1⁄4 cup of yogurt every day were less than half as likely to have serious gum disease. Researchers believe the magic ingredients are probiotics, so-called “good” bacteria that may compete with cavity-causing oral bacteria.
Have regular checkups
See your dentist regularly to make sure your fillings are in good shape (silver, or amalgam, lasts between 10 and 20 years). Also, ask to have the overall state of your mouth and bite assessed. Consider orthodontics if your teeth have shifted significantly. Your jaw shifts along with your teeth, and if left unchecked can create a collapsed look.
Address your color concerns
White teeth are a visual shorthand for youth. Fortunately, you can restore a younger look to your smile with options ranging from daily-use toothpastes and at-home kits to in-office treatments. Teeth naturally discolor over the years, because the outer enamel becomes thinner and more transparent, revealing the darker inner layer, or dentin, underneath. Teeth also absorb colored liquids (coffee, tea, cola, red wine) throughout your life, says Jeff Golub-Evans, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. Most whiteners address the problem with the key ingredient peroxide. This safe-for-the-mouth bleaching agent forms bubbles on enamel that lift away stains. The higher the concentration of peroxide and the longer you leave it on your teeth, the whiter they’ll get. The downside: Bleaching molecules can get trapped in nerve passageways, causing increased, though temporary, tooth sensitivity.
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