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"The eyes may be the mirror of the soul, but the first thing anyone will notice about you is your smile," says Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics.

As younger adults, most of us take our smile for granted, but as we age, keeping a brilliant smile becomes a challenge. With the passage of time, teeth darken and become more porous. These problems can so negatively impact aging adults that they stop smiling entirely, too embarrassed to show their teeth. Well, don't be concerned about flashing that big smile any longer. Modern dentistry and new products can remedy either of these problems that eventually impact everyone.

Make Those Pearlies White Again
If you want to take ten years off your face, I'd recommend whitening your teeth. It's easy and it works. The impact of your smile is priceless when it comes to communicating health, self esteem and youth. "As we age, teeth darken, which is a look we associate with age," observes Smigel, who practices in New York City.

With more than 70 million Americans moving into middle age, it should be no surprise that there are plenty of products on drug store shelves that promise a whiter smile. Just go to any toothpaste section and you'll be inundated with a plethora of products that include whitening kits, strips, gels, rinses, ampoules and gum treatments. In an attempt to come up with a system that works for you, the endless array of new products may be confusing. To make things even more complicated, there are "boutique" brands to consider at beauty supply stores and department store counters.

In addition, you're probably perplexed about the cost-effectiveness of an at-home whitening product versus a dental office procedure. "Professional whitening systems tend to be more predictable than the over-the-counter products," says aesthetic dentist, Dennis J. Wells, D.D.S. of the Nashville Center for Aesthetic Dentistry. "It's mainly because the delivery trays are custom (made) and dentists have a variety of whitening concentrations and solutions that professional whitening will most likely give you the best results."

Rembrandt and other companies are now offering systems that mimic professional whitening. The 2-Hour White Kit, including trays that can be (somewhat) adjusted with a hot water soak and a Professional Treatment Kit with a recommended 30 minute use for seven days. Carmen Nestares, product director for the oral care company, suggests individuals talk to their dental professional about what frequency of whitening might be best suited for them. Gum disease may need to be factored in before whitening, and there may be tooth sensitivity as a result of any whitening treatment.

For even more on-the-go, do-it-yourself convenience, Go Smile Advanced Formula B1 is an unique seven-day whitening system - as it's delivered with an applicator brush that allows you to cover the areas that need it most. You can slip it in a purse or pocket, and use twice a day wherever you are.

But regardless of whether you go to the dentist or use a product off of the shelves, there are two primary requirements to having an appealing smile – getting your teeth whitened and then maintaining that brightness. "Whitening teeth yearly is safe," concludes Dr. Smigel. "Maintenance is vital to sustain the whitening effect."

How to Maintain the Brightness
Whitening toothpaste and whitening mouthwash will be the basis of your maintenance program. Smigel suggests brushing twice a day with a whitening toothpaste followed by a whitening oral rinse, pointing out that it's even more important to brush before bedtime. "During the day you swallow more than 200 times just talking and functioning and that creates saliva," she observes, although brushing in the morning is of particular importance for those who live with others. "At night you only swallow 20 times and because of that a lot of people wake up in the morning with bad breath ... so we're less likely to kiss our partners."

For those of us who worry about dining and smiling, there is a growing array of single application take-along whitening/freshening products available. Supersmile's Quikee, invented by Smigel, can be used right at the table (between courses and conversation). Dab it on your tongue straight from the barely noticeable tube and run it across your teeth. Also fun and convenient are his just–add–water Powdered Mouthrinse packets.

Porous Teeth Are Gluey
How many times have you been out to dinner with a group of like-aged friends and as the reading glasses are passed around the table for all to navigate the menu's fine print, someone inevitably announces, "If you see anything green sticking to my teeth will you please let me know ... followed by a chorus of serious "me too's"?

This phenomenon often arrives with middle age and, according to Smigel, is caused when the smoothness of the teeth erodes through wear and tear thus causing the teeth to become more porous. "Food particles that would not stick previously now stick and the porosity allows bacteria to get in," cautions Smigel. "So unless we are really fastidious about brushing we also have more problems with bad breath."

The Finishing Touch
One of the keys to a gleaming white smile is to surround them with soft, smooth (not chapped) lips. So men, enhance your brightened smile with a lip balm. And ladies, you can go one step further ... use a lip color with red undertones to make teeth appear even whiter!