Do You Believe It’s Important to Have a Healthy and Attractive Smile? Schedule Regular Dental Visits!

Smiling can make a positive impact in a variety of social and work-oriented situations. Given this, many people are concerned about the quality of their smile. Or more specifically, they are “concerned by the look of their teeth” when they do so. In some instances, people also believe that an unattractive smile can actually make a negative impact on their career success.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry conducted a survey that addressed the quality of a person’s smile. The results showed that 99.7% of the participants believed that a healthy smile was socially important. If their smile was unattractive, however, 74% of the participants believed that it could hurt their career success. Even though the survey showed that 32% of the participants were concerned by their teeth’s appearance, just 18% actually claimed to conceal their teeth when they had a photo taken.

While there are many components to a healthy and attractive smile, having white teeth is important to many Americans. This is evident due to the amount they spend on teeth-whitening products. On an annual basis, people within the United States spend about $1.4 billion on various types of whiteners. When they had their teeth professionally whitened by a dentist, however, 82.5% of the survey participants stated that they saw a noticeable difference.

It’s surprising to learn that on average, many people just visit the dentist every three years. Since a variety of issues can arise during this time span, it’s important to schedule more frequent dental appointments. Even though people may brush their teeth several times a day and floss after eating, others don’t. The survey showed that 22% of the participants claimed that they didn’t floss on a daily basis. Furthermore, 75% stated that they didn’t replace their toothbrushes as often as recommended by dentists, which is usually every three months.

Since so many people believe that the appearance of their teeth when they smile makes a difference, it’s important to visit the dentist on a regular basis. In addition to regular whitening sessions, dentists will screen for cavities, periodontal disease, and other issues. If you wait three years between dental visits and rely on over-the-counter whitening products rather than professional cleanings, then there’s a good chance that it’s time to visit the dentist.