Even during a pandemic when many people are working from home, we live in a world where appearances play a role in what people think about us. In the corporate world, those first impressions can be extremely valuable. Whether you’re networking on Zoom, meeting an important client, or attending an interview, you’re giving out both verbal and nonverbal cues that help form a person’s perceptions about you. This includes your overall appearance, your mannerisms, and even your posture. It also includes your smile! That’s why we’re looking at how a straighter smile increases your chances of success.
You may not realize it, but a healthy smile can be perceived as an indicator of everything from intelligence to wealth. Some studies have shown that straight teeth can often be the catalyst for assumptions about a person’s popularity, success, and even their trustworthiness. We’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but it happens all the time. While snap judgments may not be fair, you can use them to your advantage when you have a beautiful smile that stands out from the crowd.
Here at Whitewater Orthodontic Studios, we’ve got the technology, treatments, and expertise to help you achieve exactly that! We can correct crooked teeth, misalignments, and many other orthodontic issues that may be affecting the way you feel about your smile. When you take the time to improve your oral health, it can have a positive effect, both personally and professionally. To learn more about how a straighter smile can increase your chances for success, keep reading below!
Give your confidence a boost
The impression your smiles leave on others is enough of a reason to explore orthodontic treatment, but a healthy smile is beneficial in other ways, too! Crooked teeth can be harder to keep clean, which increases your risk of developing cavities and tooth decay. Misalignment can cause a number of issues, including pain and tenderness in the mouth and jaw and headaches. Correcting these issues will give you a smile that looks good and feels great, too!
When you’re self-conscious about any aspect of your smile, it can also keep you from stepping outside your comfort zone in other ways. Invisalign did a survey on this subject, and found that almost 80% of adults who underwent orthodontic treatment said the improvement in their smile gave them the confidence to do something they never would have considered doing before. That’s a pretty inspiring statistic, and something to consider if you feel like your current smile is holding you back in any way.
Take advantage of others’ perceptions
Researcher Edward Thorndike described a phenomenon he called the “halo effect” about a century ago. It explains how our brains tend to attribute multiple positive qualities to a person based on us noticing just one positive quality about them. Basically, we subconsciously make up information about a person based on our own perception of them.
If you’re wondering what that has to do with smiles, you’re not alone. Invisalign was interested in the same thing and enlisted Kelton Global to conduct a perception study on the role smiles play in our perceptions. The survey was taken by over a thousand Americans, who were shown images of people with various tooth issues and asked to give an honest opinion about them. The results indicated that Americans tend to view people with straight teeth as having more desirable qualities than those with crooked teeth—including professional success!
The study also found that about two-thirds of those surveyed were more likely to remember a beautiful smile than a feature they found to be unpleasant. When you have a beautifully aligned smile on your side, you’ll be able to use those perceptions to your advantage!
Set a positive tone in almost any situation
When you greet others with a genuine smile, it helps lift the mood in the room and gives them something positive to remember about you even after you’ve said goodbye. That kind of warmth is something people will pay attention to, whether you’re trying to close an important deal, working towards a promotion, or making a new friend.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and it’s also the feature they remember most clearly when recalling you later on. If you come across as stiff or unfriendly because you’re hiding your smile, it can hurt your chances of success on a personal and professional level. Orthodontics can give you a smile you’re happy to share with everyone around you, which will make you more memorable.
Find success with a smile from Whitewater Orthodontic Studios
Like it or not, we live in a society where how you look determines what others think of you at first, even when they’re not aware of that impulse. But it’s not all about cosmetic appearances! A healthy smile has also been linked to better moods, increased positivity, and reduced stress levels.
Orthodontic treatment can help you achieve a smile that looks beautiful and is fully functional, too. When you feel confident about having a straighter smile, it can increase your chance of making a positive first impression that lasts. There’s no dental referral necessary to make an appointment with Dr. Leavitt, and our consultations are free of charge. It’s the perfect time to take the first step in your orthodontic journey!
If you’re in Lakewood, Yelm, Lacey or the surrounding communities, Whitewater Orthodontic Studios has what it takes to give you a beautiful smile you’ll want to share with the world. Get in touch today to schedule your FREE consultation with Dr. Leavitt.
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Dr. Leavitt