One of the first things people notice about you is your smile. According to research carried out by Murine eye drops, both men and women notice each other’s eyes first and then their smile.
It gives a welcoming, sincere impression and boosts your confidence at the same time. So if your smile is crucial in those first impressions then it’s important to have a healthy, sunny and sincere smile.
Your eyes might be windows into your soul but your smile offers a window into your health and if you are feeling under the weather, it can show in your teeth, therefore it pays to take care of your dental hygiene so you can flash that winning smile more often.
Healthy Teeth on the Outside – Healthy Body on the Inside
You might think that the only health problems your teeth can indicate are oral diseases or infections, but you’d be surprised to learn that your dentist can often spot symptoms of a range of other diseases just by looking at your teeth.
Teeth are like mini-files, holding all your health data and a lot more besides! From the state of your teeth, your dentist can diagnose:
- Osteoporosis: This bone disease can affect your teeth and lead to erosion of the jaw bone. It is often detected in the bone around the roots of the teeth which is one of the first bones to be affected by lack of calcium.
- Anemia: Pale gums and a swollen and smooth tongue could be a sign of iron deficiency.
- Eating Disorders: Bulimia and other eating disorders can be diagnosed by the state of your teeth. Repeated vomiting produces stomach acid which erodes teeth and causes decay.
- Thrush: Oral thrush can also be diagnosed due to lesions developing on the tongue or the inside of your cheeks.
- HIV: A weakened immune system can be a sign of HIV and symptoms include a dry mouth, increased risk of tooth decay and difficulty in swallowing and chewing.
- Diabetes: High levels of sugar in saliva could be sign of diabetes.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: It has been discovered that a protein caused by gum disease may offer a connection between gum infections and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Premature Birth: Gum disease is linked with premature births so it’s vital that pregnant mothers get regular check-ups and stay on top of dental hygiene including flossing regularly.
What Your Teeth Say About Who You Are
Your teeth aren’t just a good record of your health but can also tell the dentist a lot about your personality. For instance, your teeth give a good indication of your age because of the speed at which they grow, which is around 4 micrometers a day.
Your ethnic background can also be identified from features visible on your teeth that are peculiar to certain ethnic groups, which is why forensic scientists can often identify a person’s gender, age and ethnicity just by looking at their teeth.
Another good indicator of the lifestyle a person leads is by examining their diet and of course teeth can tell a huge amount about what we are putting in our mouths and so establish whether or not a person is living below the poverty line or has a diet full of rich food.
Your Personality as Defined by Your Teeth
According to Morpho Psychology, which is the art of reading personality traits from your teeth, there are four basic jawline shapes which determine your personality type:
- Oval: Melancholic which means an organised, creative and quiet person.
- Triangular: Sanguine which indicates someone extroverted, energetic and communicative.
- Rectangular: Choleric which is someone who is intense, determined and passionate.
- Square: Phlegmatic which could be a pacifist, spiritual and discreet person.
Often people who want to give a different impression with their smile, get cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of their teeth and to enhance their confidence and send out a different message.
There is no doubt that having a great smile and healthy teeth does affect people’s perception of us which is why it’s vitally important to keep those teeth and gums health. Brushing twice a day will help enormously but if you want to tackle the gumline you really need to floss, find out the facts about flossing and how it forms an important part of your dental routine.
