When First Impressions Count: Let Your Teeth Do the Talking

When you need to make a good first impression, make sure your teeth are working for you and not against you.

Have you ever heard the expression 'a million dollar smile'? It's been applied to everyone from movie stars (like Angelina Jolie) to motivational speakers (like Tony Robbins). And that's because a great smile can be worth a million dollars as far as making a great impression.

In Psychology Today magazine, Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, and a pioneer of research on facial expressions, revealed the importance of smiling. "We (respond to) a smile from 30 meters away," he says. "A smile lets us know that we're likely to get a positive reception, and it's hard not to reciprocate."

In other words, when you smile at someone, they want to smile back at you. That immediately sets up a positive interaction, even before a word is spoken. What a great way to start off a job interview!

All Eyes Are On Your Mouth

It's a simple fact of life: how you present yourself to others is essential to your success in both personal and professional situations. When you meet a prospective employer or have a chance encounter with a prospective 'love connection,' the other person will form a first impression of you in a matter of seconds.

Your smile can be an important tool for making that first impression a good one.

In a job interview or on a first date, you'll almost certainly be talking. And as well as focusing on your words, the person on the other side of the conversation will also be focusing on your mouth. With a brighter smile, you instantly stand out from the crowd. Others will be drawn to you and want to listen to every word you have to say.

A bright white smile and a set of healthy, well-cared for teeth and gums say many things about you. Perhaps the most important thing they convey to others is that you take pride in your appearance and care about your health.

Speak with Confidence

People with teeth that are stained, discolored or otherwise not 'in shape,' may feel self-conscious. So they refrain from speaking freely. Or they may unconsciously put their hands in front of their mouths when they talk. But when your teeth and gums are healthy, you have the confidence to express yourself. And confidence is a very appealing characteristic.

Missing, crooked, and broken teeth are problems for lots of people. Sadly, many of them don't take the time and effort to do anything about it. And that's a shame because modern dentistry has so many amazing techniques and procedures that can help.

It really starts with regular check-ups and cleanings. That's the baseline of a healthy, happy smile. After that, there's practically no end to what can be done to make your mouth look and feel great.

Tooth whitening can banish coffee stains and remove the yellow left behind from smoking. Invisible braces can remove gaps and get your teeth in line. Perhaps you're a candidate for an 'extreme makeover' with dental implants or veneers. Whatever you choose, you can be certain that the investment you make in a 'million dollar' smile will pay for itself a thousand times over.

You Really Can Live Better Through Dentistry

Did you know that a healthy mouth means a healthy body...a healthy heart...even a healthy sex life? It's true! And just by changing certain habits related to oral hygiene you can improve the health of your mouth and teeth and lessen your risk for a whole host of illnesses.

"You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot," says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a former clinical instructor at the Boston University Dental School.

He's absolutely right.

Researchers at the ADA have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of periodontal disease that can cause tooth loss) is linked with health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries. Gingivitis (oral inflammation due to bacteria) may also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Love Life

There's nothing like bad breath to turn off the opposite sex. 22-year-old UK superstar Joss Stone famously remarked, "There's nothing worse than bad breath. I've snogged people with bad breath who smelt of (cigarettes) and beer and it made me feel sick.

Joss isn't alone. A report from a US mouthwash company revealed that nearly three quarters of the people polled said they wouldn't let a person they found attractive kiss them if they had bad breath. Plus, simply worrying about your partner smelling and/or kissing your malodorous mouth can take the joy and spontaneity out of your sex life. Good oral health literally 'takes the worry out of being close' as they used to say in the Ban deodorant ads. So improving your sex life means doing things that improve your blood flow, and that means taking care of your teeth and gums.

Attention Mothers-to-Be

Pregnant women with periodontitis may be at increased risk of delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight infants. The theory is that oral bacteria release toxins, which interfere with the growth and development of the baby. At the same time, oral infection can cause a mother to produce labor-triggering substances too quickly, potentially triggering premature labor and birth.

And some studies suggest that periodontitis can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar!

Yikes!

Your Dentist is Also Your Doctor

Your mouth is a window into what's going on in the rest of your body, detecting the early signs and symptoms of systemic disease -- a disease that affects or pertains to your entire body, not just one of its parts. Many diseases, including diabetes, often first become apparent as oral problems. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% percent of all systemic diseases produce oral signs and symptoms.

So what does the health of your mouth have to do with your overall health? In a word, plenty. It's just one more reason that regular dental check-ups are so important.

Question: How is sleep apnea treated by dentists?

Answer: Depending on the cause for the sleep apnea, there are many dental appliances available. It is recommended that a patient who suspects they have sleep apnea or are a chronic snorer should seek medical advice from their physician. Typically patients will undergo a sleep study to determine the level of snoring, sleep apnea, as well other variables that present. Assuming the level of sleep apnea is mild or snoring is the main concern, a dentist can make several different appliances to eliminate snoring. The majority of dental sleep apnea appliances target either moving the jaw and/or tongue which in both cases will enlarge the patient's airway furthermore reducing airway resistance. The increase in airway diameter will allow easier breathing and negate most snoring sounds often associated with a constricted airway. Talk to your dentist about sleep apnea appliances and how they can help you with snoring.

Question: What is the difference between oral sedation and inhalation sedation(e.g. laughing gas)?

Answer: Both are forms of sedation that help provide relaxation to the patient that will decrease the anxiety to the dentistry that is to be performed. Laughing gas tends to work well for decreasing the patient's perception of pain but less "sleepy" properties. The oral sedation, on the other hand does less for a patient's pain threshold but typically will make the patient more relaxed and can sometimes promote amnesia so that the patient cannot remember the experience.

Depending on the situation, Dr.Glasmeier will often use a combination of oral and inhalation sedation to help address the pain threshold issue while promoting relaxation and possibly amnesia for the patient. Residents of Nolensville and Cain Ridge trust Dr.G with their sedation needs! Talk to Dr.Glasmeier about sedation dentistry and how it can benefit you!

Question: How do I fix my bad breath?

Answer: It depends on what the source of the bad breath is. This

question is like asking, my car won't drive, what do I do to fix it?

Obviously it needs to be examined to see what it could and could

not be. The most frequent causes of bad breath are:

1. Halitosis of the tongue

2. Periodontal(Gum) Disease

3. Tooth Decay

4. Dry Mouth

5. Chronic Usage of Alcohol Based Rinses/Mouthwashes

6. Diet

7. Oral Hygiene

8. Medical history (e.g. Diabetics)

9. Chronic Sinusitis (Heavy Congestion from Sinuses)

While this list is not all inclusive, this represents some of the major

causes of bad breath. While all can contribute to unpleasant odor in

the oral cavity, treatment will vary on this based on the source of the

problem. Talk to Dr.Glasmeier about the cause of your bad breath

and how it may be corrected!