Are you wearing your teeth away? According to a post in NewBeauty, most people are totally unaware that they grind their teeth, either during the day or at night. Agoura Hills, California cosmetic dentist Jonathan Ziv, DDS, believes this is an issue for 75 percent of patients. Beyond causing headaches and neck aches, grinding can have an aging effect on the smile by wearing the biting edges of the teeth (especially the front), which not only alter their appearance, but interfere with their function, as well. Grinding can also affect the look of the face by contributing to facial collapse, according to Dr. Jonathan Ziv. “The distance between the nose and the chin can decrease, causing deep wrinkles and that ‘old lady look,’” he says.
A drastic smile makeover isn’t your only option. Slight reshaping of the teeth with cosmetic contouring can improve the appearance of your smile, as can ongoing whitening at home. Down the road, when you are ready for long-lasting work, you can then get the smile of your dreams.
