Taking steps to improve the appearance of your smile can have a much greater impact on your life than you know. In fact, several studies conducted over the past few years have shown that having an attractive smile actually boosts a person’s self-esteem and generally makes them happier and more confident about their place in the world. Good oral health also seems to encourage people to take better care of themselves, which leads to better overall health.
These studies have also shown that the opposite is true: people with unattractive smiles typically have much less self-confidence. In fact, people who are embarrassed or ashamed of their smiles often have a much higher level of stress and anxiety than people with nice smiles. But that’s only part of the story. Research has found that people with poor oral health are usually less healthy overall as well.
Smiling is Good Medicine
If you have a beautiful smile, you’ll be much more likely to share it with the world and to smile more often. As it turns out, that can be good medicine since the physical act of smiling actually releases endorphins that help to elevate your mood and boost your immune system. Even smiling when you don’t feel like smiling can make you feel happier and healthier!
The bad news is that people with less-than-attractive smiles have a tendency to smile much less. This means that they’re missing out on all those helpful endorphins.
Smiling Affects How Other People See You
Flashing a beautiful smile not only changes the way you feel about yourself, it also affects how other people see you. Studies show that people who smile a lot are perceived as being more trustworthy, more open and more approachable. People with beautiful smiles are often considered to be more honest and generally more appealing individuals than those who don’t.
How Regular Trips to the Dentist Can Help
If you’re avoiding going to the dentist on a regular basis for oral exams and professional cleanings, you’re much more likely to have oral health issues such as cavities and gum disease. Those problems negatively affect the appearance of your smile, and that in turn has a negative impact on your self-esteem, self-confidence, and overall level of happiness in life. It’s also important to remember that people with poor oral health are much more prone to experience more serious health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, for example. So don’t deprive yourself of all the benefits a beautiful smile can bring to your life. Ask your dentist how you can improve your oral health and, quite possibly, your quality of life at the same time!
