I’m a celebrity dentist to Cher, Ben Affleck and Kate Hudson – 5 bad habits yellowing your teeth & making you look older
HOLLYWOOD'S dentist-to-the-stars is responsible for the smiles of such celebrities as Kate Hudson, Cher, and Renee Zellweger.
Now tells The Sun which mistakes could be yellowing your teeth, and what he tells patients – who also include Matt Damon and Ben Affleck – what to do for brighter pearly whites.
"Whiter teeth are considered more youthful, they look cleaner, and they are certainly considered more attractive," says Dr. Marashi, whose patients also include Patrick Dempsey, Ryan Seacrest, and Austin Butler.
"All you have to do is look at the difference between a kid's smile and an aged adult's smile and you will see the difference. A child will almost always have clean white teeth, whereas someone much older oftentimes has more yellow, aged, or deteriorated teeth.
"A white tooth today is a sign of health and youthfulness, and attractiveness has come into play as well."
If you're not happy with the color of your teeth, Dr. Marashi says you may want to break one or more of these bad habits.
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GENERAL NEGLECT
You've heard your dentist say it a million times, but that's because it's true: If you don't take basic care of your teeth, you're facing not only cavities but a yellower smile.
Dr. Marashi says not brushing or flossing – or not doing either often enough – will be visible on your teeth, but sticking to a steady brush and floss routine will keep them white.
"It’s not a sexy recipe, but there is NO substitute for it," says the pro.
For toothpaste, he especially likes the no-preservative brand Hello and uses it on his own teeth.
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SKIPPING CLEANINGS
Many kids are thrilled to show off their shiny smiles after a trip to the dentist, but adults can be bad about keeping their twice-a-year appointments.
Some might think they're taking good enough care of their teeth and don't need the checkup – but they're wrong.
"No matter how good you are on your own, there are still certain residues that can get stuck in the crevices of your teeth and gums that build up over time," says Dr. Marashi.
"The build-up can also leave a film layer over the teeth that causes discoloration," he adds, urging people not to have extended or long intervals between professional teeth cleanings.
BAD DIET
"What kinds of foods and beverages are you consuming?" asks Dr. Marashi, noting that some can yellow your teeth.
"For beverages, it’s the obvious: coffee, tea, red wine, and heavily-colored or syrupy types of liquids.
"With food, once again it comes down to debris and residue being stuck on the teeth. There is a reason sugar gets such a bad rap — it easily sticks on the teeth and becomes a feeding ground for bacteria.
"Yellow curry spices, while not quite as sticky, do contain pigments that can stain the surface and leave a yellow tone," warns the expert, who has treated Martin Short, Kurt Russell, and Joaquin Phoenix.
SMOKING
If the increased risk of cancer isn't enough to get you to put down the cigarettes, maybe vanity will do the trick.
"Nicotine is terrible for your teeth (and your health) and can leave yellowish-brown surface stains on the tooth enamel," says Dr. Marashi.
NOT TREATING YOUR TEETH LIKE YOUR SKIN
"The skincare industry has done an incredible job with getting people to jump on board with a skincare routine that is done without fail," says Dr. Marashi.
"They wash, they scrub, they moisturize, they dry, they put on a mask, they do all of this stuff. Even my 14-year-old daughter has a skincare routine now.
"If people spent a fraction of that time on their oral health, there would be a lot fewer cavities and a lot more brighter teeth."
With people so good about sticking to skincare routines to look younger and more attractive, it makes sense that they should want to put the same effort into their teeth.
AND FOR AN EXTRA BOOST...
Sticking to all of the tips above should keep your smile healthy and bright, but if the damage is already done, says teeth whitening can help.
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Home kits like strips are fine, but Dr. Marashi says that "professional in-office teeth whitening under the supervision of a trained cosmetic dentist will always yield a better result than any over-the-counter product."
He explained: "We use a special type of peroxide gel that is carefully painted onto the teeth, while the lips and gums are protected, leaving a brighter, whiter smile!"