Teeth Whitening: Why There May Be More Benefits Than You Think

Many people see teeth whitening as a pure exercise in vanity. Some dentists have even lamented the fact that Americans have begun to see the appearance of their teeth as being more important than their oral health. While this may or may not be true, there are a lot of benefits to having a sparkling white smile. We may not like to admit it, but the truth is that there are a lot of advantages that come with appearing more attractive to a wider segment of the population. If you feel like a stained grin is holding you back, here are just some of the benefits you may be missing out on.

Being more attractive—or simply perceiving yourself as such—can lead to an enormous boost in self confidence. Men and women who don't feel good about their appearances tend to hide away in a shell. On the other hand, you rarely see really good looking people who would be easily identified as introverts. This is because shyness and confidence are largely socialized into us by our experiences. Teeth whitening can be a major step into a new world. No longer will you be afraid to smile brightly and be as outgoing as you want to be. With that increased confidence comes better personal and professional relationships and a general feeling of being happier in life.

Besides the obvious benefit of having a brighter smile, teeth whitening can have an illusory effect on the appearance of the rest of your face. Studies have shown that people perceive those with brighter smiles as having fewer and less noticeable facial wrinkles. If you've been concerned about wrinkles but aren't sure about techniques like Botox or facelifts, this could be a shortcut to taking care of two birds with one stone. There's no doubt that our culture is obsessed with looking youthful. Older men and women aren't particularly revered as they are in other cultures. If you want to take proactive steps to avoid being seen as "over the hill," you have to play the game.

There are several ways to go about teeth whitening. If you've never done anything about it before, you might want to start with a do-it-yourself kit for home use. These kits will give results, although they will certainly be far less dramatic than what can be achieved in a professional setting. If you've tried the kits without satisfaction or just want to jump in to the good stuff, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area and get it done right the first time.