Depending on the circumstances, a smile can make or break our impression of a person. As an expression of joy, it can completely transform people’s faces, making them much more alluring. But how can we quantify that expression and use that knowledge to improve people’s opinions of ourselves? Let’s see if science can tell us how to have a perfect smile.
With that in mind, let’s start with a simple question. Have you ever considered what makes a perfect smile? Sure, dental hygiene and appearance matter — a lot — but the art of executing a warm smile isn’t just about having white and even teeth. So while an Invisalign device would be helpful, it’s not the end-all be-all here.
After all, even gap-toothed grins can look charming on some people. Some actors and models consider their flawed teeth their best and most memorable feature! But there’s a thin line between a cute and subtle flaw and a clear disregard of one’s oral health. But we’ll discuss that later.
For now, we just need to figure out how we can perfect our smiles. With that in mind, let’s list out some of the qualities we look for in a smile other than healthy teeth.
How to Have a Perfect Smile
If we were to try to imagine a perfect smile, we would probably think back to a friend, family member, or even an acquaintance. The point is, the thing we appreciate about a smile is the character of the person bestowing it. So in a way, smiling is all about conveying our personality. To do it effectively, we have to be comfortable with showing our feelings.
More importantly, we have to be confident. So while we can tell you some tips for adjusting the appearance of your smile, you’ll have to work on your own poise independently.
Quote: “A smile cures the wounding of a frown.” — William Shakespeare
Smile With Your Whole Face!
The most disconcerting kind of smile is the one that begins and ends with the mouth. Not moving the entire face when smiling can make us look stiff at best and downright creepy at worst. It’s all in the eyes — they can be a dead giveaway when someone isn’t smiling from the heart. So just relax your face and body and let it happen!
Remember, a smile is supposed to be an expression of joy. So if you don’t particularly feel like forcing a smile, just think of something happy or funny. That’s a good tip to keep in mind during weddings or other events when we have to smile for the camera for hours at a time.
In addition to letting your eyes crinkle a bit, you can also lift your brows or tilt your head. Doing so will make your expression even more lively and make the smile more convincing and engaging.
Keep Your Teeth Clean
It should go without saying that a perfect smile requires a clean set of teeth. Hopefully, we’re all brushing and flossing our teeth at least twice daily. However, we should also be checking our teeth in the mirror after every meal.
There’s nothing more embarrassing than going through your day, smiling this way and that, only to later realize you had spinach stuck between your teeth. So just to be safe, keep a travel toothbrush or a toothpick (and compact mirror) in your bag at all times.
Take Care of Your Personal Hygiene
Next up, we have to talk about our general appearance. Learning how to have a perfect smile shouldn’t stop with our teeth. Having nearly styled hair and a clean face can improve the appearance of a smile. So that kind of personal hygiene is just something you’ll have to incorporate into your day to day habits.
Whenever you brush your teeth, remember to cleanse and moisturize your face as well. And put some lip balm on too. After all, no one wants to see you crack a smile and your lips at the same time.
To Show Teeth or Not to Show Teeth, That is the Question
Now, we already know that there’s no such thing as a single perfect smile. As we have established, the appeal of a grin largely depends on the way we feel about the person who’s smiling. However, there’s another thing to consider — whether the smile in question is appropriate.
Most people know the difference between a formal smile that’s reserved for work and school photos and the informal one we share with friends and family. We tend to show fewer teeth when smiling in formal settings. If you’re smiling for pictures, you can also press your tongue against the back of your teeth to reduce the appearance of tooth gaps.
Thankfully, informal smiles can be more relaxed. You can make yours as subtle or wide as you’d like. Even though you’re learning how to have a perfect smile, you shouldn’t think about it too hard.
Now, according to science, most people find symmetrical faces attractive. So making sure your smile is even could give you a leg up in that department. On the other hand, we know plenty of people whose lopsided grins are their best feature.
Celebrities like Milo Ventimiglia, Andy Samberg, and Natalie Dormer all have adorably uneven smiles. So if your smile is naturally more lifted on one side, go along with it. Who knows? That might be someone’s favorite thing about you!
How to Get a Perfect Smile Through Dental Intervention
If your teeth are already straight and white, there’s no need to do anything more than what we’ve already discussed. However, if they’re not, you may be interested in knowing how to get a perfect smile through dental interventions.
As we have established, maintaining proper oral health is the most important thing you can do here. Brushing your teeth should keep them free of plaque and other discolorations, though you could also avoid staining foods and beverages. On top of that, you could use commercial whitening treatments as necessary. And regular flossing will keep your gums looking healthy and pink too!
Ideally, you should also get your teeth professionally cleaned every once in a while. That not only keeps them squeaky but also maintains the health of your gums. And while you’re at it, you could have your dentist apply a whitening treatment too.
If you don’t like the shape of your teeth, you could also talk to your dentist about fixing that. Most people have an overbite or underbite condition they could treat with Invisalign trays. And pretty much any kind of dental misalignment could be fixed with braces. On the other hand, if you’re missing some teeth, you might require veneers, implants, or dentures.
So there you have it. If you wanted to know how to have a perfect smile, this is it. It all comes down to confidence, hygiene, and the occasional trip to your friendly neighborhood dental clinic.