Ironic that in a society where people are trying to get thinner, the one place they don’t want to lose plumpness is where it happens – the lips. Lips get thinner with age, and the desire to have fuller lips is a common one. The places people look for solutions, however, are not always the most effective. There is one thing that can change how your mouth looks in a natural and long-lasting way: cosmetic dentistry.
Why Do Lips Thin?
You produce less collagen as you age, and collagen is what supports the body’s soft tissue. Too much sun exposure can also cause collagen to break down. But even wearing lip balm or lipstick with sunscreen isn’t always enough to combat the aging issue of thinning lips (which can begin losing their volume as early as the mid-twenties!).
Loss of bone density (or loss of teeth) is also a side effect of aging, and this can make your face appear sunken in and inadequately support your lips. This is when lips begin to roll inward and, as a result, look thinner.
Unsuccessful Quick Fixes to Combat Lip Thinning
Many women choose lip plumping gloss or lipstick as a quick-fix in their first attempt to capture that lost lip fullness. The makeup market is slathered with topical potions full of hyaluronic acid and peptides that claim to stimulate collagen growth and (temporarily) enlarge lips. Many of these products work fast and show some results, but they are not long-lasting and all come with a tingling side effect that may not be all that pleasant.
In a pinch, you can attempt to draw yourself a new set of lips, but you run the risk of an overdrawn Lucille Ball lip look that’s more odd and clown-like than alluring.
The Painful Business of Injecting Fullness
Some people choose to get hyaluronic acid fillers in their cheeks and the creases that form from the edge of your nose to the corners of your lips (the nasolabial folds). This choice does create the most dramatic results, making women look a few years younger than their actual age. But they are not permanent, and some folks may not be all that keen on having needles pushed into their face on a regular basis to maintain such a look.
You can also go too far with injectables – aiming for that Angelina Jolie, Jessica Rabbit, or bee-stung look – and come out looking unnatural and unattractive.
Cosmetic Dentistry for Plumper Lips
The solution to thinning lips? Not injectables, not lip venom, but a solid foundation that will rejuvenate your smile and put some of that coveted fullness back in your lips. Through cosmetic dentistry, you can have the kind of smile you’ve always wanted – just the right amount of gum and teeth showing – with the added benefit of fuller lips and wider smile.
Porcelain veneers or Cerinate lumineers are used to cover the outside of the teeth. The veneers are customized to each person and is able to change the shape and fullness of the teeth. It’s possible to straighten teeth, cover cracks, and close spaces with veneers. By extending the teeth, porcelain veneers make lips fuller – your lips will actually sit differently on your teeth.
Once you’ve gotten your new smile, aid your own cause and be kind to your lips which, since they lack oil glands, are prone to dryness. Don’t abuse them with cold weather, lip licking, or too many hot showers. The prettier your lips, the prettier your teeth – and vice versa. Contact Dr. Ken Cirka at Philadelphia Dentistry to learn more about how cosmetic dentistry can combat the signs of aging and turn back the clock.