As our lives seem to get more hectic and the world around us grows more chaotic every day, it’s important to practice proper self-care on a regular basis. Self-care is the act of doing anything that makes us feel better and relieves feeling of stress and insecurity.

Some common examples of self-care include meditating, taking a relaxing bubble bath, having a massage, doing yoga or other physical exercise – even eating out as a special occasion or indulging in a little retail therapy might boost our morale and therefore qualify as self care. All of these things can be effective (some more than others), but they are all temporary measures that have to be repeated frequently to have a lasting effect.

That’s why fixing your smile is the ultimate form of self-care. By correcting problems with your teeth, you are practicing a form of self-care that has permanent results and will offer an abundance of newfound self-confidence.

A smile is an incredibly important attribute that can connect us with other people and put those around us at ease. Your smile reflects confidence and your ability to express joy, love and appreciation. If you hide it because you’re afraid of being judged for your crooked or yellow teeth, it becomes hard to fully connect with people and can become an enormous source of ongoing embarrassment. The state of your teeth may be holding you back socially, romantically – even financially.

A white, straight smile, though, is easier to achieve and more affordable than ever thanks to significant advances in dental and orthodontic technology. Here are two you should know about.