When First Impressions Count:

Let Your Teeth Do the Talking

When you need to make a good first impression, make sure your teeth are working for you and not against you.

Have you ever heard the expression ‘a million dollar smile’?  It’s been applied to everyone from movie stars (like Angelina Jolie) to motivational speakers (like Tony Robbins).  And that’s because a great smile can be worth a million dollars as far as making a great impression.

In Psychology Today magazine, Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, and a pioneer of research on facial expressions, revealed the importance of smiling.  “We (respond to) a smile from 30 meters away,” he says.  “A smile lets us know that we’re likely to get a positive reception, and it’s hard not to reciprocate.”

In other words, when you smile at someone, they want to smile back at you.  That immediately sets up a positive interaction, even before a word is spoken.  What a great way to start off a job interview!

All Eyes Are On Your Mouth

It’s a simple fact of life: how you present yourself to others is essential to your success in both personal and professional situations.  When you meet a prospective employer or have a chance encounter with a prospective ‘love connection,’ the other person will form a first impression of you in a matter of seconds.

Your smile can be an important tool for making that first impression a good one.

In a job interview or on a first date, you’ll almost certainly be talking.  And as well as focusing on your words, the person on the other side of the conversation will also be focusing on your mouth.  With a brighter smile, you instantly stand out from the crowd.  Others will be drawn to you and want to listen to every word you have to say.

A bright white smile and a set of healthy, well-cared for teeth and gums say many things about you.  Perhaps the most important thing they convey to others is that you take pride in your appearance and care about your health.

Speak with Confidence

People with teeth that are stained, discolored or otherwise not ‘in shape,’ may feel self-conscious.  So they refrain from speaking freely.  Or they may unconsciously put their hands in front of their mouths when they talk.  But when your teeth and gums are healthy, you have the confidence to express yourself.  And confidence is a very appealing characteristic.

Missing, crooked, and broken teeth are problems for lots of people. Sadly, many of them don’t take the time and effort to do anything about it.  And that’s a shame because modern dentistry has so many amazing techniques and procedures that can help.

It really starts with regular check-ups and cleanings.  That’s the baseline of a healthy, happy smile.  After that, there’s practically no end to what can be done to make your mouth look and feel great.

Tooth whitening can banish coffee stains and remove the yellow left behind from smoking.  Invisible braces can remove gaps and get your teeth in line.  Perhaps you’re a candidate for an ‘extreme makeover’ with dental implants or veneers.  Whatever you choose, you can be certain that the investment you make in a ‘million dollar’ smile will pay for itself a thousand times over.