A healthy smile is a beautiful smile & A beautiful smile is a healthy smile
By Negar Tehrani
It is well known that there is a direct relationship between oral health and general health. Many studies demonstrate a direct relationship between Periodontal (Gum) disease and health-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes and insulin resistance, adverse pregnancy and neurodegenerative disease. Prevention against and treatment for these diseases can start from your mouth.
Let’s explore how the inflammation of gums can be correlated to cardiovascular events. Acute inflammation — which involves an outpouring of immune cells that attack irritants and microbial invaders — fosters healing over a short period. But long-term (chronic) inflammation is a key contributor to many health problems, especially atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Scientific studies have proven that chronic, low-grade inflammation can be a silent killer, contributing to cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis (periodontal disease). The gums lose attachment around the root of the tooth, creating a gum pocket that gradually deepens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation can cause bone loss around the teeth resulting in loosening of the teeth.
Any of following signs can indicate that you have periodontal disease:
- Swollen, red or tender gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Bad breath
- Buildup of hard brown deposits along the gum line
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Changes to the way dental appliances fit
It is very important to have a routine cleaning and check up to attain healthy gums.
There’s more to having a healthy and beautiful smile than mere disease prevention. Healthy mouth increases our general health and wellbeing, but it also has socioemotional implications.
A beautiful smile builds personal confidence. For example, when we know our teeth are beautiful and healthy, we are not afraid to smile.
You may have heard the eyes are the window to the soul, but I say the smile is the window to the soul. Why?
Isn’t it true that we tend to trust a person who is not afraid to flash a smile our way? This is true for both personal and professional relationships. A poll of 5,000 men and women, according to Match.com, found that a beautiful smile was the top attractive quality. In addition, the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) reports that 95% of adults believe a beautiful smile makes a person more appealing to the opposite sex.
A beautiful smile is important in personal relationships, but it also builds trust in professional settings. Whether you are interviewing to get a job or to gain an edge in your career, a smile will lay the foundation.
In a survey conducted by AACD, 74% of adults believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances of having a successful career and earning power. So far, we established that an attractive smile equates to better potential in meeting a special someone, attaining a more successful career and earning more! This information also corroborated research from University of California reporting people with attractive smiles have the potential of earning 12% more compared to the others.
They say age is a number, but we all try to beat this number by staying in good shape. We watch our weight, color our hair, take care of our skin and watch what we put in our body. One underrated part of the question is your teeth! Oral B research concluded that having white teeth makes you look an average of five years younger while increasing your attractiveness by 20%.
Finally, a beautiful set of teeth showing through your smile makes you memorable. According to a study by Kelton Global, 29% of Americans say that a person’s teeth are the first thing they noticed when meeting someone for the first time, and nearly 24% say that a smile is the thing they remember after meeting someone for the first time. Who can forget that smile?
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED IMPROVING YOUR SMILE?
Research shows a correlation between beautiful smiles and particular advantages that may contribute to personal and professional success. Your smile may have more power than you realize. To see how Aura Dentistry can help you through long-lasting cosmetic solutions, please contact our office at (703)-748-1900.
