Can having poor dental health have an impact on your psychological wellbeing?
According to Robert Anders of Rockefeller Center Orthodontics the answer is ‘Yes’. However, as Dr Anders points out repairing your teeth also improves your mental health.
We all know that poor dental health can affect your overall general health, but it has now been found that it can also affect your mental well-being.
Just think about it.
Your mouth is frequently the focus in social situations. When you smile, laugh, eat or drink, or just chat your mouth is often the centre of attention so it makes sense that if you are self – conscious about your teeth you will feel uncomfortable or embarrassed and this can trigger psychological problems like anxiety, low self esteem or even depression.
It’s easy to see how this could happen. The first thing we do when we meet someone is smile and say hello. If you have poor teeth you may avoid smiling and come across as unfriendly or aloof. You might even think that people are making judgements about you based on the state of your teeth. This can easily develop into a cycle where you avoid social contact or become self critical.
The good news is that improving your dental health can contribute to better self esteem, more confidence and improved psychological health.
So get serious about dental health. It will improve not only your teeth but your mental health as well!
Taken from an article by Robert Anders for the Public Health Bugle. For the full article see:
http://publichealthbugle.com/2012/07/smile/
Having read this post do you want to take action and get your dental health up to scratch? Here at Lasting Impressions Dental we are here to help you! If you need help with restoring or creating a great smile, restructuring damaged teeth or ensuring your teeth and gums are healthy, you will find a range of restorative, cosmetic and prosthodontic services available at Lasting Impressions Dental. All you have to do is call us at our Canberra City practice and our friendly staff will be happy to help you with any concerns you may have.
Dr Davies and Dr Truong are here to help so call Lasting Impressions Dental today on 6249 8383