As with all things, it’s often only in hindsight that we realise how important something is, and this applies to dental health as well. However, there are many benefits of good dental health that you might not know about — and if you take care of your teeth now, in your 20s or 30s or 40s, you’ll enjoy them more in your 50s and 60s and beyond.
7 Benefits of Good Dental Health You Might Not Know About
1) Keep your teeth for life
Good dental health can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. It can help prevent gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It can help you avoid cavities and bad breath. Overall, this ensures that your teeth are at their best during the entirety of your life and that you avoid having to get fake teeth when you are older.
2) Better overall health
Good dental health isn’t just about having a great smile. It’s also linked to better overall health. In fact, studies have shown that people with poor oral health are more likely to develop certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
3) Save yourself from pain and expensive procedures
By taking care of your teeth and gums, you can avoid painful cavities and gum disease. And since dental procedures can be expensive, it’s best to take preventive measures to avoid them altogether. As long as you are maintaining your oral health regularly you are not going to have to go to the dentist ever so often. Some treatments can be incredibly long-term and expensive, this can result in a bad financial situation as well as loss of time. Not to mention, you might have restrictive diets when you get some of these treatments. Take preventative measures such as brushing your teeth every day and flossing and using a teeth whitening kit so you can avoid having those big dental bills. Moreover, with so many links between oral diseases and other conditions (including cardiovascular conditions), preventing oral diseases could potentially save lives as well.
4) Smile with confidence
When you have good dental health, you can smile with confidence. No more hiding your teeth or feeling self-conscious about yellowing, stained, or missing teeth. Plus, good dental health has been linked with overall good health, so you can feel your best both physically and mentally. With this in mind, it’s important to know that there are many different ways to maintain a healthy mouth. One way is by eating an oral hygiene friendly diet. For example, milk thistle extract helps protect the liver from toxins that cause tooth decay, such as sugar and alcohol. A nutritious diet provides all the vitamins needed for strong teeth and gums such as iron (for blood) and calcium (for bones).
5) Say goodbye to bad breath
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be a real turn-off. Not only is it embarrassing, but it can also be a sign of poor dental health. By taking care of your teeth and gums, you can help prevent bad breath. Here are some tips for keeping those pearly whites clean:
- Brush twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride to prevent tooth decay
- Floss daily to remove food particles from between the teeth
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol because they lead to plaque buildup on the teeth
- Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup
6) Enjoy food more
When you have good dental health, you’re able to enjoy all the foods you love without pain or sensitivity. Chewing is also more enjoyable, and you can avoid problems like indigestion that can come from not being able to properly chew your food. Your taste buds will thank you too. It’s so easy to neglect our oral care routine when we are busy or overwhelmed, but you will thank yourself for taking out the time to maintain an oral health routine. Yes, sometimes even when something is important it just doesn’t make the list of priorities when life gets hectic. But with a little time set aside for caring for our teeth, your whole mouth stays healthier in return. Plus, who wants to go through discomfort because they waited too long?
7) Boost self-esteem
A smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s no surprise that having good dental health can boost your self-esteem. When you feel good about yourself, you’re more likely to exude confidence, which can lead to success in both your personal and professional life. If you are afraid of what other people might think, try telling yourself that it doesn’t matter what others think about your teeth as long as you know they are healthy. Healthy teeth not only help you be confident, but also make a statement about who you are.
