 What Messages Are Your Teeth Sending to Other People?
Many people don't realize that one of the most important forms of communication we have is our smile. A smile can tell someone a great deal in a flash--it lets someone know how you feel about a situation and can even tell a fairly complete story regarding how you feel about yourself. Your teeth can indicate age (your central incisors get longer as you get older) or gender (longer and more square-looking teeth are a predominantly masculine trait), for example. The following dental graphic from Carrington.edu relays some interesting facts about your dental personality, including why proper dental health is so important. What Your Teeth Say About Your Personality Did you know that a person can tell a lot about your personality just by the way your canines look? It's true. Pointer canines that are much more prominent than your lateral incisors can be a good indication of the fact that you have an aggressive or powerful personality. If your canines have flattened or rounded tips, on the other hand, this might be an indicator that you're more passive in nature. Teeth grinding can also be a sign of anxiety, anger or high levels of aggression. Improving Oral Health in the United States The good news is that oral health and hygiene in the United States has been steadily increasing since the 1970s. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, for example, tooth loss has been steadily on the decline in both adults and senior citizens since this time. As tooth loss is one of the major indicators of a person's overall level of dental health, this is very much a good sign. Other common issues like periodontal disease (often referred to as gum disease) have also been reduced in the last 45 years, pointing towards advancements in dental technology and a higher level of care from medical professionals across the country. The Role of Dental Professionals According to the American Dental Association, the quality of education and level of care in general has definitely increased in both the United States and other countries, such as Canada, over the last several decades. For example, there are 65 accredited dental schools currently operating in the United States. As of 2013 there were over 191,000 dentists working in their field in the United States alone. Out of that number, a full 27% of them were female. The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute also revealed that slightly more than one in five dentists were doing work in a field or administration area that was an ADA-recognized specialty. What does this information mean for oral health in the United States? A number of things, all of which are positive. It means that dentists are getting a higher quality education and are doing great work all over the country. Because of the more specialized level of care that they're able to provide, oral health is also increasing rapidly with each passing year. It's a good thing, too, as your teeth are important not just for your overall body health but can indicate emotional health, as well. Article and infographic credited to Carrington.edu |
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June 2021
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