A 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 or comfortable with their smile, it takes a toll on their self-esteem.

A healthy shining 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 is linked to happiness

The health of your smile significantly impacts the quality of your life. In the 1940s, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the definition of health to include our body and our mind. Health now describes “physical, mental, and social well-being.”

As more data around this connection to happiness was collected, “evidence grew of the impact of oral disease on social roles.” The relationship between a person’s smile and the quality of their life became increasingly important. Researchers have focused on how healthy smiles affect daily life, and 40 years after the WHO’s definition update, a term was created for it.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, or OHRQoL, is the study of dental health its impact on our quality of life, and it’s still being studied today. Dentists are examining what risk factors identify that an adolescent needs dental intervention so they may carry positive self-esteem into adulthood.

OHRQoL studies have led dentists to investigate the variety of dental disorders that impact self-esteem. One study found the need for orthodontic treatment had the “maximum impact on self-esteem.” But preventable conditions also had a substantial impact. Tooth decay, tooth loss, and fractured teeth also influenced the self-esteem of those in the study.

Preventive treatment from a dentist will help you avoid conditions that negatively impact your well-being. 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. Overall, it can improve your quality of life.

Poor dental health decreases the quality of life

In addition to the need for orthodontic procedures, other dental problems can directly impact a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. Decayed teeth, tooth loss, and dental caries (cavities) significantly influence an individual’s self-esteem and health.

Missing or damaged teeth significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, affecting:

• Chewing
• Speaking
• Smile appearance
• Ability to socialize
• Ability to perform work/daily activities

Children’s dental health impacts development

Poor oral health  affects not only adults but also children. One study dove deep to look specifically at adolescents ages 10 to 17. Researchers examined whether or not these children’s self-confidence was affected by dental disorders. The dental disorders included missing or broken teeth, untreated dental caries, and malocclusion — the technical term for having an imperfectly spaced bite.

After studying children from 14 participating schools, researchers found that dental health and happiness were linked, and dental health substantially influences self-esteem. Specifically, dental health impacted the children’s abilities to “accept the worthiness of oneself.”

As dentists become more aware of the impact poor dental health has on children (physically and mentally), they can intervene and improve the child’s smile, which will help them develop their self-esteem into adulthood.

Access to dental care

Studies demonstrate that dental health is linked to happiness. Maintaining dental health leads you and your children, friends, and family, to healthier and happier lives down the line. Dental benefits from Delta Dental help make this an easy task.

From proper brushing and flossing methods at home to dentist visit reminders, Delta Dental is  all about helping you make the most of your dental benefits. Why? Because it leads to a happier, healthier you. With an extensive network of dentists in your area, not only do benefits save you money, but they also make it easier to find the perfect dentist for your needs.

For information on what your plan includes, click here. Don’t have a plan yet? Learn more about getting dental benefits.