June 2022

There are many benefits to showing your pearly whites. Smiling can help relieve stress, and boost your mood. While smiling can improve your mental health, it might also impact the health of your teeth and gums. If you’re not confident about your smile, Dentists On Washington offers a variety of dentistry services like teeth whitening, veneers, and other services that can help give you the smile you want.

When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins come into play too. The endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, whereas the serotonin is an antidepressant.

Smiling is a natural pain reliever

When you smile, your neurons tell your body you’re happy or excited and your body releases dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin – the neurotransmitters that make you feel great. There are many benefits to having those endorphins released, but one is that it’s a natural pain reliever. And the even better news? There are no negative side effects with this pain reliever.

It’s not just smiling that affects your mood. Some studies show that limiting frowning relieved depression in 27% of the patients studied. So, swap that frown for a smile and watch the mood-altering effects.

Furthermore, smiling can boost your immune system. When you’re more relaxed, your immune system functions more effectively. A stronger immune system can protect you from dental health issues like infections and inflammation.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Laughter increases heart rate followed by muscle relaxation. This is followed by lowering the heart rate and blood pressure which reduces the risk of developing heart disease and prevents the buildup of fat and cholesterol. It was noted that this was followed by a period of muscle relaxation, lower heart rate, and lower blood pressure.

When we are stressed, our heart rate increases and our blood pressure rises. Just like smiling through a worrying situation can help lower stress levels, smiling can also help lower blood pressure. According to Chris Norris, “smiling and laughing initially increases heart rate, then relaxes the muscle, and eventually decreases the heart rate and blood pressure.” Smiling isn’t just an expression you can wear, but a way to improve your overall health. More laughter could help reduce someone’s risk of developing heart disease!

Improves Your Mood

Smiling and laughing cause a number of physiological changes in your brain without you being consciously aware of it. For example, your brain releases endorphins, which will help you feel happier and be more positive. One study found that facial expressions, such as smiling, will improve your mood and increase positive thoughts. A study conducted by psychological scientists at the University of Kansas found that “smiling during brief stressors can help to reduce the intensity of the body’s stress response, regardless of whether a person actually feels happy.”

Smiling portrays confidence. The more you smile and the happier you are, the more self-confident you become. Smiling helps you seem more attractive, successful, and self-assured to others.

The health benefits of smiling are clearly well worth it!

It’s going to improve your well-being, give you a more positive feeling in life, and reduce the physical symptoms of stress. And you just need to flex a few facial muscles to reap the benefits.

So try to spend time with friends who make you laugh, go to a comedy club, watch a funny movie or try laughter yoga! Spontaneous laughter is best but even if it’s forced at first you will still enjoy better health.

If missing teeth are preventing you from smiling then why not consider dental implants. They look and feel like real teeth making them an excellent solution to replace any missing teeth.

Dentists On Washington has been named one of the best dentists in Philadelphia by multiple platforms. We take pride in our 5 Star Google Rating. We’re full-service dentistry providing Oral Care, Cosmetic Implants, Root Canals, Tooth Extraction, Invisalign Treatment, and much more in Philadelphia. We handle emergencies as well! Schedule Your Appointment.

It’s common knowledge that sugar is bad for your teeth – sugar destroys your teeth and causes tooth decay. Proper dental health positively contributes to your mental, physical and social well-being, allowing you to enjoy all of life’s potential. Specifically, it allows you to eat, speak and socialize free of discomfort, pain, and embarrassment, the Canadian Dental Association says.

The Dangers of Sugar for Your Teeth

Your mouth is full of bacteria — many are beneficial, while others are harmful. The harmful bacteria feed on the sugar you consume and create acids that attack and damage your tooth enamel, the protective, shiny outer layer of your teeth. The acids from a bacterial infection could lead to cavities and cause holes in your teeth. Left untreated, cavities can advance past your enamel into your tooth’s deeper layers, leading to potential tooth loss and pain.

Fortunately, while the acids frequently attack your teeth, your mouth continually reverses the damage. Your mouth is in a constant state of demineralization, where acids are leeching the minerals from your tooth enamel. However, the natural remineralization process restores and strengthens your teeth once again. Your saliva plays a crucial role in this process — it contains essential minerals like phosphates and calcium, which are influential in repairing your teeth.

Sugar Attracts Bad Bacteria and Lowers Your Mouth’s pH

Sugar is like a magnet for bad bacteria. The two destructive bacteria found in the mouth are Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sorbrinus. Both of them feed on the sugar you eat and form dental plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film that forms on the surface of the teeth. If the plaque is not washed away by saliva or brushing, the environment in the mouth becomes more acidic and cavities may start to form.

The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is, with 7 being neutral. When the pH of plaque drops below normal, or less than 5.5, the acidity starts to dissolve minerals and destroy the tooth’s enamel. In the process, small holes or erosions will form. Over time, they will become larger, until one large hole or cavity appears.

Tooth Decay

Sugar has a direct connection to tooth decay
After eating foods that contain sugar, these molecules combine with saliva and bacteria present in the mouth. This combination leads to plaque in the teeth
Left on teeth, plaque can dissolve enamel, which leads to cavities
To control bacteria and plaque on teeth, brush as soon as possible after eating

Gum Disease

Sugar destroys your teeth and leads to gum disease in the mouth. Once gum disease starts, it may advance if untreated
Gum disease can advance to periodontitis, which involves both gum tissues and the bones beneath the gums
The bacteria associated with periodontitis can travel throughout the body, invading joints, connective tissue, and organs such as the kidneys, liver, and lungs
Gum disease can lead to coronary artery disease. Bacteria that accumulate from periodontitis can cause blood clots that clog arteries
Marietta oral surgery may be necessary to treat advanced gum disease
A Marietta periodontist is available to assist with advanced periodontitis
Marietta cosmetic dentists assist patients with the appearance of teeth to resolve issues

The Different Types of Sugars

Sugar is sugar, no matter the form — including:

Maple syrup
Honey
Granulated
Molasses

And, don’t let incognito sugar fool you, either. Many manufacturers use sly pseudonyms to trick you into believing they don’t pack their food with sugar. Some examples of this are:

Corn syrup
Amazake
Fructose
Carob powder
Honey
Evaporated cane juice
Maltose
Dextrose
High-fructose corn syrup
Fruit juice concentrate

No matter what form it comes in, sugar destroys your teeth and can cause cavities. Learning why sugar is bad for your teeth is a sensible start in preventing cavities.

How Smiling Affects Overall Health