Oral health has multiple components that play out in a person's overall health: you have the biological aspect that affects a person's systemic health, the emotional component that affects one's self-confidence and how they perceive themselves in relation to others, and lastly, stemming from the emotional aspect, these things like one's self-perception have effects on a person's social health. The need to form relationships and interactions with others can be enhanced or diminished based on the factors listed above regarding a person's oral health.
According to the experts at Allen Dental Center, here are the two key aspects essential to maintaining good oral health:
1. A good relationship with a dentist you trust. What does this mean? Your dentist should be someone who is alongside you on your dental health journey, not just making recommendations for treatment but making it a priority for you to understand the reasons for treatment and how it benefits your long-term health.
2. Good hygiene habits and maintenance schedule. The best treatment is prevention. By educating patients about their specific dental situation and implementing a schedule for check-ups and maintenance, dentists can often stop problems before they begin. This routine results in a myriad of benefits including, less invasive procedures, financial savings for the patient, and more predictable long-term outcomes resulting in fewer trips to the dentist.
Investing in your oral health is not simply a cosmetic choice but can save one's life. Just like any other part of the human body, when one system gets out of order, it can affect the body as a whole. A lot of people are not aware that a dental infection can get out of hand and lead to life-threatening situations where the airway can be compromised. Studies have shown untreated, periodontal disease has links to heart disease and inflammation. Missing teeth not only results in an alteration to the chewing system, which can lead to dysfunction of the joint and musculature of the face but also has consequences on the appearance of the face, which in turn has consequences on the emotional aspect of a person's health again which can serve as a gateway to more unhealthy lifestyle habits due to a lack of confidence. It all works together in the body; you can't consider one system without considering the relationships it has with other systems.
Studies have shown confidence in one's smile leads to more positive social outcomes. Some include being confident in interviews, job performance, relationships, and other social situations. Unfortunately, people undervalue the impact an aesthetically pleasing smile can have. The good news is that we are in a sort of golden age for dentistry in that we have innovative technology that can allow a person to visualize what a change to their smile would look like before ever altering the tooth itself. The potential this has to offer makes things exciting, especially about the new ways we can help patients in this specific area moving forward into the future.
Investing in your smile is investing in your overall health and well-being. By prioritizing regular dental care, maintaining good oral hygiene habits, and working with trusted professionals, you can ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles and improved quality of life.
"Our professional team at Allen Dental Center genuinely cares about our patients. You can be confident you will receive the highest quality care from our knowledgeable, experienced, and gentle dentists."