Here’s five ways that smiling turns the tumblers so that the doors will open before you.
Attractiveness
Attractiveness is the most obvious way that smiling can open doors that might otherwise be closed. More attractive people are more likely to be hired, and more likely to be offered better salaries, as we’ve mentioned before. Of course, having attractive teeth can help with this, but the mere act of smiling can also help you look more attractive.
A smiling face is perceived as younger than a frowning face, and thinner, too. And smiling helps other people to feel happy, so it can give a more positive feeling about the applicant.
Intelligence
It’s perhaps less intuitive, but no less proven that people with better teeth are perceived as being more intelligent. Some of this is related to our general sense that people who are more attractive are better in many other ways, too. A study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) showed that getting even minor tooth problems fixed led people to be considered significantly more intelligent. Another study showed that people with straight teeth were considered 10% more intelligent than those with crooked teeth. And people are considered significantly less intelligent if they have missing teeth.
This is also related to the fact that people with higher education levels tend to have better oral health. Tooth loss is highest among people who didn’t graduate from high school, and people with higher education levels have better oral health throughout life.
Successful
Nothing succeeds like success, so if you can go into any situation already looking successful. Having a more attractive smile can do that for you. The AACD study showed that people were considered more successful if they had minor smile problems corrected. Studies by Invisalign also showed that people with straighter teeth were considered more successful.
This is, again, partly related to our sense of equating goodness with attractiveness, but it’s also partly related to the fact that people who are successful tend to take better care of their teeth. They tend to have less tooth decay and fewer lost teeth. They’re also more likely to have had cosmetic dentistry.
Approachable
People want to be with people that they feel good working with. Having a friendly, open smile helps with this. People who smile are more likely to be perceived as open and approachable. You look like someone who is prepared to take on challenges and consider new ideas.
This is equally important if you’re being considered for management. People need to feel that they can approach their boss with questions and concerns. In today’s increasingly emotive workplace, a smile helps managers maintain the kind of personal-professional relationship that encourages workers to give their all on a job.
Reduces Prejudice
We’d like to think that our workplaces are open and inviting to everyone, but the truth is that people daily face challenges because people can’t see past their race and gender. It turns out that smiling can help with that.
According to a recent study, people who are smiling are less likely to be labeled with stereotypes based on their race and gender.
It’s likely that smiling just activates a more human connection between us, the kind of connection you want to foster if you want to be considered an equal.
What Doors Can You Open?
A smile, even a beautiful smile, isn’t a magic key, but it can definitely help level the playing field for you. If you are looking for a smile that won’t keep holding you back, please call (248) 656-2020 today for an appointment with a Detroit cosmetic dentist at Rochester Advanced Dentistry.
