When it comes to gaining influence and persuading people to warm to you, your smile could be your greatest asset. Research has shown that an attractive smile is an important factor in making a good first impression, whereas people who avoid smiling can come across as cold or unfriendly.
What People Think of Your Smile
A survey conducted by independent research group Kelton in 2012 revealed that almost half of all Americans think that a person’s smile is their most attractive feature, and that a beautiful smile can persist into old age. An even greater percentage of people said that a smile matters more than any other factor when forming a first impression of a new acquaintance.
Unfortunately, not all smiles are treated equally. Over a third of people surveyed said that bad teeth make a person appear less attractive, and a quarter consider people with less-than-perfect teeth to be under-confident.
Can a Beautiful Smile Lead to Success?
The findings of the study are perhaps not surprising. Beautiful smiles adorn the covers of celebrity magazines and beam at us from the television. Even though the range of who is considered attractive varies wildly, encompassing a wide range of skin tones, hair styles, and facial features, the one thing that all heartthrobs have in common is a gorgeous smile.
Celebrity Smiles
Who would have guessed that movie star Tom Cruise once had crooked teeth? Clips from the 1980s movie The Outsiders reveal the young star’s misaligned teeth, which according to co-star Patrick Swayze made Cruise so self-conscious that he avoided attending photo shoots. Dental work fixed Tom Cruise’s smile and allowed him to develop the confidence he needed to have an amazingly successful cinematic career.
Other celebrities who have enjoyed success since upgrading their smile include Zac Efron, who had a noticeable gap between his front teeth as a young teenager. Kirsten Dunst, Demi Moore, and Miley Cyrus have also undergone dental work to transform their flawed smiles into gorgeous grins.
Invest in Your Smile
With so many stories of people achieving success after having their smile fixed, it is not surprising that more Americans are willing to spend money on their teeth than on any other part of their appearance, such as their hair or skin.
The good news is that changing your smile can now be achieved without having to lock your teeth away behind ugly metal braces. Thanks to the development of invisible braces – a system known as Invisalign – both celebrities and ordinary people can improve the appearance of their smile without embarrassment.
