It is easy to take many different parts of our body for granted until it cannot be used anymore. Anyone who has twisted an ankle, broken a bone, or lost use of a body part can testify to the truth of this statement.
Often people do not realize how much we use a body part until it is injured. For example, the thumb is a very useful part of the body.
It is used for gripping, grabbing, scratching and a variety of other activities. The thumb is used frequently throughout the day and a person who has lost use of it may feel seriously handicapped.
Another extremely useful part of the body that is often taken for granted is the teeth. The teeth are used for much more than simply eating, but those other uses are often overlooked.
Using teeth to eat is very important and many dentists stress this point. Most people know that it is vitally important to take care of the teeth and how to provide home care for them.
However, despite this knowledge, proper home tooth care is often neglected. Sadly, these people realize their mistake when they no longer have teeth.
Perhaps the biggest thing these people will miss will be being able to eat normally. The teeth are given the task of chewing the food into small pieces that make swallowing and digestion easier.
If the food that a person ate was not properly chewed, he or she would suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction. As a result, people who have lost their teeth often developed what is called "toast and tea" syndrome.
This means that these people only eat things that are easily digested and do not need to be chewed very much. This can result in a lack of the proper nutrients that the body needs, which can result in other bodily malfunctions and malnutrition.
The diets of today will cause the teeth to show wear and tear. For the most part, teeth usually show signs of aging between the ages of 25 and 45.
The second, but often overlooked, reason teeth are important for everyday life is for speaking. The ability to effectively communicate is vital to success in the working world today.
It is also necessary to simply survive in many other aspects of our life. The English language depends on the sounds that are made from the way our tongue, teeth, and palate come into contact.
A person with teeth that lean outwards will say certain words differently than a person who has normally shaped teeth. Speech is affected by the absence of only one tooth.
Think of a child that has lost their first front tooth. Often, children speak differently than normal when their tooth is missing.
In particular, the 's' sound becomes very difficult for them to say. Some children will try to make up for this by moving their lower lip up, which results in a 'f' sound.
Adults who are missing teeth will also struggle to speak properly. Even if the adult has dentures or partial dentures, their speech will be affected.
The image of person is also affected when teeth are missing. First impressions go a long way in how one is treated in society.
Everyone makes quick judgments about another person even if they try not to. The judgment someone else makes about you could affect your ability to get job or make friends.
The appearance of the mouth is a critical element of appearance. Often a person making a judgment does not even realize that he or she is evaluating the mouth.
However, the mouth is often looked at when a conversation takes place because it is the source of the sound. How healthy the teeth appear will affect a person's attractiveness and perceived level of confidence.
The teeth not only affect the level of attractiveness in and of themselves, but the attractiveness of the entire face. The teeth provide support for the facial muscles both vertically and horizontally.
The cheeks are defined by how far the teeth push them out from the face. The cheeks would not have any support and would look sunken in and unattractive in the absence of teeth.
Overall, the teeth make a person appear more youthful and healthy. A person who is comfortable smiling can completely change how the days of those around them are going.
These people are blessings to those around them. Teeth are useful for many things that are often overlooked.
Author Resource:-
Tommy Greene is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and Salt Lake City dentist. He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
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