The smile has it! Nearly 50% of Americans say that a person’s smile is what they remember most when meeting someone new.
Making a good first impression is important for every social situation under the sun, from job interviews to nerve-racking first dates.
So how can you make a good first impression with your smile and overall body language? Read on to discover the 5 secrets …
1. Rock a Genuine Smile
If you’re the parent of a young child, then you know … when you tell them to smile for the camera, you sometimes get a cringing, “I’m in pain” look instead.
Well, guess what? Adults are no different. You can tell when a person’s smile isn’t genuine, when it doesn’t quite meet the eyes.
How can you overcome your case of nerves when you meet new people and rock a genuine smile?
Practice.
No, seriously!
You can train yourself to have a genuine smile and make a good first impression.
- Perfect Your “Wow” Smile. Look at various photos of yourself and find the one where you like your smile the most. Then try to recreate it in the bathroom mirror (with the blinds closed, of course). Practice will make perfect, as your “wow” smile will begin to feel natural and easy to recall in a flash. Like to smile with your mouth closed but worried it looks unnatural? Try this trick: place your tongue on the roof of your mouth. This will tighten your facial and neck muscles, giving you a more natural look.
- Start Smiling More. Smile at times when you normally wouldn’t, like when you pass strangers in the street, wave to someone in traffic, or feel super tired during a meeting at work. Smiling more often will make you more attractive, approachable and relatable to others.
- Think About What Makes You Happy. Doing this before you smile, whether it’s something silly your pet does or a favorite memory, will cause you to crack a truly genuine smile, even when you’re not “feeling it.”
2. Be “Fresh Breath” Confident
Nothing can spoil a conversation like bad breath. In fact, according to a dating survey by Match.com, bad breath is the #1 thing to avoid before a first date. (Of course, we think it’s the #1 thing to avoid before any social situation!)
If you don’t always want to be sucking on mints or chomping away at gum (which can make a bad first impression), there’s Oxyfresh mouthwashes to the rescue.
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- Alcohol-free for no sting, burn or dry mouth
- Dye-free for a white, bright smile
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- USA-made and dentist-recommended
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3. Instantly Brighten Your Smile
We don’t all have naturally white, bright teeth … OR the funds to spend at the dentist to get that kind of smile.
So what can you do to add some instant brightness to your smile? Here are a few tricks you can keep up your sleeve to naturally whiten your smile without spending a fortune.
- Swish with water after you drink coffee or juice.
- Wait a half hour to brush after consuming acidic food or drinks. If you brush right after you have acidic food or drinks, you can wear away your enamel, which dulls the color of your teeth.
- Crunch your way to a brighter smile. Crunchy fruits and veggies act as natural surface abrasive to gently remove surface stains. Additionally, leafy greens have minerals that coat the teeth with a protective barrier to prevent other foods from staining them.
- Choose your lipstick wisely. Can the right shade of lipstick really make your teeth look whiter? And conversely, can the wrong shade of lipstick make your teeth look more yellow? Absolutely. See the pictures for yourself right here.
4. Engaging vs. Awkward Eye Contact
We’ve had it hammered into our heads to always make eye contact when meeting someone new. Unfortunately, this can quickly go the awkward route and feel like a full-on stare-down.
What can you do to have engaging eye contact that feels natural for both parties? Try this:
At first, look at the other person long enough to note what color of eyes they have (thank you, Dale Carnegie), and then break eye contact and start with the “triangle” technique.
Picture an upside down triangle around the other person’s face. As you’re talking or listening, look at different spots within the triangle every 5-10 seconds. (Just don’t get too busy counting that you’re not actively listening!) With practice, this will start to come naturally.
5. Don’t Forget Your Entire Body Language
Actions really do speak louder than words. In communication studies by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of “Silent Messages,” he determined the following breakdown in how messages are relayed:
- 7% through the actual spoken words
- 38% through vocal elements (volume, sighs, tone, etc.)
- 55% through non-verbals (smile vs. no smile, posture and other gestures)
How can you make sure your body language always makes a great first impression? Commit the acronym SOLER to memory.
S: Smile
O: Openness (no arms or legs crossed)
L: Lean Forward (just don’t hunch over)
E: Eye Contact
R: Relax
What’s Next?
If you’re ready to go out into the world and make a good first impression, we challenge you to start with one of these 5 secrets, TODAY!
We’re here to help! To get fresh breath superpowers and a whiter, brighter smile, check out Oxyfresh’s complete line of premium, alcohol-free dental products. You’ll love the difference!
