If you look at yourself and compare yourself to other people your age, do you think you look older than them? Do people always guess you’re older than your biological age? If you answered yes to either of those questions, there might be a few factors or habits in your life contributing to your premature aging.

beautiful young woman looking in the mirror, smiling

1. Poor Posture

Sitting at a desk all day every day for the majority of your life may have caused you to start slouching both at your desk and when you stand up. Poor posture can cause you to look heavier than your actual body weight and also cause you to look significantly older. To shave years off your appearance, practice standing up straight. Practicing yoga regularly can help you fix your posture. There are also lots of products available to remind you to sit up straight. Simply fixing your posture can help you look years younger.

2. Skimping on Sleep

It’s always stressed for children to get their recommended amount of sleep every night but rarely do adults apply the same pressure on themselves. The less sleep you get, the less your body will restore its energy every night. Lack of sleep can cause you to age faster. Make sure you get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. If you’re still feeling tired after getting the right amount of sleep, you should get tested for a sleep disorder to rule out sleep apnea.

3. Not Moisturizing or Using Sunscreen

There’s a reason there are so many anti-aging creams and lotions on the market. Moisturizing is an essential part of preventing premature aging. Keeping your skin hydrated with lotions that contain hyaluronic acid can help prevent the appearance of fine lines. It’s also just as important not to skip wearing sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure. Sun damage can expedite aging significantly. Try to find a moisturizer that contains SPF 30 or higher to wear daily.

4. Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Drinking a few glasses of wine might have been your daily ritual to unwind, but drinking too much alcohol can cause premature aging and also increase your risk of oral cancer. Drinking alcohol before bed can interrupt the REM cycle and cause dehydration which can make your skin look dry. Alcohol can also affect your body’s ability to synthesize collagen. Collagen is what helps your skin maintain elasticity and when your body can’t effectively absorb it, you’re more prone to sagging skin and wrinkles.

5. Not Flossing

Your teeth are one of the first physical features to start showing signs of aging. As you age, your teeth can become worn, stained, and discolored. You may also experience physical damage and receding gums. Flossing regularly will help you prevent gum disease, tooth loss, and stains. Make sure not to skip bi-annual appointments with your dentist to maintain your oral health.

6. Smoking

Smoking cigarettes doesn’t just increase your risk of heart disease, lung and oral cancer, and harm your teeth, it can also cause premature wrinkles and skin damage. Quit smoking if you care about turning back the clock on your appearance and overall health.

7. Wearing the Wrong Size

Wearing clothes that are too big or too small for your body, can cause you to look older. Make sure to buy clothes that fit you correctly and complement your shape. You should also try to dress appropriately for your age—or a little bit younger than your age if possible. If you’re 50 years old, don’t dress like a 70-year-old.

8. Not Exercising Regularly

Exercise is important for your heart health, stress relief, mental health, and so much more. Regular exercise boosts circulation which helps skin look younger. It also increases muscle tone to prevent sagging skin.

9. Drinking Too Much Coffee

A cup of joe in the morning might help you wake up, but if you’re drinking too much of it, it can lead to premature aging. Coffee leads to dehydration which can affect your skin, and it can also stain your teeth which can make you look older.

10. Wearing Old or Low-Quality Dentures

If you wear dentures that are the wrong shape for your face or slip and slide around in your mouth, they might make you look much older than you actually are. It’s also common for traditional dentures to not support your facial features which can cause premature aging in the face. With FOY® Dentures, you can get dentures made with high-quality materials that are custom designed to complement your appearance. Best of all, they use neuromuscular dentistry techniques to add more support to your facial features to literally turn back the clock on your age.

11. No Dental Implants

Upgrading your dentures to FOY® Dentures is a good start, but supporting those dentures with dental implants is an even better upgrade. Dental implants prevent jaw bone loss which is one of the top causes of premature aging with missing teeth. Not only will dental implants help you look younger, but they will better support your replacement teeth to improve your quality of life.

Look Younger With Help From Implant Dentures in Columbia, SC

If you would like to shave years off your appearance, start with the first thing people notice about you—your smile. Find out if implant dentures in Columbia, SC are right for you. Contact Smile Columbia at (803) 781-9090 to book an appointment today.