More Magazine October 2009
Ch-Ch-CHANGES!
Your teeth are losing their sparkle
After 40, enamel thins (if only the same were true of our waists!), allowing the yellow dentin underneath to show through. So what's a gal to do? Plenty. Check out these tips.
BRIGHT Ideas
Don’t get to thin. Losing enamel is inevitable as you age, but you can minimize the same by avoiding things that accelerate the process. "I tell my patients to use and electric toothbrush or a regular bush with soft bristles," says Jennifer Jablow, DDS, a New York City cosmetic dentist. "Any brush that's labeled medium or hard is too abrasive." You should also watch your intake of acidic food and drink (such as coffee and wine), says Jamie Sands, DDS, a Hollywood dentist.
Clean before you bleach. If you're thinking about a whitening treatment, try to time it to fall right after your six-month cleaning. That way there's no plaque or tarter to interfere with the bleaching process, and you'll avoid problems with cavities. "If you try to whiten a decaying tooth, the peroxide will sink into the cavity and make its way to the nerve, causing damage - not to mention a toothache," says Irwin Smigel, DDS, a New York City cosmetic dentist.
Whiten with a DDS. For the fastest, most dramatic whitening results, see a dentist - or visit a teeth-bleaching center such as Brite Smile (many have a DDS on staff) to get a professional-strength treatment. What to expect" Your teeth will be coated with a concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution, then treated with a laser or light device to speed up the bleaching process. You'll pay $400 (and up) for the hour-long treatment, and most teeth brighten up to eight shades. "This is the best option out there." Smigel says. Second best (results are similar to office whitening, but the process takes closer to two weeks) is the use of custom-fit trays that are filled with a professional-strength bleaching solution. You wear the trays at home daily for up to an hour; prices range from $100 to $400.
Buyer be warned. In-office options will, however, only remove the surface stains: discoloration caused by tea, coffee, wine or smoking. If your teeth have a gray or brown tinge, you may be disappointed by the results, says Marc Lowenberg, DDS a New York City cosmetic dentist. "Many women over 40 were given the antibiotic tetracycline as children, which caused their dentin layer to darken. Unfortunately, bleaching alone usually cannot completely whiten these teeth," he says. A more effective (albeit pricier) option is veneers, paper-think porcelain shells that are cemented to the front of each tooth to alter shape, color, length or all three. Most start at $1,00 per tooth (in some urban areas closer to $2,00). To cover all the teeth that people see when you smile, you're looking at about $10,0000. On the positive side, though, veneers stay white for life.
Bleach on your own. If you only need a little brightening (or you're maintaining results you got at the dentist’s) there are some decent at-home treatments. But because the bleaching solution is weaker than what you get from a dentist, these products take longer to work, and the results will be slightly less dramatic. The dentists we consulted preferred stick-on bleaching strips, as opposed to paint-on solutions or one-size-fits-all trays. "Most people swallow paint-on bleach before it can make a difference. And on-size trays give uneven results at best." Jablow says. Note" To avoid irritating your gums, Jablow recommends limiting at-home whitening to three times a year and professional treatments to twice yearly.