The Science of What Makes a Smile Attractive (2024)

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you’re probably wondering just how you can attract that special someone. And you may just be surprised to find out that the number one factor in attraction is your smile. And having a beautiful, straight smile actually has even more to do with it than you may realize.

Makeup Doesn’t Matter Much

The makeup industry is currently one of the largest industries in the world, netting over 72.6 billion dollars in 2019, and the numbers only continue to rise. Most women in the United States report that they spend an average of 55 minutes each day preparing their appearance. This is quite crazy when you look at one study carried out by Wrigley Gum, which found that men rated women as more attractive based solely on the fact of if they were smiling or not. In fact, the women who didn’t wear makeup and were smiling were consistently rated as more attractive than those that were wearing makeup and were not smiling.

Smiles Attract People

So just what is it that makes a smile attractive to us? It’s likely the fact that smiling is a form of body language, one which signals happiness and comfort as well as acceptance, which makes us, as humans, feel welcome. One study on dating even found that the number one most judged feature when it came to the opposite sex when rated by both sexes, was the quality of the individual’s smile! Therefore, if you want to try and attract that special someone, you should probably start smiling a bit more—which can be difficult if you aren’t confident in your smile.

Improving Your Smile

Not feeling so hot about the way your teeth look as you smile? Not to worry, you’re not alone. Making the conscious decision to improve your smile can actually improve your life according to one study carried out by researchers which found that individuals with an attractive smile rated themselves as more confident and successful. Even more surprising though, was that the people around the individual also tended to rate the individual in a more positive light based on the quality and frequency of which they saw the individual smile.

What Makes A Good Smile

An attractive smile is often characterized by straight teeth, which are properly spaced and aligned. Tooth color and symmetry also play a major part in making a smile attractive. It is also important to make sure the way your teeth are aligned fit your specific face and mouth alignment. This is why it is critical to have a consultation as to what treatment will work best for your teeth and smile, as it is unlikely you will need the same treatment process which a friend or neighbor used to correct their smile.

Braces

The word everyone dreaded in school. But did you know that braces are still one of the number one tools which makes smiles attractive? Although adolescent braces are more common in this day and age, it is never too late to get braces if you need them! And braces are essential for correcting large issues such as crowding, and overbite.

Most braces are made of metal which are glued to the teeth and adjusted on a monthly, or even weekly, basis. Traditional metal braces employ the use of elastic ligatures to move the teeth, but there are also self-ligating braces that don’t require these bands if that is what you prefer. Metal braces aren’t the only type of braces on the market, however, and there are also braces that are made out of ceramic. And if you work in a profession that would be impeded by the appearance of braces, ceramic braces are a popular choice as they tend to blend in better with the surface of the tooth.

Adolescent Braces

Adolescent braces are essentially the same as adult braces, however, they are only called such when they are worn by a pre-teen or teenager before adulthood. Most adolescents need braces for a period of one to three years. Just because you had braces in your adolescence doesn’t mean you don’t need them as an adult. Your teeth move for several reasons throughout your life, just from the regular chewing process, as well as because of certain events, such as an accident where you hit your jaw, or an oral surgery, like having your wisdom teeth removed.

Invisalign

If your teeth are only mildly misaligned, such as in the case of an adult who has had a small amount of tooth shifting over the years, you may be a candidate for Invisalign. Invisalign is a less invasive way of moving the teeth into alignment using a series of clear plastic retainers that are specially designed and sized for your personal needs. They also have little, if any, effect on your appearance while using them, and you can take them out to eat and drink, so you can still enjoy your favorite foods. Contrary to popular belief, Invisalign isn’t just for adults, and it can be used for teens and young children as well.

It’s Never Too Early

Do you have a child whose teeth are already coming in crooked? It’s never too early to have their smile evaluated to see what can be done to correct their teeth as well as straighten major issues such as an underbite or overbite. There are also some methods that can be employed prior to braces which can make a huge difference in your child’s future smile. It’s always better to start earlier than later.

No matter where your smile is starting from, or where you would like it to go, we can help you achieve your smile goals! Set up a consultation to get started and we will happily discuss what makes a good smile attractive and the steps you would need to take to get there. And if you have other members of your family who are interested in having a good smile, bring them along! After all, having an attractive smile is something that will benefit every member of your family!