Photos: Bad Habits That Age Your Smile

How to Avoid These Smile Agers and Reverse Their Effects

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- By Dr. Michael Apa, DDS, PC

People often connect a dull smile with age. Chips, cracks, and stains on your
teeth can add years to your face. However, a bright smile gives the impression
of good health, good habits and youth. What you might not know is that many of
the external causes of an aging smile are determined by health and lifestyle
decisions you make everyday.

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Check out these four habits that lead to an aging smile, and if you're guilty
of any of them, learn how to fix them.

Foods and Drinks that Stain Your Teeth - Dark-colored foods and drinks like
coffee, soda, red wine, chocolate and ketchup can discolor your teeth causing
you to look older than you are. However, there are easy over-the-counter
whitening options that can help restore a whiter, more youthful-looking smile.
With Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal, you'll start seeing whitening results in
just three days! And the advanced adhesion technology molds the strip securely
to your teeth so you can go about your daily routine while you whiten.

Smoking - Smoking not only causes teeth discoloration, but it may also cause
bad breath. The Academy of General Dentistry reports that smoking one pack of
cigarettes a day can result in the loss of at least two teeth every 10 years.
So before whitening your teeth, stop smoking - your smile and body will thank
you for it!

Using your Teeth as Tools - Teeth are not built to rip open packages or cut
into plastic ties. Chewing on ice cubes is also a no-no. These can cause teeth
trauma or breakage that can disrupt the normal growth pattern or source
nutrients to your teeth, causing teeth discoloration. So next time you think
about opening your mail with your teeth, think again!

Brushing with an Old Toothbrush - Manual toothbrushes become worn out and less
effective after about 3 months. Also, if you have gum disease, you should
change your toothbrush every 4-6 weeks because bacteria can harbor in the
bristles. When you're writing your weekly shopping list, add a new
soft-bristled toothbrush. Hard bristles combined with applying too much
pressure when brushing can push back your gumline, making your teeth more
prone to staining, sensitivity and cavities.

SOURCE Crest; Procter & Gamble Oral Care

Katie Brennan of DeVries Public Relations, +1-212-891-0450,
kbrennan@devries-pr.com, for Crest and Procter & Gamble Oral Care