Are you thankful for your healthy smile? At Gorelik Holistic Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina, we encourage you to consider how important your oral health is to your overall health. Did you know that happy people live up to ten years longer than unhappy people? Or that optimists have a 77% lower risk of heart disease as well as gum disease than people who are pessimists? These are some of the findings Dr. Lissa Rankin’s cites in her bestseller “Mind Over Medicine”.

Self-Image

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry who conducted a Whitening Survey in 2012, they found that 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset. In fact, 74% of the respondents felt that an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances of having career success, and 96% of adults felt that an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.

Nutrition and Energy

Along with a positive self-image, your teeth provide a necessary function to your overall health. They grind the food you eat to provide nourishment to your body. In fact, proper saliva production along with your pearly whites break down these nutrients, helping to prevent diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, lower bloating and gas to improve your digestion. This process also helps with weight loss and give you energy by helping your body better absorb nutrients.

Effective Communication

Your healthy smile also helps you speak and communicate with the people around you. This allows you to interact with friends, family, co-workers and the barista serving you your morning latte or the grocer slicing your turkey at the deli. Daily interactions truly provide a vital service and you can thank your pearly whites for that!

This holiday season, show your gratitude for your healthy smile by caring for your teeth and gums and maintaining proper saliva production. Gorelik Holistic Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina recommend brushing and flossing daily, chewing sugarless gum and staying properly hydrated for healthy saliva production, and scheduling a cleaning with Dr. Julia Gorelik by calling 704-553-1627. Don’t forget to express thanks every day by cultivating a grateful outlook for better health overall!