The ability to smile with confidence matters, so says a research survey prompted by the British Dental Association and carried out by YouGov. The value of a confident smile has important implications for the individual, as it can affect how the individual perceives themselves, affect their relationships with others and even influences how well they fare in a job interview.

In the survey that comprised of 2,028 participants,77 per cent of respondents reported that job applicants with poor dental appearance (crooked teeth, dental decay, missing teeth) were more  likely to receive negative social judgements than those with pleasing smiles, and less likely to get the job, especially if the job or promotion on offer is a public-facing one.

What do smiles convey?

The look of one’s teeth counts because of the inferences others make about one’s character based on what they see. Smiles that reveal dental imperfections such as crooked teeth convey the impression of limited intelligence, lower social class, untrustworthiness, unfriendliness, and are thought to be less popular, unhealthy and less likely to get on in life.

Aesthetically pleasing smiles that show off straight teeth are rewarded with positive inferences of their wearer’s character – they are deemed to be friendlier, trustworthy and of higher intellect.

It is not only the negative social judgements formed by others that can have adverse consequences for the individual, but the individual’s own sense of self can be impacted too. Feeling conscious of one’s smile can lead to feelings of insecurity and poor self-esteem. These undesirable thinking patterns can become all the more worrying when an individual feels compelled to withdraw from social engagements or interacting with others, and may even lead them to become depressed. In turn, depression can lead one to neglect one’s health – general and oral health.

Patients who wish to create a more favourable impression with their smiles can look to dental treatments likebraces Windsor to help them attain the look of a designer smile.

The field oforthodontics is an efficacious way to correct common teeth and bite imperfections such as overcrowding, gaps in the dental arch and prominent upper and lower jaws, through repositioning teeth with orthodontic devices and thereby improving the look of teeth. Once teeth are properly realigned into a more optimal position, patients improve their teeth function in that they can once again bite and chew with full confidence and no discomfort.

While the primary role of orthodontics is to improve the aesthetics and function of teeth, they play a secondary role that should in no way be discounted – that of promoting the long-standing oral health of the patient. This is achieved by making teeth and gums easier to keep clean and less susceptible to plaque and tartar forming. Other additional dental benefits include protecting teeth from damage and protecting jaw muscles from being overstressed and relieving the patient from related pain and discomfort including headaches. Like the smile, a healthy mouth is another influential factor in boosting one’s confidence and self-esteem. Patients who want to view their smile more positively and think they could benefit from orthodontic care should get in touch with an experienced dental practitioner at their local dental clinic.