As you age, it is only natural that wrinkles will form on your face. After all, the average person can make over 20 facial expressions. And if research shows that adults smile 20 times per day, then just imagine how many facial expressions in total you make per day! It is inevitable that wrinkles will form, especially if you don't drink enough water, smoke and consume alcohol regularly, all of which dehydrate your skin.

However, did you know that how you use and treat your teeth has a direct affect on facial wrinkles?

Here are 4 ways that you may be inadvertently causing more wrinkles to form on your face.

Chewing Gum Frequently Causes Wrinkles

This will probably surprise a lot of people as chewing gum is actually good for your teeth as long as you stick to sugar-free, xylitol gum, which promotes saliva production and can strengthen teeth.

However, the amount of time you spend chewing gum is what causes wrinkles, according to several experts. When you chew gum, your mouth is forced into all kinds of shapes; putting the muscles to work and creating folds in the skin that were not there before. With repetition, these folds become wrinkles.

If you cut down on chewing gum, the wrinkles may soften and disappear altogether.

Eating Too much Sugar Leads to Wrinkles

Sugar molecules damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, those two elements that are responsible for keeping your skin firm. When you consume too much sugar, your skin loses its ability to snap back into place after a fold is created by a facial expression or movement, such as that created when chewing gum.

Cut down on sugar and you should decrease the rate at which wrinkles form.

Smoking Causes Wrinkles

It is well known that smoking causes aging and wrinkles. It does this by restricting the flow of blood to your skin. This deprives your skin cells of the necessary nutrients and oxygen which in turn dries out your skin and reduces the effectiveness of elastin and collagen leading to wrinkles.

Failing to Replace Missing Teeth also Leads to Wrinkles

All of the above habits have an effect on your teeth too. For instance, smoking reduces blood flow to your gums, and chewing sugary gum feeds the bacteria that erode the enamel of your teeth. Eventually, you may lose teeth, and when this happens, if you don't replace those lost teeth, wrinkles may form. This is because your teeth and the bone that surround them support your facial muscles and skin. Losing teeth then, will cause your face to sag and may even shorten the distance between your nose and chin over time.

If you want to look young for as long as possible, you can do so by taking care of your oral health. Even if you do the habits mentioned in this article, cutting down on them will make a considerable difference. Your teeth and gums will be in better shape, which will ensure that your muscles and skin are adequately supported reducing wrinkles and giving you a more youthful appearance.

 However, if you are unhappy with the wrinkles around your mouth, eyes and forehead, talk to your dentist about cosmetic dentistry. As well cosmetic procedures to make your smile more appealing, you can also use wrinkle relaxers to reduce wrinkles.

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