Summary
Dental aging is due to several factors, such as the use of drugs, acidic diet and stress. The health and function of the teeth must come first, aesthetics as an ally.
Receding gums, thinning and yellowing of the teeth, expression lines such as the dreaded “barcode”, the “inverted smile” and even dark circles under the eyes resulting from bone loss in the oral and jaw region are signs that your teeth are aging. Since they are made up of cells (called odontoblasts), like the rest of the body, they are also affected by time.
In addition to physiological conditions, behaviors such as excessive use of drugs, an acidic diet and clenching of teeth, caused by daily stress, are factors that accelerate this aging process.
Notice for immediate action
Marcelo Kyrillos, dental surgeon at Oral workshopwarns of the dangers of immediacy in the pursuit of youth.
“Recovering aging teeth is not an option. People forget that they will live another 40, 50 years and will need good mobility to speak and chew, proper positioning between the arches and even a strengthened bone structure. All this to ensure a functional dental age,” explains Kyrillos, who has noticed in recent years a significant increase in patients between the ages of 45 and 65 at Oral Atelier seeking aesthetic treatments. “The great truth is that the current silver generation is redefining what it means to age well, compared to people in the same age group 30 years ago,” he emphasizes.
“However, our effort is to combat a certain immediacy of some patients and to put the importance of functionality first. Before starting a treatment for the use of dental contact lenses, for example, it is necessary to verify that the patient does not have a serious history of bruxism that has never been treated. Otherwise, there will be a beautiful smile and a patient with joint problems, chronic pain in the head and neck, among other serious disorders. Considering this, we can think about aesthetics,” he adds.
“We stopped responding to requests such as that of a patient who asked to remove all his teeth to insert new ones. This was not necessary, because today technology allows us to save teeth that, in the past, would have been lost. Modern therapeutic alternatives make it possible to recover and preserve natural teeth, avoiding the extractions that were common in the past. In addition, current restoration techniques maintain the original structure of the teeth and use materials that closely resemble the feel and appearance of natural teeth. There are techniques that restore lost gums with the patient’s gums. The premise is valid and mandatory: health and function must come first, aesthetics must be an ally”, emphasizes the specialist from Ateliê Oral.
Some signs that your tooth is getting old:
Expression marks around the lips
Tooth reduction
Gum recession
Mobility of teeth
Yellowing of the teeth
How to Preserve the Functional Age of Your Smile in Old Age
• Say no to immediacy: Before any aesthetic treatment in pursuit of youth, consult a professional who prioritizes the health and function of your teeth.
• Brushing: As we age, we lose our manual skills. A good option is an electric brush with a pressure sensor. They work in areas that are difficult to reach manually while brushing.
• Periodicity: Preventive visits to the dentist should now be every six months, regardless of age. However, the specialist emphasizes that after the age of 60 this must be followed strictly. Dentistry today has tooth and gum scanning technologies to check for tooth wear and gum loss. Significantly visible in the software, these innovations allow to read what is causing these changes, allowing intervention and treatment.
• Be careful to prevent enamel wear: Enamel erosion is already the result of the impact of time. However, external factors accelerate this wear, such as:
– Intake of acidic foods and drinks: because they have a high acidity index, which increases the pH of the mouth from 6.4 to 5.5, these products have a significant erosive potential. Avoid ingesting them before bedtime, a period in which the protective effects of saliva are reduced. Also wait 30 minutes to brush, since the surface of the tooth will be softened by the acidity. Brushing your teeth immediately afterwards can accelerate wear.
– Excessive use of drugs: in addition to accelerating tooth corrosion, they promote yellowing, which is also a consequence of dental aging.
– Bruxism: if suspected, carry out tests to verify the need to use protective plates to avoid wear of the enamel even during the night.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
