Common Smile Anxieties And How To Ease Them

A person’s smile is one of the first things we notice when we meet them. Studies show that simulating a genuine smile can instantly lift your spirit. The ability to show off our smile is not only a sign of friendliness and trust; it’s also essential for our mental health and self-esteem.

Yet many people choose to hide their smiles, mostly because they are insecure about the way they look. Only 35% of adults in the US have healthy teeth, and the same percentage admits to being embarrassed about their appearance. Cosmetic dentistry seems to be one of the most significant concerns that people have.

It’s important to realize that most of these concerns can easily be prevented. Some require simple treatments, while others are entirely natural and have false stigmas attached to them. Here we’ve listed the most common smile anxieties and what can we do to achieve our desired smile.

Tooth Enamel

Enamel is the protective layer of our teeth. Acidic foods and drinks, particularly fizzy drinks, alcohol, and acids, can soften it, which leads to tooth wear. This exposes the roots and nerves so that enamel loss can be painful, and it leads to highly sensitive teeth.

Many people believe that enamel can’t be rebuilt once lost. That’s partially true, as it doesn’t contain any living cells, so our body can’t regenerate it. As a result, costly restorations are required.

However, there are ways we can harden our enamel and reduce it’s lost. Particular kinds of toothpaste, for example, can give our teeth some extra toughness and reduce the potential for wear.

On the other hand, if the enamel is already damaged significantly, cosmetic dentistry has a solution for that. Porcelain dental veneers are thin shells of ceramic or porcelain that bond directly to the front surfaces of your teeth. They look like your healthy teeth, but more polished so that you can forget about wearing off the enamel and enjoy a perfect smile!

Bad Breath

Just the thought of lousy breath makes most of us feel self-conscious. Between 35 and 45% of the people in the world have some level of halitosis or bad breath. However, everyone suffers from bad breath at some point in their life and at some time of the day. Furthermore, researchers estimate that over 80 million Americans suffer from chronic halitosis. At least 99% of us have “dragon breath” in the morning.

With these statistics in mind, even if you don’t currently experience such problems, you’ve probably been around a family member, friend, or colleague whose breath gives off an unfavorable scent. That’s a pretty good reason why bad breath is among our primary concerns.

It’s proven that it even impacts our personal and professional lives. Without proper oral health, food particles and bacteria are allowed to build up. These rotten food and bacteria are the most common cause of an unpleasant odor.

A way that you can find out if you have a bad breath without asking anyone is to lick the inside of your wrist and let it dry. If the smell is unpleasant, then probably your breath is too. In addition to your oral hygiene routine, you can include mouthwash and also chew sugar-free gum to limit the lousy breath experience as much as possible.

Tooth Loss

One of the most common nightmares is your teeth falling out. It often has something to do with a fear of how others perceive you or the way you look in particular. Most people are genuinely afraid of losing their teeth.

Statistics show that almost 4% of adults 20 to 64 have no remaining teeth. Missing teeth, especially the first ones, could have a significant impact on our confidence to smile. 

Fortunately, preventing tooth loss is relatively simple. What you need to do is clean your teeth twice-a-day with fluoride toothpaste, watch out on what you eat, especially reducing the amount and frequency of sugar you consume, and visit the dental practice regularly. It almost eliminates the risk of gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss.

However, even if you need to have a tooth removed, it’s not that terrifying anymore as it could easily be replaced with a dental implant. It looks exactly like your natural teeth, and with proper care can look perfect for decades. With advanced dental implants, even tooth loss can’t affect your smile anymore.

White Teeth

Media and celebrities have created the illusion that shiny white teeth are a sign of healthy teeth. Studies show that up to 52% of people are dissatisfied with the color of their teeth. In the US, for instance, tooth whitening is among the most requested dental procedures.

The hue of our teeth depends on their natural color, influenced in part by our genes and our age, combined with stains from smoking, eating, drinking, or even taking certain medications. It’s normal that your teeth become yellower as you get older as the enamel wears away. It means that white teeth don’t necessarily mean healthy teeth.

This belief hurts the way we feel about our smiles. Celebrity culture has promoted unrealistic body images for way too long now, especially for young people. This influence is also extending to oral health and, more specifically, teeth. 

Teeth whitening could be an effective procedure, but what’s more important is to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy first. Pearly white teeth are just as susceptible to decay as natural-looking ones.

Crooked Teeth 

Over time teeth may become crooked. It’s common to have your wisdom teeth come through. It leads to a crooked smile and anxiety. However, the problem can be fixed easily. Advancements in dentistry now replace the traditional metal train track braces.

From invisible braces to dental retainers, today, even the most crooked teeth can be effectively treated with modern dentistry giving you a beautiful smile and more confidence in just a few months without causing any inconvenience.

Beautiful Smile Is a Healthy One

Having good oral hygiene and going for regular dental check-ups might be enough to keep your smile in perfect condition. Remember, healthy teeth are critical to a beautiful smile. Even if you have deeper concerns, like the one listed above, today, cosmetic dentistry has a solution to any problem. 

Talk to your dentist about anything that makes you avoid smiling. Together you could find the best solution to ease your anxiety and even make you proud of your smile, so you wouldn’t want to hide it anymore.