One of our favorite things about the holidays is the opportunity to take the time to count our blessings and give thanks to all those things the people, places and things that fill us with gratitude. It?s pretty easy to feel grateful at Krengel Dental when considering our loyal patients, skilled staff, dedicated dentists and friendly team, just to name a few of the things on our long list. Since healthy, pearly whites and their impact on overall health is part of what gets us excited about coming into work every morning, we wanted to take some time this Thanksgiving to share five of the reasons that a healthy smile is a gift to be grateful for (and that you make sure to maintain). 
1. Smiling is good for your brain and well-being
Did you know that every time you smile, neural messages in your brain are activated, sending feel-good neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin. The act of smiling actually relaxes your body, lowers your heart rate, regulate your blood pressure and activates endorphins that act as a natural pain reliever. Showing off your smile actually makes you feel better.
2. Smiling affects those around you positively
It?s not a myth- a smile really is contagious! When we see other people smiling, research shows that it is an automatic response for us to smile in return. We all know the positive effect that someone else?s smile or the sound of laughter can have on an average day, and the research findings are consistent. Smiling at someone else passes those feel-good chemicals around and as a bonus, even makes you appear more attractive.
3. Clear speech
The ability to speak and be understood is one that is often taken for granted, and your healthy smile deserves a lot of credit. Many times, speech issues and impediments are caused by the misalignment of teeth or unhealthy teeth that move or fall out when unattended to. Clear speech also directly affects your confidence and performance, making it a good reason to be grateful and to keep your teeth happy and healthy.
4. Overall health
If there is one thing we cannot say enough times, it is that our entire body and all aspects of health are connected. Therefore, you can safely bet that a healthy mouth is linked to your overall health. Good oral hygiene is linked to lower levels of bacteria and infection which increases your protection from heart disease, periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes to name a few.
5. Money saved
Caring for your teeth is a monetary investment, and we have financial advisors as patients that have backed up our claim! A sure way to invest in your future and avoid expensive dental procedures is keeping your gums healthy, your teeth straight and your mouth clean.
We?d like to wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving from our entire Krengel Dental team and thank all of you for making every day so enjoyable and meaningful. If you or your family members are home or on break during the holidays and looking to get in for an appointment, give us a call today (952-888-1311) to get scheduled today.
