Month: February 2016

It’s the glimmer between strangers meeting eyes across the room. It’s the sparkle that lights up a photograph. It can whisper sweet nothings. It can shout with enthusiasm. It can unite people in moments of warmth and magic. It’s a smile, and it’s the universal communicator of joy and connection. But if your smile is broken, discolored or damaged, it can be a barrier between you and life. Let my Holland dental office help.

How Smiling Makes us Feel

Smiling is more than nonverbal communication. It also triggers an amazing array of physical responses, both in the giver of the smile and the receiver. The key ingredient here is dopamine, that wonderful feel-good neurotransmitter. Because pleasure is such a motivator, anything that releases dopamine can become addicting, says Gary L. Wenk, a Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience & Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics at the Ohio State University and Medical Center. “When we smile…the contractions of the facial muscles slightly distorts the shape of the thin facial bones. This slight distortion in their shape leads to an increase in blood flow into the frontal lobes of the brain and increases in the release of dopamine. As a result, walking around all day with a smile on your face will bias your mood to be happier. Not only will you be happier, but your smile might spontaneously induce the release of dopamine in someone else’s brain.” No wonder smiling makes you more attractive – it causes the same chemical response as coffee or chocolate…or falling in love!

Smiling and Health

Smiling doesn’t just feel good, it makes you healthier too.  Every time you smile, your body produces greater quantities of antibodies and T-cells (or white blood cells), which may give your immune system a big boost. Smiling is also super relaxing, which we all know is good for our health. It releases both endorphins, those “feel-good” hormones, and serotonin, a natural stress-reducer.

If you would like to smile more – for health, relaxation, fun, and attraction – but you feel self-conscious about some aspect of your smile, don’t worry. Just call my Holland dental office. We have a multitude of cosmetic dentistry options that can get you a confident smile. Whether it’s stains, gaps, chips, cracks, or crookedness, we have the solution just for you. Schedule an appointment today and start enjoying all the benefits of smiling.

Welcoming new patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

Did you know that 32 percent of Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of their co-workers? If people don’t like it in co-workers, they certainly won’t like it in their date! True fact: No one really wants to kiss an unhealthy mouth.

That’s why I’m bringing you four of the most effective ways to freshen your breath, brighten your smile, and make yourself so much more kissable than ever before. Go ahead, you can thank me now.

• Keep up with your oral hygiene routine.

That means no skipping, even if you do feel too tired to floss. You see, when plaque builds up, it can lead to periodontal disease, an infection in your gums. This infection stinks! In fact, periodontal disease is the second most common source of halitosis. The odor is so distinctive, that many dentists can diagnose gum disease from the smell alone! Odor causing bacteria build up under your gum line, coat your tongue, and increase the volatile sulfur compounds that make bad breath worse. So want to have a fresh mouth? Get to cleaning! And don’t forget to brush or scrape your tongue.

• Have a professional cleaning.

See above! A professional cleaning at least twice a year at my Holland dental office is even more effective than home hygiene at getting rid of stinky plaque buildup.

• Watch what you eat.

We’re pretty sure everyone knows to avoid garlic and onions before a big date, but did you know that milk, meat, orange juice, and coffee have also been known as causes for bad breath? Don’t worry though. Just brush and floss after meals, and your breath will clean right up. You can also add foods that keep your breath fresher like parsley, celery, apples, and yogurt – yes yogurt! The probiotics in yogurt help lower the levels of odor-causing sulfur compounds.

• Drink more water.

Water not only rinses away food particles and bacteria, but drinking a sufficient amount of water (six to eight eight ounce glasses every day) also keeps you hydrated and prevents dry mouth. That’s important because dry mouth is one of the leading causes of breath issues. If you have an ongoing issue with dry mouth, talk to your Holland dentist about a saliva substitute to protect your teeth and sweeten your breath.

If you have a big date coming up this Valentine’s Day, please don’t be afraid to call my dental office in Holland. We can help get your breath fresh and your teeth clean and bright. Your date may never want to stop kissing you!  

Accepting new patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.