To be able to smile confidently is one of life’s simplest pleasures. Showing your bright smile to anyone reveals that you are happy and fulfilled inside, and when you do that, you’re sharing a part of yourself with the world.
Sadly, about 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from poor oral health, which affects their daily lives. And the primary problem people have is tooth decay which can be due to several factors, including smoking, alcohol, sugar consumption, poor oral hygiene, and other commercial and social reasons.
Taking care of your dental health is critical to having better overall health. Not many people know that neglecting this body part can lead to debilitating diseases. And not only that, they could look at potential sky-high costs of restorative oral health situations down the road.
Suppose you don’t invest in your dental health; in that case, you could be looking at the possibility of gum diseases, discolored and misaligned teeth, and loss of teeth that may need to be replaced with regular dentures or flexible dentures.
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At the earliest time, kids are taught to care for their oral health, which should be consistent until they grow up. But if you tread a different path and neglect your teeth growing up, it might not be too late to invest more in caring for your dental health. This is extremely important because investing in your dental health will give you not just a bright and sparkly smile; it could also give you the following:
1. Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem
There is something about being able to face many people to speak confidently in public. It’s a symbol of self-assurance, conviction, and optimism. And a good set of pearly whites can allow you to do that. If you can smile confidently and face people with determination, you’ll feel like you can take over the world and conquer anything. You’ll feel as if nothing can ever stop you from achieving what you want.
2. Prevent Heart Disease
Neglecting your dental health can lead to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. These diseases infect the gums, and the bacteria from the infection will travel to blood vessels in the body that may cause inflammation and blockage, resulting in blood clots and heart attacks.
3. Enhanced Mental And Emotional Health
People with a bad case of teeth formation or those who may have lost their teeth due to decay and damage can be the target of bullies. In this world, some people still don’t value the feelings and emotions of others and will taunt and ridicule them for their appearance.
Those who are the target of bullies can feel disconnected from the world and would prefer to stay home and be a recluse than go out and mingle with others. Eventually, these people may suffer from anxiety and depression, which affects their mental and emotional health. Having good dental health can help one avoid tooth loss and damage such as tooth decay.
4. Prevent Further Damage
If you invest in your dental health, you can prevent further damage to your teeth. As simple as flossing and brushing three times a day can reap many benefits for your teeth and gums. Food particles can get stuck between your teeth and won’t be removed by just brushing, so flossing is necessary.
If not taken out, these food particles will lead to plaque and eventually infect your gums. Infected gums can bleed, recede and lead to tooth and bone loss. It will also make your breath stink, another reason to shy away from crowds.
5. Ensure Comfort And Prevent Pain
Investing in your dental health can give your mouth comfort and prevent pain from occurring. Damaged teeth can be painful and, if not taken out, may affect neighboring teeth resulting in loss of teeth and the need to have dentures.
Some people have irregular growth of teeth, and if not addressed, this can cause discomfort and pain in your mouth. An impacted wisdom tooth, for instance, can be excruciatingly painful, so managing it the soonest will prevent the pain from escalating further. Neglecting impacted teeth can cause inflammation, gum disease, infection, and nerve damage.
6. Further Your Career
Talented and highly skilled people with dental issues may experience career setbacks. It could stem from discrimination or their lack of belief in their capabilities because their oral health affects them deep inside.
A great set of pearly whites can set one on a successful path towards achieving their career goals. There’s a different kind of power and faith in oneself when one is confident to conquer challenges with a poised and bright smile.
7. Prevent Future Sky-High Costs
Restorative and cosmetic oral procedures are typically not covered by health insurance, and their costs are not a laughing matter. Health insurance only covers a twice-a-year dental exam, a few dental fillings, and dental extractions. Not all dental appliances may be included on your health insurance coverage. Veneers, crowns, and implants are not covered, so if you need these, be ready to pull money out of your pocket.
Conclusion
Your parents have been bugging you since you were a child to brush your teeth, and typical of kids, you would sometimes ignore it because you want to play your games more. But now that you’re older, you realize your parents were right, and if you didn’t listen, you probably would face the consequences like diminished self-esteem and cardiovascular disease.
Dental health is linked to overall general wellness. Paying close attention to it and attending to problems should be a priority.
