Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Healthy Mama || Dentistry & Self-Care: An Unexpected Relationship

Healthy Mama - Collaborative Post


In the last few years, there has been a growing interest in self-care, and there are several different forms that it can take. Self-care is all about improving your health physically and mentally. The question is, where does dentistry fall in this? Dentistry safeguards your oral health as well as having an impact on how your smile looks, all of which can then be linked back to your health and wellbeing. Keep reading for more information.  


What Are The Advantages of Self-Care?

Participating in self-care activities does have a number of benefits, both physically and mentally. It can help to improve your health overall as well as boost your immune system. It lowers levels of stress in the body, which allows it to restore itself. Self-care also promotes a healthier relationship with yourself by encouraging you to prioritise your own needs and treat yourself with more kindness and compassion. Finally, by taking care of yourself, you are also better able to take care of others too.


Where Does Dentistry Come into Self-Care?

Obviously, dental care is incredibly important to your overall health, and therefore making an appointment could be seen as self-care. Your oral health permeates a lot of different areas of your life; you use it to eat, drink, communicate, laugh and smile, et cetera. Your smile acts as your first impression to other people. The way that your smile looks also has a huge impact on your self-esteem and your confidence too. 

This is why a lot more people are beginning to understand the link between self-care and dentistry. This may be easier said than done, especially if you have a fear of the dentist. Most of the time, this fear can be traced back to an uncomfortable experience with a previous dentist. This is why looking for a dentist - like Corn Market Dental in Dorset – that offers bespoke treatment can help to alleviate your anxieties and make you feel more comfortable. 


What Happens When You Abandon Your Oral Hygiene? 

Fear of going to the dentist is incredibly common. A lot of people experience this fear which often means that they simply do not go. This then means that preventative measures aren’t taken, and any oral issues are ignored until the sufferer is unable to anymore, which is when they finally make the appointment. Often times the treatment is then far more invasive and expensive than it needed to be had an appointment been made earlier. In addition to this, in rare cases, dental issues can lead to other health problems, which can be far more detrimental, like heart disease, strokes, or respiratory issues. 


The Bottom Line

Dental care is definitely a form of self-care, and in fact, it is one of the lowest forms of personal maintenance in that, for the most part, you only need an appointment twice a year. Taking the time to look after your teeth daily also requires minimal effort, with brushing and flossing only taking a couple of minutes every day. Looking after your oral hygiene is important; you are investing in your own comfort and health.