Leave A Lasting Impression With A Beautiful Smile

Here at Surf City Smiles, we want to help all of our patients live up to their fullest potential. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and it’s also the feature they most easily recall, which is just one reason why it can have a big impact on your career. A healthy smile that stands out even when you’re not in the room can help you land a promotion, motivate others on the job, and even negotiate a better salary. So what happens when you’re struggling with crooked teeth, misalignment, or other orthodontic issues? 

Feeling self-conscious about the state of your smile can hold you back professionally, but our treatment options can help you put your best foot forward at work! Let’s take a look at why smiles matter so much in the professional world, and what we can do to help you get ahead!

Fake it til you make it

Even when we don’t realize we’re doing it, us humans mimic facial expressions. This can trigger a similar emotional state and briefly boost our mood. It also allows us to understand the person whom we are  communicating with and respond appropriately. That’s why smiling is contagious!

A healthy smile can also signal to potential employers that you could be a positive influence to those around you. A Yale University study attempted to show this by dividing volunteers into small groups and assigning specific tasks. One team member was secretly instructed to act upbeat upon entering the room. When that person came in with a smile on their face and a positive attitude, the mood in the room lifted almost immediately! The study also found that each individual’s performance improved and the group itself was more likely to achieve the goal it had been given.

A similar study was undertaken by scientists at the University of Kansas, where subjects were given stressful tasks to complete. 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 showed more resistance to stress. They also reported feeling more positive overall than those who were told to keep a straight face, proving the power in a smile! A bright smile is attractive to employers and coworkers alike, and that can lead to you gaining some real advantages in the workplace.  

The Halo Effect

A researcher by the name of Edward Thorndike coined the term “halo effect” in 1920 to describe the way our brains attribute multiple positive qualities to a person if we see just one positive quality. We extrapolate information about a person based on our own perception of them, in other words. While it may not be the most fair-minded way to process new people we meet, it definitely highlights just how significant first impressions can be!

One trait that’s been proven to kickstart the halo effect is an attractive smile. People with a winning smile are naturally seen as smarter, wittier, more successful and hardworking, and more trustworthy than someone who doesn’t smile often or struggles with oral health. If you’ve been trying to get your foot in the door or close out a big deal, Surf City Smiles could serve you well!

Set the tone with a smile

A genuine smile helps put others at ease, and it can also make you appear friendlier. This is something potential employers pay attention to! When you attend a job interview, for instance, your credentials are only part of what the interviewer will be looking at! If you come across as stiff or unfriendly, it could hurt your chances of being offered the position or promotion you desire. Successful companies don’t just want a candidate who is qualified on paper— they’re also looking for someone who will be able to contribute to a positive work environment by building a rapport with coworkers and clients. 

Say hello to increased self-esteem

When you don’t feel confident in yourself, it can be really hard to step outside your comfort zone to take risks. Yet this is often exactly what’s required for true success! Being happy with your appearance can make you feel better about yourself, and having a smile you love can really boost your self-confidence. In fact, Invisalign actually conducted a survey on this and found that almost 80% of adults who underwent orthodontic treatment said that having a healthier smile gave them the confidence to do something they never would have considered doing before. That’s a pretty impressive number!

Leave a lasting impression thanks to Surf City Smiles 

Our appearance plays an important role in how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us, and it can influence the way employers look at us, too. Dr. Carlson and the Surf City Smiles can help you achieve a beautiful smile that looks and feels fantastic! We offer a range of treatment options for patients of all ages, from traditional metal braces to the Invisalign clear aligners. These treatments are more comfortable and discreet than ever before, something our adult patients love!

Speaking of adult patients, healthy teeth can be moved at any age. In fact, almost 25% of current orthodontic patients are over 18! Correcting any existing orthodontic issues will improve your oral health, but don’t underestimate the importance of improved self-confidence, too! Smiling has been linked to better moods, greater positivity, and being able to connect with others more easily. It’s also been shown to reduce stress levels, something we can all appreciate considering the average family’s schedule.

A healthy, beautiful smile can increase your self-esteem, help you make a positive first impression, and even give you the edge you need to achieve the career goals you’ve set for yourself. Want to know more about how we can give you a smile that will help you get ahead? Get in touch with us today to schedule your complimentary consultation!