Aged Aesthetics: How Your Dentist Can Reverse the Clock

If you were among the lucky few to enjoy evenly spaced, beautifully toned teeth all your life, it could be an unpleasant surprise to see imperfections in your smile as you grow older. Aging impacts your body in many ways, and your mouth is no exception.

It’s normal to feel frustrated by unexpected alterations that detract from your appearance, but thankfully, they don’t all have to be permanent! There are many cosmetic services your dentist can potentially apply to upgrade your grin. Continue reading to learn three ways your teeth can change over time and how your dentist can reverse the effects!

Change #1: Surface Stains

Have you ever noticed that your tongue and teeth sometimes look tinted after a glass of red wine, coffee, tea, or certain sodas? That’s because they contain tannins, naturally occurring compounds in different plants that give them their bitter flavor. These pigmented particles bond with proteins in your mouth to cling to plaque buildup on your teeth. Years’ worth of repeated exposure can leave them looking worse for wear.

Fortunately, your provider can provide professional whitening services to lighten your grin. Whether you want instant results from an in-office visit or prefer a take-home kit with professional-grade materials and custom-fitted trays, removing surface stains can give you a more youthful visage.  

Change #2: Thinning Enamel

Most people consider dazzlingly bright smiles attractive, but did you know that your teeth are not naturally pure white? The outermost layer of enamel is a translucent blue-white hue, but the layer of dentin underneath is more yellow. Your enamel naturally starts to thin after years of daily wear and tear, allowing more of the darker shade to shine through.

Surface stains don’t cause this discoloration, so topical whitening probably won’t help much. Therefore, your dentist might recommend an alternative solution, like veneers or dental bonding, to address it. Both options can mask imperfections to give you a younger-looking grin.

Change #3: Dental Drifting

You might think of your teeth as sturdy, immovable mounds in your mouth. However, they’re held in place by a series of interconnected muscles and ligaments with a natural movement capacity. Ongoing pressure from everyday use can eventually push them out of their proper places. That means even those blessed with perfectly straight teeth most of their lives or who already underwent orthodontics might develop misalignments later in life.

Your dentist can address overcrowded, crooked, and somewhat gapped smiles with ClearCorrect aligners. Unlike traditional braces, this treatment relies on clear plastic trays that fit snuggly over your teeth to rearrange them gently. That way, you can achieve a more even appearance without the hassle of metal brackets.

About the Author

Dr. Mayda Ferguson has years of experience helping people improve their lives by enhancing their oral health. She completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans and is now an active member of the American Dental Association and other prestigious organizations. She offers many amenities, like complimentary beverages, to help you feel at ease during your visit. Then, she utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to deliver accurate results intended to last. You can request a cosmetic consultation on the website or call (504) 833-2220.