Have you ever looked at someone and noticed what a gorgeous, natural, and confident smile they’ve got? Or looked at photos of yourself and cringed at your awkward smile? Many of us hate our smiles, covering our mouths when we laugh or choosing a more managed pose for photos. Some of us even go as far as to avoid doing it at all.
This is a shame. There are many advantages to smiling, and if anything, we should all be trying to do it more. When we smile, we send triggers to our brain that we are happy, and so our mood improves. We look confident, trustworthy, and approachable, and other people are more likely to confide in us. One of the biggest benefits of smiling is how contagious they are. When we see someone smiling naturally, we smile back, and that one smile spreads, and the benefits multiply.
But, if you’ve been ashamed of, or hidden your smile for years, it can be hard to get into the habit of smiling proudly. Fortunately, there are some easy ways that you can build a more confident smile. Here’s a look at some of them.
Straight Teeth
One of the main reasons that we hide our smiles is that we’ve got crooked teeth, overlaps, or a mismatched bite. Many of us are living with wonky teeth, instead of using night time clear aligners to correct them.
Night time aligners and invisible braces from ALIGNERCO are both excellent ways to straighten your teeth, without the expense, or discomfort of mental braces. Read more from ALIGNERCO about the difference between the two to see how clear braces could benefit you.
Good Oral Hygiene
Another reason that we avoid smiling is that our teeth are stained, cracked, or yellow. Improving your oral hygiene can help to give you a whiter and more even smile.
Straightening your teeth will be a big help, as straight teeth are much easier to clean, and fewer overlaps give bacteria much less space to hide in and grow. You should also work on brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, giving each area of your mouth plenty of attention, flossing, and using mouthwash to offer extra cleaning and protection throughout the day.
Regular Trips to the Dentist
As hard as you try to care for your teeth, good brushing can only go so far. When you visit your dentist, they’ll offer you a deep clean and scale, removing plaque and polishing your teeth. They’ll also spend time looking for signs of decay and infection so that you can do something about it before it becomes an unsightly problem.
Even if your teeth seem fine, you should see your dentist at least twice a year, as often the early signs of decay and infection are easy to miss, and we don’t always notice until it’s too late.
Good Posture
Your posture affects how you feel about yourself, and how others see you. If you are slumped, you are more likely to hide yourself away, smiling at the ground if you are smiling at all.
When you stand tall with your head high and your shoulders back, you attract the right kind of attention. People look at you differently, you are more likely to feel confident, and you are more likely to smile. If your posture is bad, getting more exercise, adjusting your sleep position, and correcting yourself throughout the day can help you to improve it.
Improved Mood
Of course, most of us smile more when we are happier, and we feel like smiling. Even with great teeth, you might not be inclined to smile if you are unhappy, or doing something that you hate.
If you don’t feel like smiling, look at why not. Is there something that’s making you unhappy? Are you worried or anxious? Or, do you just need to take better care of yourself and spend more time with people that make you smile?
Face Yoga
Not everyone finds smiling easy, especially if you are out of practice. It takes muscles and can seem like a bit of an effort. Practicing simple facial yoga stretches every day can help to tighten the muscles in your face, stretching your lips out and making smiles feel more natural. Facial yoga can also help if you’ve got a double chin or other concerns, tightening and improving its shape and position.
Look After Your Lips
Your lips, along with your teeth are the most important element of your smile. When your lips are very dry and chapped, smiling can even be painful. Look after your lips using a sugar scrub to remove dead skin, and then a moisturizing balm, especially in the winter.
If you’ve always been uncomfortable about your smile, don’t just live with it. Make some changes so that you can enjoy smiling wide.
