Oral Health

Good oral health isn’t only about showing off a bright, beautiful smile – though that’s certainly one of the perks. Your teeth and smile are often the first features a stranger notices about you, and a recent study at the Max Planck Institute in Berlin found that people who smile are perceived as younger than their true age. And you just can’t beat a free anti-aging trick. However, yellow or broken teeth are said to have the exact opposite effect, making a person appear less attractive and even older than their years. Those afflictions don’t always mean it’s simply time to book a professional teeth whitening appointment or head to the drugstore for a box of Crest Whitestrips. Oftentimes, they indicate a more serious issue with tooth decay or other undesirable dental conditions.

In fact, the teeth and gums reveal all sorts of hints about your overall health. Strong links have been made to poor oral health and serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and even osteoporosis. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to maintain a healthy mouth, from conquering the basics of brushing and flossing to refraining from tobacco products and teeth-staining medications. TopDentists’ Oral Health section aims to equip you with the knowledge necessary to take care of your mouth, so you can enjoy a healthy, great-looking set of pearly whites – and maybe even be mistaken for someone much younger!