7 Ways a Healthy Smile Makes You Look Younger

Ever since our childhood, we were always told the importance of having a healthy smile. But did you know that one of the biggest perks of having a good set of pearly whites is that they can actually make you look younger? In this short post, we are going to share ‘7 Ways a Healthy Smile Makes You Look Younger’.That headline alone should make you smile!

1. It’s a sign of good health.

You would be surprised how many health complications can come from poor dental hygiene. When you’re teeth are in great order it’s a good sign that the rest of you is healthy. Inflammation is one of the most damaging things your body can face, often leading to heart diseases and strokes. One of the key causes for inflammation is infection through your mouth due to a buildup of bacteria. People with gum disease are 40% more likely to have a chronic condition so by taking care of your mouth you may be protecting yourself from health complication.

2. People associate smiling with youth.

A study in Germany had 150 men and women guess the ages people from over 1,000 photographs. They found that happy faces were voted as the youngest looking…2 years younger than their poker-faced counterparts! Having a healthy smile can improve your confidence causing you to use it more and show off your happy youthful side.

3. Smiling makes you less stressed

There was an interesting experiment carried out by the Wall Street Journal where individuals were tricked by holding chopsticks with their mouth in such a way it caused them to smile. The results showed that those who smiled actually had lower stress levels and were able to complete challenges more effectively. While we don’t advocate fake smiles (nor chewing on chopsticks), making more of a conscious effort to smile at people in your life can ultimately lead to a less stressed, younger looking you.

4. Stained teeth are associated with old age.

Stained teeth are caused by:

• Coffee.
• Red wine.
• Sodas.
• Tobacco.

Often in old age teeth start to yellow and lose their pearly white qualities. This combined with it’s portrayed in the media (think the evil witch in Snow White) often leads to stained teeth becoming associated with old age. You can flip the script on looking older by having a healthy smile.

5. Metallic fillings are from a bygone era.

Dental practices have changed and moved on from the old school silver metallic fillings. New treatments are available that replace gray fillings with tooth-colored replacements that blend into your smile. A mouth still sparkling in the sun (from metal and not lovely white teeth) can reveal your age, showing that you had dental work done many years ago. By having old fillings replaced you can look younger and make sure that the only people who know about your fillings are you and your dentist.

6. Smiling is good for the immune system.

When we give a great big  smile our bodies actually release endorphins. Endorphins are great because they make us feel happy but they also have been proven to strengthen the immune system which in turn keeps us healthier. Remember, a healthy you is also a younger looking you!

7. A healthy smile can lead to a good night’s sleep.

Snoring and teeth grinding are both dental issues that can be linked to sleep apnea. When an individual grinds their teeth at night time it sends signals to their brain to wake them up. This constant ‘waking up’ process can lead to some very serious complications, the least of which being exhaustion. Many professionals are beginning to see the links between sleep apnea and dental care. Who knew that a healthy smile could lead to better sleep? Sleep has been championed for many years as the ultimate way to slow down the aging process. Sleep affects pretty much every area of our life and good shut eye will lead to more energy, greater health and a younger looking version of ourselves.

Getting that healthy smile to look younger.

There are many things you can do to get that healthy smile. Like most health related steps it won’t happen overnight but often only takes a few simple everyday steps. Here are a few of our tips.

Add milk to your tea/coffee.

This is a really simple trick that can be used to enjoy your favorite hot beverages without the staining drawbacks they can have on your teeth. A little milk can change the acidity and lighten up the impact your tea or coffee has on your teeth, which in turn will brighten up your smile.

Floss.

Only 20% of Americans never floss, a simple habit which takes 2 minutes a day that can have a massive impact on your dental health. Coffee and tobacco can stick to the bacteria that forms in between your teeth really putting a real damper on your healthy smile. Start building this into your routine now to reap the benefits.

Visit your dentist.

There are lots of things you can do on your own but ultimately it’s your dentist who will be able to best advise you on what steps you can take to get that healthy smile. We recommend our clients come see us every 6 months so that we can monitor their progress, ensure no complications occur and provide any special treatment where appropriate. Over-the-counter products can produce good results but they are limited in comparison to the professional teeth-whitening service dentists can provide. It’s inexpensive, noninvasive, and fast way you can get a head start to a healthy smile.

Doug Lewis Dentistry.

We at Doug Lewis Dentistry are a cosmetic and family practice based in Birmingham, Alabama. From the state of the art procedures and equipment to our friendly, relaxed atmosphere we strive to exceed your expectations and earn your trust. If you would be interested in making use of our wide range of services please don’t hesitate to contact us today and schedule an appointment with us. You can even take an office tour before you visit! Thank you so much for reading this post! We trust that you found it useful and look forward to hearing from you soon.