Save your smile

Protect your teeth now so you can still flash that smile with confidence as you age. By Tanith Carey

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A bright smile lights up your face at any age because it's the first thing people notice about you. And the more we smile, the happier we become, as research shows it releases feel-good chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and serotonin.

So, if you want to radiate health and happiness, a smile is the best place to start. But just because teeth don't wrinkle doesn't mean they don't age. Over time, they lose their whiteness, our lower teeth shift towards the centre, and our gums recede, giving us that "long in the tooth" appearance.

The good news is, there are ways to turn back time and restore the youthful look of your smile.

So, how does our smile change as we age, and what are the latest ways to get it back?

Your teeth get darker

Teeth start out white because they are coated with enamel - a 1.5 to 3mm thick layer of semi-translucent, calcified material, which is the hardest substance in the body.

Over time, this enamel darkens as it absorbs stains from pigmented food and drink, like red wine, tea, coffee, and nicotine. As the enamel becomes more transparent, the yellow-brown dentine beneath it becomes more visible.

In our minds, we tend to associate whiter teeth with children and young people.

Whiter teeth also reflect light and help our eyes look brighter, so yellower gnashers can help add years to your appearance.

Indeed, a survey of 2,000 people in the UK by retailer Currys last month found that nearly six out of 10 people already feel their teeth are discoloured and yellowed.

What to do:

This is one of the easier fixes, with a range of whitening treatments available - both at home and at the dentist. These typically use peroxides to oxygenate stains and break them up.