Have you ever wondered why humans smile? Why do we show our teeth to each other to reflect feelings of happiness, friendliness, and admiration? The answer may surprise you.

Animals & Smiling

Smiling isn’t a widely used gesture in the animal world. If you look at animals with fangs like lions or bears, you’ll notice that they only show their teeth as a threatening gesture. When alarmed, animals will bare their teeth to warn of attack. The teeth are parted, as if the animal is ready to bite. It is believed that the human gesture of smiling may have evolved from primates, who show their teeth in a gesture of friendliness and submission. An ape may flash a grin to show there is no sign of threat. Humans have turned that gesture into something that conveys happiness, confidence, and amiability.

Why We Smile

Smiling in humans indicates happiness and gives off the impression of both health and confidence. Smiling is not only an organic reaction to warm feelings and humor, but also a projection of success for high-profile figures like politicians and movie stars. This is one reason we see the best teeth on celebrities. Statistics prove that we do better in life when we smile.

What a Good Smile Can Do for You

According to studies, people tend to infer a lot about a person based on their smile. For example, a person with a straight, white smile is 58% more likely to be wealthy and successful. 74% of people believe that an unattractive smile can damage your career. 38% of people wouldn’t consider going on a second date with a person with misaligned teeth! As you can see, we humans base a lot on a simple smile and first impression.

Get the Smile You Want

Unlike our primate cousins, we can do a lot to change the condition of our smile. Good dental hygiene is step one. If you want to go further to achieve a straight, white smile, we can help. Getting porcelain veneers, braces, or teeth whitening can do wonders for your confidence and overall appearance. We offer all services that can get you the smile of your dreams.