Having a perfect smile is an important characteristic in today’s image driven society. As much as we hate to admit it, our physical appearances, how we carry ourselves, and first impressions dramatically impact our daily lives. Having a perfect smile can not only impact our friendships and love relationships, but also our career success.
Below, you will find 5 benefits of having a perfect smile.
Get Paid More- People that have whiter and attractive smiles get paid more.
Studies have shown that attractive people with perfect smiles are hired and promoted at higher frequency than their counterparts. Now, is this fair? No, it is completely unfair. But today’s society is driven by people obsessed with perfect images that they see on social media like Instagram and Facebook.
According to a recent study by Kelton Research:
In the study, respondents were shown images of people with varying tooth issues and asked to give their honest opinion about them, unaware that they were comparing people with straight teeth to crooked teeth.
Results of the study indicated Americans perceive people with straight teeth to have more desirable qualities than those with crooked teeth, including attributes such as being happy, surrounded by loved ones, and professionally successful.
First Impression- Your smile really does make the first impression on people.
First impression are made in the first 10 seconds and can impact your life in a good way and in a bad way. Remember the saying, “Your smile is one of the first things people notice?”. Well, that statement still holds true to this day and most people are aware of it. When you first meet people, be it in a professional setting or a personal setting they will evaluate how you look and how you act. One of the best things you can do for yourself to make a great first impression is to invest in your smile. A pearly white smile goes a long way when meeting people.
According to the Kelton study AACDT First Impression:
Nearly half of adults (48%) believe that a smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting someone—more so than the first thing a person says (25%). And nothing else even comes close to the impact a great smile can make. Fewer of us would be likely to remember a person’s clothes (9%) or the way he or she smelled (8%) after meeting for the first time.
Self-Confidence- A bright smile can boost your self-esteem and confidence.
Have you ever seen anyone hold their hands over their mouth when they smile? Have you yourself ever practiced smiling in the mirror to make sure you are not showing off your flaws? Well, this is a normal experience for many people. Kelton studies have shown that teeth alignment and enamel color in young teens and adults plays a huge role in the early development of self-esteem and confidence. This confidence carries over into adulthood.
The studies have shown that people with stained, crowded, and imperfect smiles tended to be mor self-conscious, shy, and were embarrassed to interactive with others. Improvement in one’s smile can boost confidence, self-esteem, and outlook in life. This change can improve a person’s personal and professional life.
Health Benefits- Investments in oral health improve the overall health.
While, oral healthy does not automatically mean that you must have a ‘perfect’ white pearly smile. We can certainly say that people that have invested in perfecting their smiles tend to have better overall oral health. The WHO says, “Oral diseases pose a major health burden for many countries and affect people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement and even death.” Early intervention in one’s oral health and smiles can help alleviate oral disease and death.
The investment in one’s oral health does start an early age. Good brushing and regular dental check-ins can save thousands of dollars in dental procedures. Also, it is never late to start investing in your oral health.
Smiling Leads to Life Longevity- You live longer if you smile more.
Now you might think to yourself, ‘No way does me smiling mean that I’m going to live longer’. But you would be surprised by reading the research done at Wayne State University on smiling and longevity. The research study looked at Major Leagues baseball players smiles on their baseball cards over a period and concluded that players who smiled in their photos lived on average 7 years longer!
Smiling more has also been linked to reduction of stress, anxiety, and lower heart rates. It has also been linked to increased endorphins, improvement of immunes systems and overall better health. I
All these reasons and many more are why people invest in perfecting their smiles. Its never too late to correct your smile and achieve your own Perfect Smile.