Trying to decide if fixing your teeth is worth the investment? Let us count the ways!
Improving your smile through cosmetic dental treatments will obviously make you feel better about your appearance — but the benefits don’t stop there. Pretty teeth can also improve your life in some unexpected ways.
The connection between beautiful teeth and healthy teeth
Think of your teeth like the exterior of your home. If it has warped siding, chipped shingles, peeling paint, and broken windows, it makes your entire home look run down and unattractive.
But it’s problematic in other ways, too. It makes your entire home susceptible to problems like leaks, pest and rodent infestations, rot, mold, and foundation issues.
It’s the same with your teeth.
Chipped teeth, a crooked bite, missing teeth, dark cavities, and red, swollen gums… all these things (and more) change the appearance of your smile. But they’re also a big problem for your oral health.
- Chips and cracks – Increase your chances of decay and tooth loss
- Crooked teeth – Can lease to gum disease, cavities, uneven teeth, TMJ pain, and difficulty chewing
- Missing teeth – Leads to misalignment of remaining and neighboring teeth, causes bone loss in your jaw, tooth decay, and disease in nearby teeth
- Cavities – Can progress to the inner layers of your tooth, leading to painful toothaches and dangerous infections
- Swollen gums – Could be a sign of gum disease, leading to chronic bad breath, gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and tooth loss
The appearance of your smile is a reflection of your dental health.
How dental health affects overall health
Your mouth is like a window to your health. And this window offers a squeaky clean, fully transparent view into what’s going on with your health at all times. Whole-body health issues (and 90% of all system diseases) have symptoms in your mouth, and problems in your mouth can affect your whole-body health.
Let’s look at some examples.
Symptoms of systemic diseases
- Gum disease – Can be a sign of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or asthma
- Bone loss/tooth loss – Is linked with osteoporosis, increased risk of cardiovascular problems
- Sores & growths – Can be a sign of oral cancer
- A thick lining in the mouth – Could signal oral cancer
- Lesions – Can be a sign of cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetes
Whole-body effects of poor oral health
- Heart disease – Over 90% of those with heart disease also have gum disease
- Heart attack & stroke – Inflammation in the mouth (from gum disease, decay, and other issues) may increase inflammation in the blood vessels
- Diabetes – Inflammation in the mouth affects the insulin in your body, making diabetes very difficult to manage
- Pregnancy complications – Gum disease during pregnancy has been linked to complications like premature birth and low birth weight
- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease – New research has linked poor oral health to these debilitating neurological conditions
Let’s recap!
- Unattractive teeth can lead to dental health problems.
- Dental health problems can cause whole-body health problems.
- And your whole body health can cause problems for your teeth.
It’s a vicious cycle!
Taking control of the appearance of your smile isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” Beautiful teeth are good for your smile and for your health. It’s worth it; For your whole body and mind!
Lifestyle benefits of a beautiful smile
Having a smile you don’t like can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. When you feel embarrassed about the appearance of your teeth, you might feel the need to hide your smile. This simple effect alone can have a negative impact on your life.
Conversely, when you love your smile and aren’t afraid to share it, you’ll experience a number of positive benefits in your life.
Improved confidence & self esteem
A person’s mouth is often the first thing others notice when meeting someone new. In fact, over 30% of Americans say the first aspect of a person’s face they notice are their teeth.
Having beautiful, healthy teeth will help take away any fear of being judged based solely on your appearance and improve your self esteem. Appearances are, of course, secondary to who you are as a person. But with healthy, gorgeous teeth, you’ll feel more attractive, which in turn will help you be more confident. That’s where we come in. We can help you achieve your goals for a beautiful, attractive smile that will make you feel proud to show off your teeth instead of hiding them because of embarrassment.
With your new smile, you won’t be scared or ashamed of face-to-face interactions, photographers, or public appearances.
A more youthful appearance
Smiling is Mother Nature’s way of giving you a more youthful appearance. When you smile, it pulls facial muscles upward, lifting sagging areas. It’s an instant face lift and the fastest way to make you look younger and more energetic.
More positive relationships (at home and at work)
When you have beautiful teeth, you’ll smile more — and smiles are contagious! Like the Louis Armstrong song says, “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.”
Smiling projects warmth and friendliness and is a great way to forge better relationships — both with family and friends and in the workplace. Just think about the last time someone greeted you with a big, genuine smile. How did it make you feel? What sort of impression did it leave on you? And what was your response?
Studies show people who have a healthy and attractive smile are perceived to be easier to approach, more successful, intelligent, and trustworthy. They’re also more likely to be promoted at work.
Happier and more positive mood
Studies boosts your mood. When you smile, your body releases serotonin and other feel-good chemicals like endorphins. You’ll feel happy and relaxed and help those around you to feel the same.
Armed with a gorgeous smile, you’ll feel free to speak and laugh without holding back. You’ll enjoy the increased happiness that comes with it!
The health benefits of smiling
There are also some important health benefits to smiling more, including even…living longer? See for yourself:
- Lower blood pressure – Smiling causes an increase in heart rate, followed by a period of muscle relaxation and a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. This can actually help reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
- Stress relief – Since smiling helps lower your heart rate, it can also help your body deal with stressful situations more effectively.
- Stronger immune system – Smiling signals molecules in your brain to fight illnesses.
- Pain relief – Smiling and laughing causes your body to release its own natural painkillers. It also creates higher pain tolerance.
- Longer life – One study linked smiling and positive emotions with increased life spans!
Improve your smile (and dental health) at Union Dental Center
If you’re wondering how to get better teeth, it all starts with a relaxing and collaborative appointment at our compassionate dentist office.
When we work together, achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is easy. We offer high-tech cosmetic treatments to fix your teeth and, more importantly, improve your life, including:
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Implants
- Crowns
- Fillings
- Bonding
- Bridges
Together, we’ll help your smile shine as bright and beautiful as your personality. Let’s talk.
