A genuine smile is a meaningful way to communicate with those around you. We use our smiles to share how we feel every day. However, when someone doesn’t feel proud of their smile, it can take a toll on their self-esteem.
A bright, healthy smile exudes confidence and happiness. The best way to take care of your smile is to prioritize your oral health with the support of dental benefits.
How dental health and happiness are linked
A study from the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery suggests that oral health has an impact an individual’s quality of life. According to the study, “Oral health, as an integral and essential part of health in general, may compromise people’s quality of life. Consequently, it is important to acquire good health habits and especially oral health from the first years of life seeking a decrease in the risk factors that affect the quality of life.”
One of the best ways to prevent and treat oral health–related diseases is to have dental benefits. Unlike the traditional approach of medical insurance, which relies on waiting until symptoms appear to be treated, dental insurance has a strong focus on prevention. This means that dentists can detect and treat oral health problems before they impact self-esteem.
Preventing oral health problems before they start is just one way dental healthand happiness are linked.
The Study of Oral Health–Related Quality of Life
Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQL) is “is the component of health-related quality of life that relates to the effects of oral diseases and dental interventions on patients.” The theory behind this study is that the state of an individual’s oral health can impact their overall quality of life.
A study from the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that the need for orthodontic treatment had the “maximum impact on self-esteem but other dental disorders like decay in tooth, tooth loss and anterior fracture of tooth also had potential influence on self-esteem of the study population.”
Preventive treatment from a dentist can help you avoid conditions that may negatively impact your overall well-being and happiness. Biannual dentist visits and a proper at-home dental care routine can help you strengthen your sense of self-worth, self-confidence, and comfort in social situations.
Poor oral health decreases quality of life
Dental problems can directly impact a person’s happiness and quality of life. Decayed teeth, tooth loss, and dental caries significantly influence both self-esteem and the overall health of an individual.
Poor dental health can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life by affecting their ability to:
- Chew
- Speak
- Feel confident when smiling
- Socialize
- Perform work/daily activities
Investing in dental benefits helps keep your teeth, mouth, and smile healthy and happy.
Dental health improve children’s happiness
Adults aren’t the only ones who are negatively impacted by poor oral health. Children and adolescents can also feel the consequences.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine focused on the impact of poor oral health in adolescents aged 10 to 17. Researchers examined whether the self-confidence of children was affected by dental disorders such as missing or broken teeth, untreated dental caries, and others. The study concluded that dental health and happiness were linked, and that dental health had a substantial influence on self-esteem.
It’s important to start taking your child to their dentist by the age of one (or within six months of their first tooth appearing) and continue to bring them to their preventive cleanings to keep their smile (and self-esteem) healthy. Twice a year preventive checkups are usually 100 percent covered under Delta Dental of Colorado’s plans.
Dental benefits made easy with Delta Dental of Colorado
It’s no question that dental health and happiness are linked. Dental coverage helps maintain your and your loved one’s dental health now and in the future.
Learn more about the importance of dental benefits.
*Updated September 2023