Did you know you can leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile? Not only is it one of the first things people notice when they meet you, but it’s also the feature they tend to remember most when recalling your face. That means a healthy, attractive smile can go a long way if you’re trying to stand out in an interview, negotiate a raise, or even motivate others in your workplace!
If you have crooked teeth, misalignment, or other orthodontic issues, you may be struggling with the idea of your smile leaving a lasting impression on important people. Here at Brady Orthodontics, our goal is to help you reach your full potential! We know that feeling self-conscious about your smile can hold you back personally and professionally. The good news is there are a variety of treatment options available to help you achieve a straighter smile you’ll be proud to show off!
Let’s take a closer look at why smiles matter so much, anyway, and how our talented Brady Orthodontics team can help you harness that power.
Smiling is contagious
Human beings excel at mimicking facial expressions, whether it’s done subconsciously or on purpose. This helps 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 happy smile can also send a signal to the people around you that you’re a positive influence. Yale University set out to demonstrate this in a study by dividing volunteers into small groups and assigning specific tasks. One team member was secretly instructed to act upbeat 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 did their own 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 had 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 employees and coworkers.
The Halo Effect
In the early 1920s, a researcher by the name of Edward Thorndike came up with 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 can give your smile the boost it needs to help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door!
Set the tone with a smile
A genuine smile helps to set the tone in any situation. If you’re confident in yours, it’s something potential employers will really pay attention to! 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!
A confident smile can open new doors
If you suffer from a lack of self-esteem that’s related to your smile—or anything else, for that matter!—you may not have the confidence to step outside your comfort zone. However, that’s often exactly what’s necessary for true success! Feeling happy with your appearance can make you feel better about your life in general, and having a smile you love can play a big part in that.
To show this, Invisalign conducted a survey on this very topic and found that almost 80% of adults who underwent 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 speak for you, we can help!
Leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile from Brady Orthodontics
Like it or not, our appearance can play an important role in how we feel about ourselves and how others respond to us, too. Our talented team can help you achieve an amazing smile that you’ll be proud to share with the world!
Smiling has been linked to better moods, increased positivity, and being able to connect with others more easily. It’s also been shown to reduce stress levels, which is certainly something we can all appreciate in 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!
If you’re interested in learning more about how Brady Orthodontics can help you leave a lasting impression with an amazing smile, contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation with Dr. Brady.
