When it comes to the coronavirus, there hasn’t been much to smile about. But there is more to life than a capricious virus. There is love and friends and school and career and hope and hobbies and The Mandalorian and… You get the idea. Did you hear that Tom Brady is in yet another Super Bowl? Same man, different jersey. If that doesn’t make you smile, then perhaps the thought of Tom Brady losing another Super Bowl will do it for you. The point is, life goes on. And there is a lot of it yet to live.
One of the challenges to smiling is that while out and about, we are all wearing masks that cover most of our face. We can smile with our eyes. But that is not nearly as effective as a face-splitting, ear to ear grin. Since our smiles cannot be seen by people outside of our immediate household, we tend to neglect it. Far too many people have lost their smile due to the coronavirus. They have also lost their reasons to keep trying. If you are in that group, don’t let the pandemic win. Fight back and take back your smile. Here’s how:
Get a Cleaning
When was your last deep cleaning? There is a good chance that it is time for another one. While you’re there, the dentist will notice any other problems you might have. There will be a conversation about your oral health. You might need other services such as a root canal, or products to help your smile like clear aligners.
Be sure to check with your insurance company to see exactly what is covered. If you have any type of dental coverage, it almost certainly covers cleanings. That is a good place to begin with regard to rehabilitating your smile. After all, that mask is going to come off at some point, likely in the Fall. Are your teeth ready for that moment? Now is the time to start preparing.
There is also the fact that oral hygiene is always timely. Dental issues creep up silently. You almost never see them coming. By the time you are aware of them, dental work is required. By preparing your smile with a deep cleaning, you are setting yourself up for healthier teeth. A healthy mouth is a crucial first step toward a healthy smile.
Develop Smile-Friendly Eating Habits
Is that a bit of broccoli in your teeth? That’s embarrassing. Your perfect smile was wrecked by healthy eating. Don’t feel bad. It happens to everyone. Also, it is not such a bad thing. Broccoli happens to be one of the superfoods for smiles. You can help your smile along and perhaps even cut down on those visits to the dentist by snacking on the things that make your teeth strong and healthy.
That said, those healthy foods still need to be flossed from between teeth because brushing, alone, is not enough. While you’re at it, consider the foods that stain your teeth such as coffee. It doesn’t mean you can’t drink coffee. It just means you should go ahead and brush immediately afterward to prevent your smile from becoming an ad for Starbucks.
Smiling is Good for Your Health
Did you know that smiling can trick your brain into happiness? It’s true. In call centers the world around, you can here some variation of the saying, “Fake it till you make it.” It just means that while you might not feel like a million bucks right now, if you pretend to be in a good mood, you will soon be in a good mood for real.
This is not just good advice for telemarketers who take it on the chin from just about everyone they call. It works for medical professionals who are almost always seeing people at their worst. It works for law enforcement officers, social workers, and school teachers. You owe your best to everyone you meet. So start smiling at the start of the day so that by the end of the day, you were genuinely happy for most of it.
The pandemic has robbed us of our smiles but we don’t have to let it stand. Visit the dentist for a routine cleaning. Eat the superfoods for smiles. And hack your brain to produce happiness even when you thought there was none left to enjoy.
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