A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words

By Dr. Jill Wade

Tom, age 47, walked into his interview for a new job with confidence. He has been successful in sales for over 25 years. After introductions and handshakes, he was quickly impressed with this high-power and energized sales team. Soon he began to be self-conscious about his own appearance, because this was a team on top of their game. He felt good about his knowledge and experience but felt like he lost their attention quickly and never regained momentum. Feeling disappointed about his interview, he re-evaluated his approach to finding a new job. He stepped back and realized that to be competitive in this industry today he needed all the advantages he could get.  The starting point: an improved smile.

In today’s competitive world of jobs, sales and business deals, you need to be able to make a powerful impression. Remember, you only get one chance for a first impression, so make it your best. Your mouth is the window to your body and it gives many subtle hints to your age, stress level and overall health. That is why maintaining your smile or enhancing your smile is critical. Looking and feeling your best comes from within. A great smile illuminates you in the best light. In Hollywood, a successful career can be made with a better smile. In business, you want people to listen to what is coming out of your mouth. A powerful smile exudes confidence and makes people listen. In sales or healthcare professionals, your knowledge is proportionally based on the aesthetics of your smile. If you want to be more successful, then your smile has to represent success. Here are seven anti-aging tips to your best smile:

1. Wear a night guard for protection to prevent chips, breaks and damage. As you wear down your natural teeth from clenching and grinding you are prematurely aging your smile. A simple night guard worn at night can prevent this damage easily and economically while helping you maintain what you have already invested in your mouth.

2. Address your stress! Reduce your stressors as much as possible. Chronic long-term stress will deplete your over-all health as it drains you of essential elements. Stress can dry out your mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural protection for cavities and a healthy mouth.

3. If you suffer from acid reflux, aggressively search to find the root cause and treat it. The acid in your stomach is very strong and not meant to bathe your teeth on a daily basis. Increased acidity in the mouth creates an environment for more cavities, periodontal or gum disease, and faster breakdown of teeth and fillings.

4. Balance your hormones. As we all age, both men and women, our hormones naturally begin to decline.  Establishing the correct level will help maintain your bone and muscle tone. You will also keep that zest for life with plenty of energy and that competitive edge for work.

5. Be sure you are taking a quality supplement that will help replenish essential vitamins and minerals. It is rare today that you are eating enough quality food to introduce a well-balanced nutrition. Your best health depends on the availability of essential elements to build what it needs. Keeping all items readily available will help outwardly maintain hair, smile, skin, and muscle tone. However, on the inside it affects every aspect of your health and well-being.

6. Whiten or bleach your teeth. It can take 10 years off of you instantly. Tooth whitening does not damage your teeth. It can make a huge change in your overall appearance and is very easy to do. Take-home bleach trays are affordable with final results in about 10 days. In-office whitening, like Zoom, achieves a faster result.

7. Keep up with your periodontal therapy both at home and professionally. Many links of poor oral health are being connected to systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, strokes, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. If you have a history of periodontal disease then you should be receiving professional cleanings every three months to combat your genetic predisposition for losing your teeth.

A smile should exude confidence, health, and happiness. Perception of your emotional and physical health is influenced by your smile. What does your smile say? If a smile is worth a thousand words, make sure it tells the message you want.

Read other articles and learn more about Dr. Jill Wade.

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