*This is a guest post by Michael Kilgour!
Many of us are self-conscious about our smiles. We worry that our teeth are crooked or dirty. We think about how smiling creases our skin and wonder if it makes us look old. When our lips are dry, we feel like smiling is drawing attention to them. Some of us just worry about the shape of our faces and think that we look better when we’re not smiling. But feeling self-conscious about our smiles can have a big impact on our confidence.
When we’re worried about smiling, we pull back from things that make us happy, we think far too much about laughing or enjoying ourselves and we try not to smile. But smiling is important. It doesn’t just make us feel happier and more confident, it also makes us look more approachable and trustworthy. If you worry about your smile, here are some tips to help you to improve it.
Straighten Your Teeth
A lot of people have braces in their teens. But if you missed out, or your teeth have moved back towards their old, misaligned positions over time, you might think it’s too late. But you would be wrong about that. Aligners for misaligned teeth are becoming more popular all the time. Aligners are an effective solution for misaligned teeth. They are also discreet, easy to wear, and easy to remove when you need to.
Also read: Spot A Lie Easily Using These Cool Body Language Tips
Use a Whitening Toothpaste
Straight teeth are fantastic, but the color is just as important. Nowadays there’s a trend for sparkly white teeth that can blind you if you look directly at them. But this shade is unnatural. No one’s teeth are naturally that light, and all adult teeth are slightly off-white, even when they first come through. Instead of aiming for an unnatural shade, use whitening toothpaste and a quality toothbrush, and brush and floss thoroughly for a whiter, healthier smile.
Cut Down on Food and Drink That Stains
Most of the time, thorough brushing the with right toothpaste will lift the shade of your teeth and help them to look cleaner, shinier, and whiter. But there are some foods and drinks that stain our teeth, in a way that we can’t simply brush away. Things like red wine, coffee, and even very rich food with a deep color can stain. Try to enjoy these foods in moderation, and make sure you have a glass of water afterward, to help prevent any staining agents from sticking to your teeth.
Brush Well
The best thing that you can do for your teeth is to brush them well. Brush for two minutes morning and night with a firm brush, spending 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth, and making sure you get into any gaps, overlaps, or hard-to-reach areas. If you aren’t sure whether you are brushing effectively, speak to a hygienist for advice.
Floss
Even if you brush well, food and bacteria get trapped in between your teeth. If left, bacteria multiply and cause damage. Over time, this can lead to cavities or bigger holes which can be painful, unsightly, and costly to fix. Flossing is an easy way to remove those small bits of trapped food. Do it after brushing, and after meals for the best results.
Visit Your Dentist
If you are worried about your teeth, visiting your dentist is the best thing that you can do. Even if you aren’t worried, attending regular appointments means that you get the best advice on caring for them and that you can prevent costly damage in the future.
Put Your Tongue Behind Your Teeth
One easy way to lift your smile when you pose for photos at least is to push your tongue up behind your front teeth while you do it. This lifts your chin and gives the appearance of a stronger jawline.
Stretch Your Facial Muscles
Facial exercises make it easier and more comfortable to smile. They can also tone facial muscles, preventing sagging and fine lines. Practicing facial yoga for a few minutes a day can stretch and tone the muscles in your face for a stronger, smoother smile.
Also read: 8 ways to improve your morning coffee
Practice
Smiling doesn’t come easily to all of us. If it’s something that you’ve avoided for a long time, it might feel unnatural. You might find that smiling for extended periods hurts the muscles around your mouth, or even makes them shake. Practicing your smile can strengthen your muscles, as well as helping you to find a smile that you like and are comfortable with.
A smile that you love helps you to feel more confident, but it also makes you more approachable and trustworthy, which can improve your relationships and even your performance at work. Many people also find that when they smile more, they feel happier, and they cheer up the people around them. So, as you can see, your smile is certainly something that you should consider investing in.
Leave a Reply