robweigner: 5 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Teeth

Monday, January 21, 2013

5 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Teeth

It's easy to take things that we use everyday for granted. When was the last time you thought about what your teeth do for you? Whether you think about it or not, your teeth do some pretty amazing things for you that you probably don't even notice.

5 Reasons to be Thankful for Your Teeth

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I thought I would mention a few reasons to be thankful for your teeth.

1 - Your Teeth Help You Chew Turkey

Not just turkey either! Your teeth tear and grind all the different foods you eat every day. I vividly remember an experience I had working at a dental clinic before going to dental school. An older man came in for his final appointment to get his dentures. He excitedly told me that the first thing he was going to do was to go down to the local grocery store and buy a vegetable tray. Before that incident, I'd never really taken the time to think about how I would eat without teeth.

2 - Your Teeth Make You Attractive

A smile can go a long way toward improving your appearance. Without teeth, you wouldn't be very likely to smile. Every year, people spend millions of dollars trying to make their teeth look whiter, brighter, and more beautiful.

3 - Your Teeth Help You Speak

Try saying the phrase I'm thankful for turkey. Notice how your tongue touches your teeth during the th and t sounds and your upper teeth touch your lower lip to say the word fo.

Speaking without your teeth is harder than you might think.

4 - Your Teeth Affect the Shape of Your Face

Here's a thought exercise: picture a 101 year old man with no teeth in your mind.

You probably saw a man who's mouth appeared "sucked in" and his face kind of seemed scrunched up and not very tall. Your teeth support your lips and cheeks and make your face appear longer. To learn more, read How Your Teeth Affect the Length and Shape of Your Face.

5 - They Keep Your Jaw Bones Strong

Your jaw bones stay as thick and strong as they are because they work hard by holding onto your teeth. Without teeth, the jaw bones begin to atrophy and shrink from lack of use. This can make it easy for your jaw to fracture — it's also a reason why people who have been missing their teeth for a very long time can't get a lower denture made that fits very well: they simply don't have enough bone to support it.

Why Are You Thankful for Your Teeth?

Did I miss any reasons why you're thankful for your teeth? Speak your mind in the comments section below. Thanks for reading, and to all of my fellow Americans: Happy Thanksgiving!