Looking after teeth can do more to prevent people looking older than plastic surgery, one group of specialists has claimed.
Dentists have explained how tooth loss can make individuals appear older than they are and that failing to floss can have long-term consequences, msnbc reports.
Poor dental hygiene could lead to gum disease, which if severe enough may damage the jaw bone and alter a person’s appearance, California dentist Dr Donald Clem warned.
He added that lips and cheeks look caved in and wrinkles become more prominent around the mouth.
Dr Eugene Antenucci furthered this theory, stating: “You register an older look because you see more spaces, less and uneven gum tissue.”
Oral health expert Dr Laura Torrado said that even if people attempt to have dental implants to correct the problem, the bone could be too extensively damaged for them to have a realistic affect.
Smokers were recently cautioned against the habit after it was revealed by WorlDental magazine that it could increase the risk of tooth loss.