It has long been said that dentists can tell a lot about your overall physical health as well as your oral health by caring for your gums and teeth. So it follows then that proper oral hygiene habits will benefit you by helping you maintain your health. Not surprisingly, there are certain health benefits that cosmetic dentistry provides health wise. However, cosmetic dental procedures can have some social benefits as well. Here is a quick look at these health and social benefits.

Health Benefits

The intention of cosmetic dentistry is to improve a person’s appearance by restoring their smile. However, any cosmetic dentist in St. Louis will tell you that it’s not just about aesthetics. It also has a lot to do with keeping your gums and teeth as healthy as possible. For instance, once you realize the advantages of having your teeth reshaped, straightened, and whitened, it will naturally motivate you to focus more on your dental hygiene and oral health in general. And with a dazzling beautiful smile, your confidence will be upped a few notches automatically.

People have been known to change their drinking and eating habits in order to preserve the appearance of their teeth. So they avoid drinking sugary beverages, eating junk foods, and smoking tobacco in order to improve their physical health and prevent their teeth from getting discolored or stained. Another example is the person with crooked teeth. When their teeth are crooked, they are misaligned. This results in a bite that’s imbalanced. Consequently, they begin to develop chronic headaches and migraines due to the stress on the jaw muscles.

Social Benefits

You can easily have the smile you’ve always wanted thanks to your cosmetic dentist and the procedures they offer. Having a bright smile and perfect looking teeth will make you feel better about your appearance which in turn can benefit you socially by improving your self-confidence and self-esteem. You may find yourself much more extroverted or outgoing than ever before. Most important, when you have a perfect smile, you will attract positivity and possibly brighten someone else’s day.

In addition to the above, when you have your smile restored, you’ll see a difference in the way people behave around you and look at you. According to the American Journal of Social Psychology, behavioral studies have shown how attractive individuals with bright, perfect smiles fare a lot better in employment interviews. Furthermore, they have a considerably better advantage over others in certain social situations.

If you are embarrassed by your smile and unhappy with your appearance as a result, a St. Louis cosmetic dentist can provide a number of treatment options and procedures that could be life-changing. Granted, cosmetic dentistry is not cheap. However, when you see the benefits that it offers health wise and socially, you’ll quickly realize the great return on the investment you have made in your smile.