Psychological Impact of Bad Teeth

Often, bad teeth is associated with conditions such as gum disease, oral cavities, mouth cancer, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMJ), as dentists tells us about the effects of poor oral hygiene. However, bad teeth can also have an impact psychologically and the way we perceive others.

This post was inspired when we met a kid who wouldn’t smile. Although she would be coaxed, sweet-talked, and tickled, she refused to open her mouth to even laugh. It turned out she had badly damaged, rotting teeth that she was embarrassed about.

The psychological impact of possessing bad teeth may be skin deep, yet it is as severe as a body disease.

Pariah Consequence

Think about it. Between a job applicant with gleaming, white teeth and someone whose teeth are despicably stained, which would an employer hire? Long before the handshake and after the brief introductions, the employer would assume bad teeth applicant doesn’t know how to take care of himself compared to gleaming, white teeth.

It’s a clear discrimination on the basis of appearances and yet we’re all guilty of it. We do have bad assumptions when it comes to oral care.

Take schoolteachers who have a tendency to look down on students with bad teeth. Often bad teeth are associated with poor intelligence by these academic people.

Even with the young girl, it’s natural to suppose that she was teased about her rotting teeth to the point that she wouldn’t smile.

Low Self Esteem

Having bad teeth is as glaring as having big acne on the nose. Imagine chipping one of your front teeth. Most likely, you will tend to hide is as much as you can, because when you open your mouth, your afraid that people will immediately notice it.

Imagine if all your life you have a gap in your mouth where a tooth should be. Think about the accumulation of embarrassment that would have gathered through the years.

A case of bad teeth is a cause for low self esteem as much as bad skin, a short height, or excessive pounds or lack of it.

Speech

One of the effects of tooth loss is having an unusual speaking manner. Toothless people tend to slur their and mispronounce words and stutter, which makes it hard for others to understand what they’re saying.

As a result, people who’ve lost their teeth can only hold jobs that don’t verbally interact with other people. Moreover, they also tend to have a hard time maintaining a social relationship.

Statistics

In a survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, it was revealed that 92% of respondents think that a pretty smile is a vital societal asset. 85% believe having a crooked smile isn’t attractive to the opposite sex. 75% judge a person’s success based on their ugly smiles and half of the reviewers deem bad teeth as a consequence of poor oral hygiene.

“After a handshake, a friendly smile is one of the most important elements in creating a good first impression. However it’s hard to smile if you’re self-conscious about teeth that are yellow or stained.” – School of Dental Medicine at the University of New York.

Just imagine what the young girl will go through if she doesn’t have her teeth corrected soon.

img c/o pixabay