Smite Them With Your Shining Smile!

Have you noticed that your pearly whites are actually not all that white any longer? You're definitely not alone. To find out why aging teeth take on a yellowish tinge and to learn about solutions, ThirdAge interviewed Dr. Veronica Sanchez. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Tennessee, Memphis and serves as an expert in oral care at P&G.

Click through to learn what she told us:

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Yellow Dentin Layer Begins to Show Dr. Sanchez explained that as time goes by, the enamel on our teeth thins and becomes translucent. When this happens, the yellow "dentin" layer underneath begins to show. "Yellow teeth can make you look older than you are," Dr. Sanchez said.

Stains Add to the Problem Dr. Sanchez pointed out that stains compound the problem. "Particles from food and drink can build up on tooth enamel," she said. The particles settle beneath the tooth surface, making your teeth look dark and dull.Three of the biggest culprits when it comes to leaving stains are coffee, tea, and wine. "Red wine leaves stains but so does white wine," Dr. Sanchez cautioned. "The worst offender, though, is tobacco."

Obviously, giving up smoking is a good idea for a whole host of reasons. But what about your morning coffee, your afternoon tea, and your glass of wine in the evening? All of them have been shown to have health benefits. Click through to find out more:

A Toothpaste That Whitens and Brightens "There's no need to give up coffee, tea, or wine," Dr. Sanchez reassured us. "Enjoy them in moderation and then brush away the stains. I recommend a new toothpaste called Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste. Thanks to a technology breakthrough, this toothpaste not only removes surface stains but also shines your teeth."

Dr. Sanchez said that research has revealed that a shine vastly increases how attractive our teeth appear. She also said that just one brushing with Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste will visibly shine and brighten your teeth. Not only that, but 90% of surface stains will be gone after just 5 days. New stains will appear, of course, but continued use of Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste will keep them at bay.

Getting Rid of Stubborn Stains If you'd like to get rid of that last 10% of stubborn stains, Dr. Sanchez suggests Crest 3D White Whitestrips. With proper use, the strips will help to remove stains that accumulate below the enamel surface. "If you follow the directions, you'll get very good results," she promises.

Red Lipstick to the Rescue Finally, Dr. Sanchez says that the old beauty tip about wearing red lipstick to make your teeth seem whiter still holds true. "I do that myself," she says. "It really works. So now you can have your coffee, your tea, and your wine, and your teeth won't give away your age!"

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