White Teeth and Their Psychological Impact
When you think about the benefits of having bright, white teeth, what comes to mind? Most people will associate white teeth with proper dental hygiene and health. And, quite honestly, this is not far removed from reality. When your teeth are “white and shiny” it is indicative they are in good shape and are free of common periodontal diseases. However, there is more to white teeth than their mere appearance.
For example, if you planned a job interview, would you prefer your teeth to be white or dulled and stained? Of course, mostly anyone would want his or her teeth to be as white as possible. This is because the applicant would wish to make a good impression on a potential employer. Clearly, dark, stained teeth would be indicative of a number of negative traits. The prospective employee would be dismissed almost out of the proverbial box. Now, whether or not the person would make a poor employee is irrelevant. Yellowed or stained teeth create a certain psychological profile about a person. Once that impression is made, it would be “curtains” for the employee. Conversely, white teeth can have a positive psychological effect.
Now, when the term “psychological effect” is used, this does not refer to any type of disorder or abnormal behavioral trait. Instead, psychology refers to a predisposed reaction people mentally derive based on image-thought association. In other words, they create an image based upon what they see. Yes, looking at stained teeth no different than someone looking at inkblots and seeing a butterfly! The person who sees the teeth will develop an opinion or impression that might as well be fact as far as they are concerned.
There will be those who will wonder what could possibly be the importance of understanding the psychological benefits of teeth whitening? Well, if you understand the positive effects of white teeth, you can use such psychological effects to your advantage. No, this does not mean you be employing your psychological skill as a way of manipulating people. You simply will be riding the wave of positive sentiment.
How strong can this sentiment be? Look at it this way, if you knew people were going to have a positive impression when they met you, how would you act? Would you be timid? Or would you display more confidence? If you are like most people, you would probably display a more confident demeanor. Confidence is a very clear state of being and other people will read into it. That means the way they will treat you will be different. People will trust and respect someone who presents a confident air about him or herself. And, yes, this can all be the ripple effect of ensuring your teeth are their whitest and brightest.
Conversely, if you do not take care of your teeth, you may find yourself being more timid. People who know that have a physical defect they are self-conscious of will generally act in a way to hide such a problem. This can translate into awkwardness or shyness that does not evoke many positive reactions from others.
Yes, there can be many psychological components to having white teeth. Sometimes, we do not consciously think of them but in the back of our minds they are there. That is why teeth whitening has grown and become as popular as it is today.