Many people are not aware of it, but your smile is one of the most memorable things about you! Not only is it one of the very first things people notice when they meet you, but it’s also the feature they tend to remember about you most. That means you can leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile in your personal and professional life!
So what does that mean if you’ve spent years dealing with crooked or misaligned teeth or other orthodontic issues? You may be struggling with health issues caused by these conditions and your self-confidence could take a serious hit. Here at Hunter Family Orthodontics, we want to help you unlock your full potential! We know that feeling self-conscious about your smile can hold you back and keep you from achieving your goals. Luckily, there are a variety of treatment options available in the Woodlands to help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile you’ll be proud to show off!
Let’s take a closer look at why smiles matter so much and how our talented team can help you harness that power.
Set the tone with a smile
There’s no doubt that a genuine smile can help set the tone in any situation. If you’re confident in your smile, it’s something potential employers will really take notice of! When you attend a job interview, your credentials are only part of what the interviewer will be looking at. Even if you’re qualified in every other way, coming across as stiff or unfriendly could actually hurt your chances of being offered the position or promotion you desire. Successful companies don’t just want a candidate who looks good on paper— they also want someone who can help contribute to a positive work environment for everyone!
Smiling really is contagious
Human beings excel at mimicking facial expressions, whether it’s done subconsciously or on purpose. Doing this allows us to understand the person we’re communicating with and respond appropriately. It can also trigger a similar emotional state in those around us. Mirroring a positive expression can even give our mood a brief boost!
A bright, beautiful smile can also send a signal to those around you that you’re a positive influence. Yale University set out to demonstrate this in a study by dividing volunteers into different groups and assigning specific tasks. One team member was secretly directed to act cheerful as they entered the room, and when they came in with a smile on their face, the mood in the room noticeably improved! This study also found that each individual’s performance was better and the group itself was more likely to achieve its goal.
Scientists at the University of Kansas conducted a similar study. Subjects were given stressful tasks to complete and some participants were asked to smile during these tasks while others were told to maintain a straight face. Researchers measured the heart rates of the participants and the subjects were asked to self-report their stress levels as they performed the tasks.
Those who had been told to smile were found to have lower heart rates and their bodies actually showed increased resistance to stress. They also reported feeling more positive overall than those who were told to keep a straight face. This is a great example of just how powerful the act of smiling can be! It also explains why it’s such an attractive trait to employers and coworkers.
The Halo Effect
In the early 1920s, a researcher by the name of Edward Thorndike coined the term “halo effect” as a way to describe how our brains attribute multiple positive qualities to a person based on us noticing just one positive quality. In other words, we tend to make up information about a person based on our own perception of them. While this may not be the fairest way to judge someone we’ve just met, it definitely highlights how important first impressions can be!
One trait that’s been proven to get the halo effect going is an attractive smile. Research has shown that people with a winning smile are often perceived as smarter, more successful, and even more trustworthy than someone who doesn’t smile often. Orthodontic treatment could give your smile the boost it needs to help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door!
Taking risks thanks to a confident smile
If you suffer from a lack of self-esteem related to your smile—or anything else, for that matter—you may not have the confidence to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. However, this is often exactly what’s required for true success! Feeling confident in your appearance can make you feel better about your life in general, and having a smile you love plays a big part in that.
To show this, Invisalign conducted a survey on this very topic and found that almost 80% of adults who completed orthodontic treatment said having a healthier smile gave them the confidence to do something they never would have considered doing before. If you’ve been too nervous to let your smile shine through, our team is here to help!
Make a mark with a beautiful smile from Hunter Family Orthodontics
Smiling has been directly linked to better moods, greater positivity, and being able to easily connect with others. It’s also been shown to reduce stress levels, which is certainly something we can all appreciate given the hectic pace of today’s society! A healthy, attractive smile you feel confident about can help you make a positive first impression, and may even give you the edge you need to achieve your career goals!
Like it or not, our appearance can play an important role in how we feel about ourselves and how others respond to us. Our talented doctors can help you leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile that you’ll be proud to share with the world!
If you’re interested in learning more about how Hunter Family Orthodontics can help you leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile, contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation with Dr. Hunter.