Cosmetic dentistry can certainly improve the aesthetics of your smile as well as your confidence. But did you know that your health can also be improved when you opt for cosmetic dental work? Here are 5 health benefits of cosmetic dentistry. To learn even more about how cosmetic dentistry can help you, visit cosmeticandgeneraldentist.com.

You Can Eat More Nutrient-Dense Foods

The health of your mouth affects how you eat and what you eat. Chewing triggers the gastrointestinal system to begin producing acids that break down foods to help them move through your digestive tract more easily. Chewing is the first process in digestion, and breaking down food into smaller particles with your teeth facilitates the process by first ensuring that food is small enough to pass through the throat and into the esophagus without causing blockages. Secondly, saliva has enzymes in it that trigger the breakdown process, which takes a lot of work off of your tummy. But missing a tooth or a few teeth can make chewing difficult or even impossible to do on one or both sides of your mouth. Getting a tooth replaced can help you chew better and can potentially reduce your risk of choking on food.

More Confidence Means Better Mental Health

With a pandemic raging and the economy in a recession, there’s good reason to do what you can to improve your mental health. Having chipped teeth or needing other cosmetic dentistry can make a person feel like they are not their best. With an overall improved appearance, you’ll feel like you have a new lease on life and your body. You’ll be able to enjoy looking at yourself and feeling proud of yourself rather than being grateful to hide behind a mask.

Preventing Future Periodontal Problems and Infections

Cosmetic dentists undergo years of training not just to make your smile look great, but to diagnose, treat, and prevent the myriad reasons why a smile can be less than stellar. Some procedures can strengthen teeth and actually prevent issues later on in the roots of the teeth. Small fractures are vulnerable to more cracking and damage. Because chipped or cracked teeth are more at risk to decay, they are more likely to develop periodontal disease. In fact, there are a few procedures that can be considered both cosmetic and general dentistry.

Relief From Headaches

If there is something wrong with your bite or if your teeth are misaligned, then this can cause pain in the jaw, teeth or cause headaches. Sometimes the last thing people think of in terms of the causes of their headaches is their mouth health. Crooked or broken teeth can add pressure on your gums and nerves that cause pain in the face that can radiate even down to the back of the head and down to the shoulders. If you have severe headaches or face pain, then it may be worth getting your dentist’s opinion on them. Your dentist may be able to diagnose and treat the issue if your primary care physician is uncertain about what the cause is.

Short Recovery Times

For the majority of patients, the recovery time after a cosmetic dental procedure is only a few days, compared to other types of surgeries on the rest of the body. Some procedures don’t have any recovery time at all, such as getting porcelain veneers. Because of their low risk, cosmetic dental procedures are very safe.