Yes, Your Smile Ages, Too — 3 Dentist Tips To Keep Teeth White & Healthy

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Keep up with oral hygiene 

“Health is really the foundation of all beauty, so a healthy smile will usually lead to a beautiful smile—not the other way around,” says Veytsman. That said, prioritizing oral care will ultimately lead to a stronger, healthier, and whiter smile as you age.  

“Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day using an ultrasonic toothbrush, flossing, tongue scraping, using [gentle] mouthwash, and staying hydrated to keep a healthy oral microbiome,” she notes. “All of this will keep your smile healthy and will even help you maintain the whiteness of your smile.” 

You see, building up the tooth's natural enamel can not only buff away stains but prevent them from cropping up in the first place. And when your teeth and gums are healthier, they appear way less dull and dingy. 

A quick note about mouthwash: Traditional antiseptic rinses are incredibly antibacterial, which means they sweep away all the bacteria—good and bad—to give you that fresh, minty feeling. Your oral microbiome needs a healthy balance of good bacteria, which is why experts advise against frequently swishing with antiseptic formulas. That's not to say you can't use traditional mouthwash at all (for example, some may need to swish for medical reasons). Just try to limit your use, and perhaps opt for a non-antiseptic mouthwash that's gentle enough for your oral microbiome. (Find our recommendations here.)

2.

​​For whiter teeth, don’t brush right after eating

As you age, you may notice your teeth becoming more susceptible to staining as your enamel weakens. To prevent pesky stains, you might head straight for your toothbrush after sipping on coffee or red wine—but according to Veytsman, this is a big mistake. 

“What I would not recommend is brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking a staining food or drink, because it’s acidic,” she explains. “You are going to rub that acidic material into your teeth.” Instead, rinse your mouth with plain water immediately after to prevent the staining. 

You could also avoid those staining foods in the first place—although, that may not be realistic for coffee, lemon, and/or apple cider vinegar enthusiasts (self very much included). “You can do [white strips] at home for minimal stain removal and use whitening toothpaste for maintenance,” Veytsman shares. Here, you can find our favorite tubes and whitening strips. 

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Another sign of aging in your smile? Gum recession, or when your gum line creeps higher up on the teeth than it's supposed to due to wear. “You may experience this purely because of your genetics,” says Veytsman. “It can also happen if you brush too hard, have periodontal disease, or even if you grind your teeth.” 

Assuming you’re not prone to recession genetically, there are certain habits you can do to prevent stripping away your gum tissue. “If you grind your teeth, I would recommend wearing a nightguard, because that’s often a culprit of receding gums,” she notes. (Here’s an affordable set from Amazon.) “I would also recommend using a very soft toothbrush and not brushing too hard, as you really want to be careful not to push up on the gum tissue too much.”