Smile more, live better: research suggests that smiling lifts your mood, eases stress and shapes how other people respond to you. Yet if you feel your smile is unattractive, you probably do not smile very often. Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA helps people feel confident enough to smile freely again.
Maybe you keep your lips closed in photos, cover your mouth when you laugh, or make a careful effort not to smile at work or in social settings. If that sounds familiar, you are far from alone. Here is why it is worth changing.
Does smiling really make a difference in your life?
You bet it does. Beyond simply making us feel happier, smiling appears to improve our quality of life in many ways. Here are five of them.
1. You look younger and more attractive
It does not take a scientific study to see this one. Whatever your age, you look better with a smile on your face. A warm, relaxed smile lifts the whole face and draws attention to your eyes. People often describe someone who smiles as friendly, approachable and full of energy.
2. Smiling helps ease stress
When you smile, your brain releases feel-good chemicals that can help lower your stress level. Some research suggests that even a deliberate smile during a stressful task may help your heart rate settle more quickly afterward. It is not a cure for a hard day, but it is a free and simple tool.
3. Smiling builds confidence
Who does not want more self-assurance? Smiling and confidence feed each other. When you feel good about your smile, you smile more, and others respond warmly, which makes you feel more confident still. The reverse is also true: hiding your smile can quietly chip away at your confidence over time.
4. Smile for success
Researchers have shown several ways smiling can improve the odds of a good outcome in personal and professional life. Those benefits come from the fact that smiling affects your own behavior as well as the behavior of the people you interact with. A smile in a job interview, a sales meeting or a first date sends a signal of warmth and openness.
5. People trust you more
Genuine smiles, the kind that involve the mouth, cheeks and eyes, convey honesty and trustworthiness. In one well-known study using economic games, people were more willing to cooperate with partners who smiled. A real smile is one of the quickest ways to build a connection.
Why some people stop smiling
Many people who hide their smile are bothered by one specific thing. Common reasons include:
- Stained, yellow or uneven-colored teeth
- Chipped, worn or broken teeth
- Crooked or crowded teeth, or gaps between teeth
- Missing teeth, or a denture that does not feel secure
- A gummy smile, or gums that look uneven
- Old dark fillings or crowns that no longer match
Over time, hiding a smile can become a habit you barely notice. People learn to smile with closed lips, turn slightly away in photos, or laugh behind a hand. Those small adjustments take effort, and they can make you seem more reserved than you really are.
The good news is that every one of these can be improved, often more simply than people expect.
How would your life change if you loved your smile?
Even small cosmetic changes can make a big difference in how your smile looks and how you feel about it. At Southern York Smile Care, we offer everything from teeth whitening to complete smile makeovers.
Simple changes
- Laser whitening to brighten a dull or stained smile, often in one visit
- Cosmetic bonding to repair small chips and close small gaps
- Tooth-colored, BPA-free white fillings to replace old dark ones
Bigger transformations
- Porcelain veneers to change the color, shape and length of front teeth
- Invisalign clear aligners to straighten teeth without metal braces
- A cosmetic gum lift to balance a gummy smile
- Dental implants to replace missing teeth
- A complete smile makeover that combines treatments into one plan
Dr. Steven Haywood trained in cosmetic dentistry through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum, is an Elite Invisalign Provider, and has been seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover. With cosmetic imaging, you can preview the kind of change you might expect before treatment begins. Browse real results in our smile gallery, or read 5 great reasons to get a smile makeover.
Keeping your smile healthy enough to show off
A confident smile starts with a healthy one. Cosmetic work looks best, and lasts longest, on healthy teeth and gums. A few everyday habits help:
- Brush twice a day for two minutes and clean between your teeth daily.
- Rinse with water after coffee, tea or red wine to limit staining.
- Choose water over soda and sports drinks, which wear and stain enamel.
- Wear a night guard if you clench or grind, since grinding flattens and chips teeth over time.
- Keep up with regular cleanings and checkups. At Southern York Smile Care, every cleaning is a full 60 minutes, with gentle polishing that removes new surface stains.
Fresh breath matters too. If you hold back your smile because you worry about your breath, a checkup can find the cause, whether it is gum inflammation, dry mouth or something else. Our article on bad breath treatment explains common causes and fixes.
Sources
- Scharlemann, J. P. W., Eckel, C. C., Kacelnik, A., and Wilson, R. K., "The value of a smile: Game theory with a human face," Journal of Economic Psychology, 2001. ScienceDirect.
- Riggio, R. E., "There's Magic in Your Smile," Psychology Today, June 25, 2012. Psychology Today.
- "10 Hidden Benefits of Smiling," PsyBlog. PsyBlog.
Taking the first step
Many people put off cosmetic care because they are unsure what is possible or worried about cost. A consultation is simply a conversation. It is a chance to ask questions and learn what is realistic for your teeth. You tell us what you would like to change, Dr. Haywood explains your options, and you decide what feels right, with no pressure.
Southern York Smile Care is out of network with every insurer: you pay at your visit and the team files any claim for reimbursement. CareCredit and Cherry payment plans are available, and Invisalign can be paid monthly after a down payment. Kelley Fisher, our Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can walk you through plans and financing. See financing. If dental visits make you nervous, oral sedation is available.
Let's look at the possibilities for your smile together. Call (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment at our Shrewsbury office, serving York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
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