Do you love your teeth? We mean, really love them. Do you appreciate all that they do for you? Are you really grateful that you have them, no matter how much trouble they may be giving you now?

People who are most happy with their smiles have healthy, straight teeth that sparkle when they laugh. If nature didn’t bless you with attractive teeth, you are not alone. Most perfect smiles you come across were not always that way. They are the result of cosmetic dentistry performed by an experienced dentist.

If you do not truly love your teeth we urge you to take a few moments every now and then to really think about how great teeth are so that you’ll be sure to show them some real love by taking care of them in the way they deserve.

Let’s look at why everyone ought to love their love teeth and care for them:

• A beautiful smile sends a message to the people who see it. It says you care about your appearance enough to take care of yourself. It doesn’t signal that you’re vain and obsessed with your looks. Instead, knowing that you take good care of your teeth allows you to beam a big smile when you meet friends and acquaintances. People are drawn to those with self-confidence. If your teeth are in poor condition you may not smile as much as you’d like, possibly keeping potential new friends at bay.

• Your teeth can be an indication of your overall health. Unhealthy teeth and gums (which present themselves if you don’t practise proper oral hygiene) can lead to a whole host of bad health issues, including heart disease.

• Your teeth and gums — so long as they’re healthy — allow you to eat just about any food you want, any time you want. Ask anyone who has lost one or more teeth, or who has major gum issues, and he or she will tell you that that ability to eat anything at any time is nothing to take for granted.

• Unhealthy teeth and gums also mean you could suffer from painful swollen gums, mouth lesions/ulcers or dry mouth.

• Loving your teeth means you visit your dentist at least two times a year for a professional cleaning and check-up. Oral cancer is a nasty disease and your dentist can discover the beginning stages of this disease during one of those visits, helping you get the treatment you need as soon as possible.

We urge you to show some appreciation and love to your teeth by taking care of them properly. It doesn’t take much effort or time — certainly not nearly the constant effort your teeth exert for you as they eat and display a beautiful smile.

All you need to do is brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, visit the dentist at least two times a year, watch your sweet intake, and never smoke (or quit). That’s pretty much all you need to do to show your teeth some love and reap the benefits of doing so.

Dr Sharon Robinson, DDS, has offices at the Dental Place Cosmetix Spa, located at Shop #5, Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. Dr Robinson is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, School of Oral Health Sciences. She may be contacted at 630-4710. Like their Facebook page, Dental Place Cosmetix Spa.