Smiling makes us happier: the relationship between self-esteem and dental health

A smile is the first thing we notice about a person. If they smile at us, we are likely to smile back. In fact, according to one study, half of all people would smile back at a stranger. What is it about a smile that has such a powerful effect on our health and mood?

Smiling improves our physical and mental health

A smile has positive effects both for us and for our environment, in the sense that it improves our social and personal relationships.

If we focus on the effects that a smile has on our physical and mental state, several studies show that smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that fight stress. We also release dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, which relaxes our body, and reduces heart rate and blood pressure. Endorphins contribute to pain relief and serotonin acts as an antidepressant that puts us in a better mood. We only have to connect with a memory of that moment in which we laughed and enjoyed non-stop: Don’t we feel comforted just remembering it?

With regard to our social relationships, it has also been shown that when you smile, others treat you differently, perceiving you as more attractive, relaxed and confident. Researchers at the Face Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Scotland, found that both men and women are more attracted to images of people making eye contact and smiling.

What happens when we lack a smile?

There are many people who are reluctant to smile. And not because they don’t feel like it or don’t feel happy. There are certain oral health problems that cause “defects” in the appearance of the smile, and make the person ashamed to smile or laugh openly.

Most patients who report this lack of desire to smile have one of the following problems:

• Yellowish or stained teeth, due to the passage of time, contact with certain foods and beverages such as coffee or red wine, tobacco or certain medications.
• Missing one or more teeth, either due to trauma or due to a caries or periodontitis problem.
• Malposition of the teeth, due to a bad habit, trauma during the growth stage or lack of space.
• Halitosis, or bad breath, generally caused by the presence of bacteria in the mouth with volatile sulfur-derived compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide.

These problems can make it difficult for us to smile, we may smile covering our mouth with our hand or we may feel insecure about our appearance. All this ends up affecting our self-esteem and our ability to relate to others. Because a beautiful smile is a healthy smile.

How can we solve it?

The first thing we recommend is a visit to the dentist to diagnose and treat the root cause of possible oral problems. Depending on the cause, you can opt for orthodontic treatments, dental implantology, whitening, ceramic veneers or direct composite veneers.

Once we perform a digital study of the smile and an evaluation of the oral health, our team of specialists of the Aesthetic Unit will guide you on the most appropriate treatment for you.

From here on, and both to prevent and maintain oral health after treatment, we recommend that you follow a careful dental hygiene routine, including brushing, flossing, and mouthwash if recommended by your dentist. You can follow these tips to improve your oral hygiene habits.