post-oral-surgery-300x199Below are five ways that, not taking care of your oral health, can actually affect your entire life, including a confidence.

1. You may smile less often. People who have poor oral health and don’t take care of their teeth properly may be self-conscious about the way their teeth look. Smiling can have a direct impact on emotional well-being and if you’re not smiling as often as you might if you had your teeth in good condition, it can cause more depressive moments.

2. Less self-confidence. People who are concerned about their teeth will often report less self-confidence. Being able to smile, laugh, and talk to others without worrying about the condition of your teeth can attract more people to you naturally. That can boost self-esteem immediately.

3. Less willing to step up. If you’re working at a job and the boss asked for certain volunteers to do a specific project and you avoid volunteering because you don’t want to get in front of people, that can affect your career directly.

4. Pain. Poor oral care can lead to pain in teeth and gums. That can cause stress and anxiety for many reasons.

5. Missed opportunities. If you are constantly worried about your appearance, the condition and quality of your teeth, and don’t smile as much as you might want, it can directly impact the number of opportunities that come along.

It may not actually impact how many opportunities come along, but it’s going to impact your willingness to seize them when they do.

If you haven’t taken care of your teeth a long time, it’s never too late. Make an appointment with a dentist for regular cleaning and checkup, and your life can begin turning around for the better.