We Are Change Austin

While millions of Americans spending many of their waking moments fretting about the new lines and wrinkles that adorn their once youthful faces, they are overlooking something that could be giving away their age even more notably. After all, it isn’t just the skin that ages along with the person, teeth also show the wear and tear of years of use. Yellowing, decaying, and cracking happen over time, until one day a person wakes up to look in the mirror at a smile that is no longer the one that he or she remembers. So, what can a person do to prevent this tell-tale sign of aging? Technically, there are several things that will help you keep your pearly whites nice, pearly, and white.

Prevent Erosion and Decay You have likely heard it since the first day of grade school, if not before. You must brush your teeth and see the dentist regularly! There is good reason that the American public so adamantly ingrains this way of thinking into its youth. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental care helps to ensure that teeth stay clean and decay free. But that isn’t all that factors into keep your smile intact. Food and beverage choices greatly impact how white, clean, and bacteria free teeth remain. Avoiding an abundance of sugary, dark colored foods can help maintain white teeth that are free of decay. Chewing sugarless gum is also beneficial, as it help to remove food particles that may have gotten stuck in the teeth and also produces saliva, which helps wash away bacteria and neutralizes the acid levels. Increased acid levels lead to increased rates of decay.

Halt the Daily Grind Grinding teeth in your sleep or otherwise wears them down faster so they become more susceptible to cracking. In the same manner, avoid biting down on overly hard materials, such as corn kernels, which can catch weaker teeth off guard and cause painful splits that must be professionally repaired. Cracks in the teeth are also more susceptible to stains, which means tooth whitening will need to be done more often to maintain a crystal clean look.

Gum, Gum, Gum As stated before, chewing gum can play a large part in keeping the mouth clean and bacteria free, but that isn’t the only type of gum that plays a part in dental health. Many people become so concerned with keeping their teeth white, that they completely overlook the gums. This soft tissue that holds the teeth in place is just as susceptible to problems — if not more so – as the teeth. That means that brushing shouldn’t be focused just on the whites, make sure that a gentle brush is used to wipe away plaque and food build up on the gums. Also, be sure to floss regularly, as this pulls away plaque that builds up between the teeth making the mouth more susceptible to gum disease and decay.

Bright White There is, last but not least, the matter of keeping an extra white smile. Yellowing teeth are a very big indicator of age. A cosmetic dentist can do a professional whitening to bring the color back to its original pristine look, but you can also prevent staining through food choices (mentioned above) and regular professional cleanings.

About the Author: Bobby Milton has worked in the dental industry for over 20 years and writes and lectures on many different dental topics