3 Things You Couldn’t Do Without Good Oral Health and Strong Teeth

At this time of year, many people reflect on their lives and recognize the good things they have. Although most probably wouldn’t initially list healthy teeth as one of these good things, having strong teeth truly is a blessing and should be celebrated. Think about what it would be like to not have them—it’s not a pretty picture, right? To help you appreciate your smile more this Thanksgiving, here are some things you wouldn’t be able to do without teeth or good oral health.

Have a Beautiful Smile

Teeth play an obviously critical role in creating a person’s smile, which is typically one of the first features others notice. If you smile with your lips closed to cover your teeth, you may look less confident or not as happy or friendly as you do when your teeth are showing. Plus, if you didn’t have your teeth at all, your lips would sink in, causing you to look older. You can appreciate your natural teeth for helping your facial structure appear younger and helping you feel confident about yourself.

Bite or Chew Your Food

Functionally, teeth are essential for eating. Without them, you would not be able to enjoy most of the foods you love. Just imagine trying to bite into a juicy apple without your teeth! Consisting of the strongest material in your body, your tooth enamel is designed to withstand great force so that you can grind fibrous foods like broccoli, crunchy foods like nuts or carrots, and leafy greens for digestion.

If you didn’t have good oral health, you would have to stick to a soft foods diet. Although you can cook nutritious foods to be softer, you can have better health by having a more diverse diet, complete with unprocessed fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.

Speak

You probably don’t think about it much, but did you know that there are certain sounds in the English language (and many others) that require the use of your teeth? For instance, you can’t articulate t, th, f, v, s, z, and ch sounds easily or clearly without teeth. It’s why those who have lost their teeth can struggle to talk and be understood. For many, this problem motivates them to replace their teeth with dentures so they can communicate clearly again.

While other good things in life like friends and family tend to get most of the attention on Thanksgiving, you can take a quick moment to acknowledge that your healthy smile is something to be grateful for. Especially as you feast on the wonderful food and laugh with loved ones, you can appreciate your teeth.

About the Author

More than 15 years ago, Dr. Ahmed Saad graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Since then, he has taken many hours of advanced training to continue providing outstanding care for patients in Vienna area. He enjoys helping patients appreciate their teeth and maintain them through preventive and restorative services. If you have questions about your teeth, you can schedule an appointment with him at Pace Dental by calling 703-705-7476 or reaching out online.