Between coffee and wine stains, teeth grinding from stress, and even gravity – our teeth endure a lot. By the time you reach your late 30s or 40s, you may start to notice a change in your teeth.
We all know that we start with a set of small baby teeth, and we lose them as we age to eventually make room for our erupting permanent teeth. But how exactly do our teeth change as we age?
Discoloration of teeth
Red wine, coffee, and tea all can stain your teeth and contribute to them yellowing as we age. Some discoloration is hard to avoid because the dentin in our teeth becomes more yellow as we get older. There are various whitening techniques available if you are interested in making your teeth whiter again. (Visit last month’s blog that I wrote on teeth whitening options available to you.)
Weakening enamel
Although it’s not indestructible, tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body. Enamel weakens over time as you grind your teeth and chew your food. The older your teeth are, the more likely they may crack or break.
Narrowing dental arches and shifting teeth
As the muscles in your face begin to droop with age, the changes of pressures on your teeth can cause them to shift, further crowding misaligned teeth and dental arches.
These changes don’t need to be considered just as a symptom of growing older, because orthodontics can help. Talk to us about options available to you.
Taking proper care of your teeth is the best way to minimize changes in your teeth over time. Brushing and flossing at least twice daily along with regular trips to our office will make a significant impact on the health of your teeth throughout your life.
If you’re overdue for your dental cleaning please contact our office and we’ll get you on our schedule as soon as possible. We can be reached at 440-354-0705.
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Soria, DDS
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