When it comes to anti-ageing and looking younger, we often think about skin and hair. But, your teeth can have a huge impact on how old you look.
A dentist explained one of the major dental issues making Britons look old prematurely. Dr. Sam Jethwa is an experienced cosmetic dentist. He explained Britons should watch out for receding gums when thinking about how to look younger.
He told Express.co.uk: “Receding gums (also known as long teeth) are most common in adults over 40 and as a result, they’re something that is often regarded as looking very ageing.”
“Gingival recession can be caused by periodontal disease which is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue, but more often it is caused by brushing teeth too hard, improper flossing, tobacco use, as well as abnormal tooth position.”
There are a number of symptoms of receding gums to look out for including bleeding after brushing, gum pain, exposed tooth roots and bad breath.
While causing you to look older, receding gums can eventually cause sufferers to lose teeth.
So, how can you prevent receding gums? Dr. Sam said: “Good oral hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent receding gums.
“However once the gums have receded and the roots of teeth are exposed then they need to be covered to prevent them from wearing away more.
“In which case, veneers can help, as well as improving teeth from an aesthetics sense.”
The dentist also suggests another potential treatment, gum grafting. He said: “Gum grafting is also a fantastic option to address receding gums and make teeth look younger.
“The process involves taking gum from synthetic material or elsewhere in the mouth and then stitching it into the gums.
“I’ve had this done myself and it works really well. It’s something that I prescribe a lot of to patients who are wishing to address receding gums and make teeth look younger.”
What causes receding gums?
- Long-term brushing of the teeth that is too hard
- Plaque build-up
- Smoking
- Hormonal changes
- Diabetes
- HIV
It is important to visit the hygenist every six months to diagnose and stay on top of any of these dental problems.
Another ageing dental is that of yellowing teeth, where stains have set into teeth over time.
Those looking for some tooth whitening should change the way they are brushing their teeth every day, an expert has said.
Holding your toothbrush “like a pen” could help to lift stains when you brush, creating a whiter, brighter smile according to dentist Dr. Hanna Kinsella.
While many Britons believe brushing teeth hard will lift stains, in fact, this can erode the tooth surface away more quickly and therefore cause a yellow look sooner rather than later.
Youthful celeb Lisa Snowdon recently detailed how she uses face yoga for anti-ageing, specifically a move for brightening her eyes.
Face yoga is a form of facial massage said by advocates to prevent ageing.
Lisa, 50, uses facial massage to help soothe her skin and claims the routine “really helps”.
She said: “I do a lot of gentle massage around the eyes, where I hold the eye and I just massage in a circle.”