They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression and nothing impresses people more than a bright smile.   According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 40 percent of people notice a smile first with the people they work with and 96 percent of people believe that a smile is one of the most important features of a person’s appearance.   But what if that smile is full of rotten, broken, missing, or stained teeth? Well, that first appearance won’t be so impressive after all.   Of course, there are other reasons why you should have a smile filled with pearly whites besides making a good first impression and almost every one of those reasons will help you create a better life experience for yourself.   There are many reasons for sporting a brighter smile other than making a good first impression, but that reason itself is a big one.  

Bright Smile and First Impressions  

First impressions don’t take long. Within the first seven seconds of meeting you, people will have an idea of who you are. That being the case, there is not enough time for you to speak your way into someone’s heart but a simple smile only takes a second to perform. This smile is so powerful that it can engender warmth and trust in another person’s mind. These two emotional impacts are invaluable for making instant connections on a personal and professional level. As the Chinese proverb goes, “A smile gains more friends than a long face.”  

Bright Smile and Confidence  

Believe it or not, a bright, white smile can build your confidence. This is not just a theoretical statement either, it is a scientific fact. When a person smiles at another person, endorphins are released into the brain which gives a sense of happiness and self-esteem. Being accepted builds confidence. In order, to be accepted you need to accept others. One of the easiest ways to show acceptance to others is through a smile.  

Bright Smile and Stress Reduction  

Remember the endorphin release a smile brings to the brain? Well, besides engendering confidence, this endorphin release also helps people recover from stressful situations. One study found that smiling during stressful situations could even help the physical heart. Emotional stimuli seem to take precedence over physical stimuli when it comes to the brain’s interpretation of a situation. So, when a person smiles during a stressful event, the brain interprets it as a positive situation and sends the message to release endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and other health-promoting chemicals throughout the body as a sort of reward (i.e., “It’s time to party!”)   It seems like the adage, “grin and bear it” is correct after all.  

Bright Smile and Immune System  

Less stress and more self-confidence make for a happy person. Guess what? Happy people tend to have stronger immune systems. In a recent study, participants were exposed to the cold virus and those who experienced more positive emotions were less likely to develop the cold. Smiling helps the body feel more relaxed due to the release of the various chemicals previously mentioned along with other relaxing neurotransmitters. This smiling-induced relaxed state is what allows your immune system to perform at optimal levels, which helps your body defend itself against foreign invaders.

 Ways to Keep Your Smile Bright

 If you want to smile more and receive all of the benefits listed above then you should make sure that your teeth are in good shape. Of course, you can still smile with bad teeth and build a stronger immune system and reduce your stress but your first impressions and perhaps your self-confidence will not benefit that much from doing so. To receive the full benefits of smiling with a nice set of teeth you can take certain natural precautions to make sure your smile remains in good condition. If those precautions prove not to be enough, then you can try a few dental procedures that are proven to produce bright, white teeth. Below you will find the top three natural and top three dental routes to keeping your teeth healthy or at least appearing healthy even if they are not so.

 Avoid Drinks That Stain

Any drink that can stain your white clothes can stain your teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine, and colas can all stain teeth. This doesn’t mean that you have to avoid these beverages completely, just limit them to avoid the chances of staining your teeth.   Brush and Floss   This should seem obvious but many Americans don’t brush or floss their teeth the required number of times needed to support healthy teeth and gums. 32 percent of Americans don’t floss their teeth and three out of ten American millennials fail to brush their teeth the recommended two times per day. The basics of good dental hygiene stipulate that people should brush their teeth at least twice per day but preferably after every meal. As for flossing, that should be done at least once per day.  

Drink Lots of Water  

Perhaps the simplest thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy and strong is to drink as much water as you can. Water washes away excess food and bacteria lingering around the mouth. What is more, water helps to neutralize acidity, which can weaken the teeth by eroding tooth enamel.  Aside from drinking water regularly throughout the day, it is also useful to rinse your mouth with water after every meal. Doing so will accelerate the remineralization process of your teeth.  

Teeth Whitening  

If your teeth are stained or damaged beyond the point where natural procedures are rendered ineffective, then you could visit your local dentist to get your teeth bleached. Your dentist will either perform an in-office teeth whitening procedure or will give you a home- whitening kit to do it yourself. The procedure, when done at the dentist’s office, takes one or two hours and usually requires two visits to complete. When done at home, the procedure may take two to four weeks longer than when having it done in-office.

 Dental Implants

If you have any missing teeth, then you can go to your local dentist and enquire about dental implants. Implants are a long-term solution for missing teeth. <a href="https://www.melrosedental.com.au/teeth-whitening">Dental implants</a> should not be confused with bridges or dentures as they are surgically implanted into the jawbone. In other words, they cannot be removed or loosened as they are now part of your jawline just like your regular set of teeth.   Dental implants include the following threefold process:    Insertion of titanium metal into the jawbone  Applying an abutment to the portion of the implant that sticks out from the gums.  Creating and inserting a crown, which looks like a real-life tooth. It is possible to get dental implants for a single tooth or two or more teeth.   

Bonding  

This dental procedure is especially useful for chipped, broken, or stained teeth and also teeth that have unsightly gaps between them. Bonding is a relatively simple procedure that can usually be done in a single office visit. During the bonding session, the dentist will apply an etching solution to the damaged tooth and then apply composite resins or other tooth-coloring solutions to the area of the tooth that needs it. This dental procedure is not a permanent solution to your tooth problems as it will only last for a couple of years and can even chip, stain, or break during that time.   Smiling can boost your mood, improve your relationships with others, and even increase your health and well-being. However, no one wants to see a smile full of broken, missing or stained teeth. If you want to smile more often and obtain all the mental, physical, and social benefits it offers but don’t feel confident that your teeth are up to par, then you can try some of the natural and dental treatments listed above.   So go ahead and smile, it’s good for you.