DENTAL TIPS FOR LOOIKNG YOUNGER

 Your mouth is more than just a pretty smile. It's also a gateway to your overall health. Keeping that gateway clean may keep you healthier longer -- and looking younger. “Just as white, straight teeth convey youth, a smile with crooked, discolored, worn, or missing teeth is associated with an aged look,” says Edmond Hewlett, DDS, professor of restorative dentistry at UCLA's School of Dentistry. “The adage ‘long in the tooth,’ used to describe older persons, reflects the fact that gum disease causes gums to recede and teeth to appear longer as a result." Keeping a youthful mouth comes down to two simple, proven, and practical steps: Brush and floss daily. See your dentist every six months “Taking the time to brush and floss is what’s needed," says Anthony M. Iacopino, DMD, PhD, dean of the dentistry faculty at Canada's University of Manitoba, professor of restorative dentistry, and an American Dental Association spokesman. "Brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist is so easy to do, it’s not expensive, and everyone should be doing it.”

What's Stopping You?

“Folks don’t take [oral health] seriously,” says Samuel Low, DDS, MS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology and professor emeritus of periodontology at the University of Florida. “They take their looks seriously and the smile is a priority, but people don’t think about their gums. Brushing takes time, and flossing is one of the most difficult habits. Only 25% of people floss and I don’t think people see the benefits," says Low, who estimates that it takes two to three minutes per day to floss properly, but "these days, people are crunched for time.” Low is a stockholder in Florida Probe Corporation, a dental technology company. Looks aside, there's another reason to make time for dental care. If you don't, it could affect your health. 

Are you scared of the dentist???

Inflammation, Periodontal Disease 

Inflammation can happen when bacteria and debris, such as bits of food, enter the blood vessels around the teeth. Inflammation is your body's response to such invaders. And if it happens over and over again, you could wind up with long-term (chronic) inflammation. "The mouth is one of the major contributors to high levels of inflammation in the body," says Iacopino, who has consulted for Colgate and Johnson & Johnson. Chronic inflammation is linked to chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. It's not clear if the inflammation causes those diseases or is a marker of some other cause. But either way, it's not a good sign. Then there's periodontal disease, which affects 80% of Americans. It's caused by extensive bacterial buildup along the gums and teeth. Periodontal disease is the top cause of tooth loss. Bacterial buildup, inflammation, tooth decay, and periodontal disease happen quietly and slowly. That's why so many people don't know it's happening. When done consistently and correctly, brushing and flossing reduce bacteria or plaque buildup. That helps prevent inflammation and gum disease.

Stained Teeth 

Smoking and drinking, particularly red wine and coffee, can stain your teeth and affect how old you look. Tooth whitening -- over-the-counter and in dentists' offices -- has become increasingly popular in the U.S. and is often marketed as a way to look and feel younger. Experts say although artificial whitening can temporarily improve a smile, you still need consistent brushing, flossing, and routine

dental care to have a lasting impact on how well you age. Of course, you need to do more than brush, floss, and see your dentist to stay young. 

Your entire lifestyle matters. "If you want to slow down your aging clock, getting enough sleep, a healthy diet, exercise, and keeping down your levels of inflammation are all key,” Iacopino says. Hewett agrees. “The fact remains that there are no shortcuts to getting and staying healthy, and oral health is no exception," he says.

Culled from http://www.m.webmd.com/oral-health/features/dental-tips-for-looking-younger/

Brushing your teeth

How often should you brush your teeth, and how should you do it?
At least twice a day, says Dr Ogo Eze, who runs a dental practice in London. Does that mean you should do more? "I'd encourage people to brush after lunch as well. If you brush at eight in the morning and go to bed at 10 or 11 at night, you've got 14 or 15 hours of eating, for bacteria to build up."
But too much brushing, with bad technique, can cause other problems. "People think if they brush hard and thoroughly they are doing a good job, but you can wear away your gums and tooth surface. People think receding gums are a sign of gum disease, but it's often a sign of too much scrubbing."

The right way, says Eze, is known as the modified Bass technique. "The idea is that it's OK to brush in circles and up and down, but when it comes to the gum line, you should tip the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, and apply gentle pressure so it blanches just under the gums, then vibrate there and flick away. Your brush shouldn't travel across the gums. It's important to get just underneath the gum because a lot of food and bacteria get trapped there."
You should always brush your tongue, or buy a tongue scraper. "Bacteria and plaque stick to the tongue, so do it whenever you brush." It should take two to three minutes to do a thorough job.
Don't brush for half an hour after eating, to give your saliva time to do its job and neutralise the acid caused by eating and drinking. Before this, your teeth are at their weakest and brushing can damage the enamel.


Manual or electric toothbrush?
"I would advise some people to use an electric toothbrush – such as those who have problems with manual dexterity. I wouldn't say electric toothbrushes are automatically better." The important thing is to learn the correct technique. I always recommend that my patients use a soft-to-medium toothbrush – hard toothbrushes cause more damage." Try one with a small head, to get to the back teeth easily.

Do I really have to floss?
Yes. But once a day is fine, says Eze. "If you are susceptible to getting food trapped, you could carry floss with you and do it during the day. Otherwise I recommend flossing at night. Different practitioners might suggest a different order, but I do it before brushing because flossing opens up your teeth slightly. When you brush afterwards, the fluoride in the toothpaste can seep into that tiny gap between each tooth." Floss between every tooth, using clean floss for each one, and go up as far as it will go without ripping your gums. "Gently saw the floss up underneath the gums and gently saw it out again. This cleans the tooth and root surface, and removes bacteria and food debris." Children with milk teeth probably don't need to floss, says Eze.

Should you use mouthwash?
A standard mouthwash can wash away the toothpaste's beneficial ingredients. "Eating sugar attracts bacteria that deposit acid, and this creates plaque, which erodes the tooth surface. The ingredients in fluoride toothpaste help to reinforce the surface." Eze thinks mouthwash is only really needed in particular circumstances. "If you have gum disease, your dentist may prescribe certain mouthwashes."
So, should you rinse your mouth out with water when you have finished brushing or leave some toothpaste in your mouth? "For children, I would say wash out, because if they still have adult teeth that have yet to come through, they may end up with too much fluoride in their body, which can damage their teeth. For adults, it's good to leave a film, but in moderation – you don't want a mouthful of toothpaste. I have a semi-rinse: I put a tiny bit of water in my mouth to brush away the toothpaste on my tongue."

What about snacking?
Don't graze on food all the time, says Eze. "I see people who eat fruit all day, but the downside is that the amount of sugar they are taking is bad for their teeth. Eat it in moderation." Avoid dry fruit as it sticks in your teeth. With all sugary foods, it's better to eat them in one go rather than throughout the day, says Eze. "If you have something sweet, within about half an hour or 40 minutes your saliva will be working hard to neutralise the acidity. If you eat sugary food throughout the day, it is constantly attacking the teeth. A lot of people have one teaspoon of sugar in tea or coffee all day without realising it causes the same problems."
Dr Ogo Eze practises at dentistw2.co.uk