At Clear Lake Dental & Associates in Clearlake, California, in honor of Thanksgiving, we invite you to consider how important your oral health is to your overall health. According to the findings of Dr. Lissa Rankin in her bestseller, “Mind Over Medicine”, happy people live up to ten years longer than unhappy people, and optimists have a 77% lower risk of heart disease and gum disease than people who are pessimists. Let’s look at how your smile helps you.

Self-Image: According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry who conducted a Whitening Survey in 2012, they found that 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset. In fact, 74% of the respondents felt that an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances of having career success, and 96% of adults felt that an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.

Nutrition and Energy: Along with a positive self-image, your teeth provide a necessary function to your overall health. They grind the food you eat to provide nourishment to your body. In fact, proper saliva production along with your pearly whites break down these nutrients, helping to prevent diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, lower bloating and gas to improve your digestion. This process also helps with weight loss and give you energy by helping your body better absorb nutrients.

Effective Communication: Your healthy smile also helps you speak and communicate with the people around you. This allows you to interact with friends, family, co-workers and the various people you interact with during a typical day. Daily interactions truly provide a vital service and you can thank your pearly whites for that!

As you celebrate all the things you are grateful for this month, you can show gratitude for your healthy smile by taking good care of your teeth and gums. At Clear Lake Dental & Associates in Clearlake, California, we recommend brushing and flossing daily, chewing sugarless gum and staying properly hydrated for a healthy mouth. And don’t forget to schedule end-of-year cleanings with Dr. James Kinsel. To schedule your next visit, please call 707-994-9414 at your earliest convenience!