While some things are on hold lately, there are many things we can still work on. One of the most important of these is self-esteem.
Self-esteem is crucial to us living happy lives. And good self-esteem helps us make better decisions and reach our full potential. It helps us realize that we’re worthy of the best possible outcomes, a mindset that plays into our school, work, and personal success.
There are many different ways to build self-esteem…staying active, doing the things we love, and our personal favorite, having a warm, welcoming smile you want to share.
Here’s why having straight, clean teeth and healthy gums can help you take your self-esteem to the next level.
A Healthy Smile Means a Healthier Body
Sure, a healthy smile can’t help you hit your weight goal. But it can be an important step in maintaining your overall health.
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean, as they leave for less hard-to-reach areas your toothbrush can’t quite get to. And clean teeth and gums are an important part of preventing disease.
Harmful bacteria that build up in the mouth cause gum infections and tooth decay. When left untreated, the bacteria on your teeth and gums can reach beyond your mouth and travel into your bloodstream, creating a plaque build-up in the arteries. This can put you at risk of diabetes or heart disease.
Why risk your long-term health when you can prevent these diseases with a consistent oral hygiene routine and the support of your dentist and orthodontist?
It’s not just clean teeth that can help your overall oral health. Straight teeth can also help you chew your food more thoroughly. Chewing your food properly can help ease the digestion process, helping you feel less bloated and more energized.
A Healthy Smile Means Good Breath
Have you ever put on your mask, caught a whiff of your own breath and thought “good thing I’ll be wearing this for a while”?
Bad breath certainly doesn’t help with your self-esteem. Clean, fresh breath is a confidence booster that allows you to speak freely without second guessing yourself.
Bad breath is caused by a couple things, the main one being a build-up of bacteria caused by not brushing enough, the remnants of odorous foods (like garlic), and smoking.
While you may think a quick mouthwash or 30 second tooth-brushing can cut it, that’s not really the case.
Mouthwash is a very temporary fix for bad breath. On its own, mouthwash doesn’t properly clean all the areas of the mouth where bacteria can linger — and neither does a quick swipe of the teeth with your toothbrush.
To effectively eliminate bad breath, you need to make sure to brush twice a day for 2 minutes each time, floss once a day, and THEN use mouthwash for a little extra “oomph.”
A Healthy Smile Helps You Connect with Others
Forming positive relationships has been proven in many studies to help us build self-esteem — whether that be with friends, a romantic partner, family, or even a stranger at the bus stop. Connection with others helps us build confidence and feel a deeper sense of meaning in our lives.
The hack for instant connection? An authentic smile.
Smiling makes people instinctually drawn to us. It shows we’re approachable, happy, and open to being friends.
A smile is also contagious. Seeing someone else smile triggers a similar response in our own facial muscles, activating our reward system and increasing happiness chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. Who doesn’t want to be around someone who makes them smile?
When your teeth are clean and straight, you’re likely to show it off a lot more. And with braces or Invisalign through Premier Orthodontics, you’ll be able to achieve that smile upgrade quickly, comfortably, and affordably.
A Healthy Smile Helps You Enjoy Self Care
Our brains are wired to crave rewards. So when it comes to building healthy routines, it’s important to reinforce consistency through rewards.
What’s more rewarding after taking care of your oral health than having a bright, shining smile to show off?
Knowing your teeth are both keeping you healthy and helping you attract new friends not only builds your self-esteem, but it makes you want to continue to improve your health in other ways.
Reaping the rewards of good oral hygiene and orthodontic work can help motivate you to continue those other self-care regimens you’ve been putting off. You might even dig those jogging shoes out of the back of your closet!
Self-care requires some extra help sometimes, and it’s great to know people are on your team!
How Premier Orthodontics Can Help
While having a good oral hygiene routine is a great start to building self-esteem, when it comes to alignment and other issues you might not be spotting, it’s time to call in the help of your orthodontist.
Premier Orthodontics can help guide you toward exactly what you need to achieve straight, healthy teeth. Our services include:
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- Traditional metal and clear braces
- Invisalign and other clear aligners
- Early orthodontic care for young patients
- Dentofacial orthopedics, which addresses any abnormalities in your jaw and teeth
- Oral surgery
- And more!
Contact us for a free consultation to help you decide which services you should consider >