Smile! A Look at the Psychological Advantages of Smiling

People seek cosmetic dentistry in Houston, TX for so many reasons. Whether they have a small imperfection or want an entirely new look, most of those reasons have something to do with physical appearance. However, a nice smile can also be good for your psychological health. Check out a few benefits of smiling for your mental health.

Fight Stress

Did you know that smiling may help you feel less stressed? Even better, smiling may make the people around you feel less stressed. Studies have shown that even faking a smile when you don’t necessarily feel like smiling may decrease stress.

Deter Gloom

Smiling gives neural communications a boost, which basically means if you smile, you can trick your mind into feeling more content and less gloomy. Smiling may actually release dopamine and serotonin, both of which are known as “feel good” chemicals produced by the body.

Relieve Physical Discomfort

That same natural endorphin, serotonin, that helps you feel happy can also be an effective pain-reliever. Serotonin has been studied extensively because it has this amazing ability to relax the physical body and make bodily discomfort much more bearable. So, even if you are having a bad day and in a little pain, sharing your smile with the rest of the world may actually make you feel better.

Talk to a Houston, TX Dentist to Achieve Your Best Smile

The happier you are with your smile, the happier you will be to share it. And, science shows that when you smile a lot, you may reap all kinds of advantages. Ready to smile more? A dentist in Houston, TX at Chloe Dental can help. Reach out to us today to find out about the cosmetic treatments we offer, like whitening, veneers, crowns, and dental implants.

3 Common Causes of Intrinsic Dental Stains

Have you been considering teeth whitening in Houston, TX? If so, you may be curious what types of stains whitening can actually target. Tooth stains can either be extrinsic (external) or intrinsic (internal). Internal stains are a little harder to target, but some may respond to whitening treatments just the same. Take a look at some of the common causes of intrinsic dental discoloration.

Medications

Certain types of medications can cause discoloration inside of the teeth. One specific medication, tetracycline, is often to blame. This common antibiotic was once prescribed to children, but the medication would actually bind to calcium that would eventually make it into the teeth. If you were prescribed this medication as a child, there is a chance that it changed the shade of your teeth from the inside.

Dental Trauma

When dental trauma occurs, blood flow to the tooth can be interrupted. This change in blood flow can quickly lead to a change in the color of a tooth, but the change in color happens on the inside of the tooth, not the outside.

Fluoride Over-Exposure

Over-exposure to fluoride can also be responsible for intrinsic dental stains. While fluoride can be so valuable to your dental health, over-exposure is known to generate white spots. These white spots are not just surface level; they can actually originate from the inside of your tooth where the discoloration may be harder to treat.

Find Out About Teeth Whitening in Houston, TX

A whiter smile is always a smile you can feel better about sharing. If you suffer from intrinsic dental stains, certain treatments with a Houston, TX dentist can help. Ready to get a look at your options? Reach out to us at Chloe Dental for more information.