Did you know that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you? It’s also the feature they most easily remember. Knowing this, your smile can have a bigger impact on your professional success than you might think! When you have a healthy smile that stands out even when you’re not in the room, it can help you land a promotion, motivate others on the job, and even negotiate a better salary. So, does your smile leave a lasting impression when you’re struggling with crooked teeth, misalignment, or other orthodontic issues?
Here at Periago Orthodontics, we want all of our patients to live up to their fullest potential! Feeling self-conscious about the state of your smile can hold you back, but we offer treatment options that can help you put your best professional foot forward. Let’s take a closer look at why your smile matters when it comes to a successful career, and what Dr. Periago and her team can do to help you achieve it!
Set the tone with a smile
A genuine smile helps put others at ease while also making you appear friendlier. This is something potential employers will take notice of. When you attend a job interview, for instance, your credentials are only part of what the interviewer will be looking at! If you appear to be stiff, unfriendly or lacking the ability to connect with others, it could diminish your chances of being offered the position or promotion you’re aiming for. Successful businesses don’t just look for candidates who are qualified on paper, they also want someone who will help promote a positive work environment by building a rapport with coworkers and clients.
Smile and the world smiles with you
Humans mimic facial expressions, even when we don’t realize we’re doing it. This can trigger a similar emotional state and briefly boost our mood and the mood of those around us. It also allows us to understand the person with whom we are communicating and respond accordingly – which is why we tend to smile back when someone smiles at us. It turns out that smiling really is contagious!
A bright, healthy smile can also signal to potential employers that you could be a positive influence on those around you. A study was undertaken by scientists at the University of Kansas in which 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 reported 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 there really is power in a smile! A pleasant smile is attractive to employers and coworkers alike, and that can lead to some real advantages in the workplace.
A similar study from Yale University attempted to show this by dividing volunteers into small groups and assigning each group 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.
The halo effect
Researcher Edward Thorndike coined the term “halo effect” in 1920 to describe the way our brains attach positive qualities to a person once we see just one positive quality. Essentially, we extrapolate information about a person based on our own perception of them. While this may not be a particularly fair way to process new people we meet, it certainly shows just how significant first impressions can be!
One trait that’s been proven to kick the halo effect into gear is a bright, beautiful smile. People who have an attractive smile are naturally seen as smarter, wittier, more successful and hardworking, and more trustworthy than someone who doesn’t smile often or doesn’t prioritize their oral health. Have you been trying to get your foot in the door or close out a big deal? Your smile could be just what you need to set the halo effect off in a way that will serve you well.
Increase your self-esteem
It’s hard to step out of your comfort zone and take risks when you don’t feel confident with every part of yourself. However, that’s often just what you need for true success! If you’re satisfied with your appearance you’re more likely to feel better about yourself and having a smile you love can really boost your self-confidence. 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 number is nothing to sneeze at!
Find the secret to a successful smile at Periago Orthodontics
There’s no doubt that appearance plays an important role in how we feel about ourselves as well as how others perceive us. It can influence our overall hireability, too! At Periago Orthodontics, we can help you achieve a beautiful smile that feels great and looks amazing thanks to a variety of treatment options. These range from traditional metal braces to innovative clear aligners. Beginning your orthodontic treatment amidst COVID-19 will give you a beautiful smile to look forward to once your mask comes off! This can be very encouraging to our adult patients.
Speaking of adult patients, healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and current treatment options make it easier than ever to get the smile you’ve always wanted. While correcting orthodontic issues will improve your oral health, don’t underestimate the importance of improved self-confidence! Smiling has been connected to better moods, greater positivity, and being able to build relationships with others more easily. It’s also shown to reduce stress levels, something all of us can appreciate in this hectic day and age.
A 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. If you’re ready to learn more about how Periago Orthodontics can give you a smile that will help you leave a lasting impression, get in touch today to schedule your FREE consultation!