Here at Johnson Orthodontics, we are invested in more than creating beautiful smiles for our patients—we want to help you recognize your full potential, too! Numerous studies have shown that a healthy, attractive smile can help you succeed, whether you’re applying for your dream job, closing out an important sale, or looking to change careers. But what happens if you have poor oral health, crooked teeth, or other orthodontic issues? Keep reading to find out how you can increase your chances for success with a straighter smile.
If you feel like the current state of your smile is holding you back from achieving your career goals, we’re here to help! We have a variety of customized treatment options available for every budget, so let’s take a look at why smiles matter so much when it comes to achieving success and how we can give you one that will stand out from the crowd.
Use first impressions to your advantage
About a hundred years ago, a researcher by the name of Edward Thorndike coined a term to describe the way we tend to attribute many positive qualities to a person if we see just one positive quality. When this “halo effect” is in action, we subconsciously assume information about a person is true based on nothing more than our perception of them. Snap judgments may not be fair, but they do show you how important first impressions can be for success!
One of the features that can get the halo effect going is a beautiful smile. If you greet someone with a genuine smile, they’re more likely to assume that you also possess other qualities they admire and respect. They may peg you as intelligent and hardworking even if they don’t have any real evidence of this. If you’re looking to make a lasting impression, a confident smile you love can go a long way towards making you more memorable to prospective employers.
Set the stage for success
As humans, we’re masters at mimicking facial expressions! This is often an unconscious process that can trigger a similar emotional state in the person we’re speaking to. It also allows us to understand the person we’re communicating with and respond appropriately. That’s why we tend to smile back when someone smiles at us, and why doing so can briefly boost our mood. It turns out that “smiling is contagious” isn’t just a cliche!
Your smile can also signal positivity to your employer or clients. This is more important than you might think, as evidenced by a recent Yale University study. Volunteers were split into small groups and assigned specific tasks. One team member was secretly instructed to act upbeat and positive while performing those tasks. When that person entered the room with a smile on their face, the mood of the group lifted instantly! Researchers also found that each person’s performance improved, and the group was more likely to achieve its overall goal.
Scientists at the University of Kansas also explored this topic. Subjects were given stressful tasks, with some participants being asked to smile during these tasks and some being told to maintain a straight face. Their heart rates were measured as they worked, and their self-reported stress levels were recorded. The subjects who were smiling showed lower heart rates than their counterparts, and their body’s response to stress was reduced. They also reported feeling more positive overall than those who did not smile. We think that’s pretty compelling evidence that a happy smile can be attractive to employers and coworkers alike, and can lift the mood in any workplace.
The power of positivity
When someone flashes you a genuine smile, it’s almost impossible not to respond in kind. It puts us at ease and can really set the tone in any situation. If you feel good about your smile, you’re more likely to share it with others. This can work to your benefit for things like job interviews and client meetings! Even if you have impressive credentials, an employer may be hesitant to hire or promote you if you come across as stiff or unfriendly. That’s because successful companies aren’t just looking for qualified candidates, they’re looking for someone who will be a good fit for their team and contribute to a positive work environment.
Get outside your comfort zone
When you feel self-conscious about your smile, you may feel really uncomfortable about stepping outside your comfort zone to take risks. But success often involves doing exactly that! When you’re happy with your overall appearance, you tend to feel better about yourself in general. Having a smile you love can be a powerful boost to your confidence! To test this, Invisalign conducted a survey on the impact of straight teeth. They found that nearly 80% of adults who had orthodontic treatment said a straighter smile gave them the confidence to do something they never would have done before.
A successful smile is waiting for you at Johnson Orthodontics
As much as we talk about not judging books by their covers, we live in a society where our appearance can definitely play a role in how we’re perceived. It may even influence our hireability!
When you begin an orthodontic journey with Johnson Orthodontics, you’re taking the first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile you’ll want to share with everyone around you. This can lead to greater confidence, increased opportunities, and more chances for success! We believe patients deserve a smile that looks and feels great. We’re able to move healthy teeth at any age, and many orthodontic issues can be corrected just as easily in adults as children and teens.
Correcting crooked teeth and misalignment will improve your oral health, and can also lead to better moods, greater positivity, and a reduction in your stress levels. Are you ready to transform your smile into something special? Get in touch today and schedule your FREE consultation with Dr.Johnson!