Teeth – plain and simple right? Not so much. There are many surprising facts about your teeth affecting your look, how you feel, and your overall oral health.
1. Genetic Smile
Genetics play a big role in your life from your emotions to your physique, even your cheesy grin is partially determined by your genes. Your mom or dad might have a crooked grin, limited space in their mouth or a gap tooth. Your smile is likely to mimic one or a combination of both your parents because genetics often affects how your teeth grow in.
2. Less Space with Age
As you grow older, your jaws get shorter creating less room for your wisdom teeth to grow. This is why you may have to get your wisdom teeth extracted. The extra space will allow for your other teeth to have more space to grow in straight. If you are lucky, you could be born without wisdom teeth and avoid the worry about when and how they will grow in. Your dentist can answer any questions you have about your wisdom teeth. An assessment of your oral health and jaw structure will be made to determine if you should keep your wisdom teeth or have them extracted.
3. A Bad Habit Breaks Teeth
Do you chew your nails? It’s best to stay away from this bad habit because it harms your teeth. Chewing on your nails causes your teeth to hit other teeth in the process, forcing unnecessary friction. How does this negatively affect your teeth? The clash of teeth is like grinding and can cause chips on your teeth in the process. Chipped teeth can make it harder to eat because of the uneven surface. Your dentist can provide you with suggestions on how to avoid biting your nails and grinding your teeth.
4. Overall Health
Are you diabetic? Do you have heart disease or have encountered strokes? You might be at risk for negative oral health. Why? Overall health affects oral health and this is why it is important to take care of your body, so you can keep your oral cavity in good condition. Some studies have shown gum disease to be a contributing factor to increased blood pressure. A happy body means a happy mouth, so it is extremely important to visit your dentist to help prevent gingivitis. If you have a serious health issue, speak to your dentist about providing the best solutions for your situation.
5. A Smile Heals All
Smile! Smiling releases endorphins positively affecting your mind and body. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you and a great healthy smile leaves a good impression. Keep brushing and flossing your teeth because the more you take care of your oral cavity, the more reason you have to smile.
Keep your teeth in great shape by visiting your dentist regularly. Your overall health depends on a clean bright smile!