It has been discussed in every forum from Psychology journals supported by research to the blogosphere supported by conjecture; 93% of communication is non-verbal.
How that universally accepted but still sort of unproven notion changed with the advent of social media is a subject for another day.
A day when dentists and patients alike unite to socially promote local dentistry!
Gestures, eye contact, body language, and yes even a great looking smile can all have an impact on how we communicate, and more importantly what we’re communicating outside of the actual words emanating from our optimally hygiened oral orifices.
It’s already been proven with zero significant scientific support, that a great smile can help you close the deal at work.
Now let’s identify a couple of ways a great smile enhances communication skills.
Confidence
We may not feel so confident walking into our thrice yearly dental appointments, but how good does it feel leaving the office?
We’ll venture pretty good, at least from our personal experience and extensive office-wide Monday morning poll. (It’s a tiny infinitesimal little office)
Sure there are times when our cheeks may resemble a rotund little chipmunk with more than a mouthful of acorns, but that’s usually few and very far between dental visits…IF we’ve kept up those regular appointments that is.
Generally speaking, most of us leave the dental office in a better mood, projecting more self-confidence, and non-verbally communicating a heightened state of well-being.
Would you agree?
A great smile can do a lot, but self-esteem and self-confidence compose the foundational elements so evident in people who possess those knockout smiles. And when it comes to communication skills, isn’t self-confidence a foundational element there too?
We haven’t exactly pooled our resources to scientifically examine the great looking smile/self-confidence/enhanced communication skills connection.
We just know it’s there.
Game Changer
Picture this, you’re having a conversation with two people while on line waiting for a cup of coffee that shall remain nameless.
One person has a radiant white and bright smile, while the other person looks like they just gargled with butterscotch syrup.
Which person do you think would hold your attention more, or project more self-confidence, or communicate more effectively???
We’ll venture to say the healthier looking smile would come out on top by a more than any standard deviation in most social encounters.
In fact, or at least in conjecture within said blogosphere – wouldn’t the subject with the more attractive and healthier looking smile actually command more trust in what’s being said, or communicate more validity than the corn colored tooth talker?
Try this one on for size; you’re having dinner with an important colleague when you notice a piece of food stuck in their teeth – do you say something?
Never mind that social conundrum; think about how effective a communicator this hypothetical person would be with a visible hunk of grub stuck up in their teeth.
Would their words resonate, would you believe what they’re saying, or would you just be fixated on that piece of food for the duration of the conversation?
We can go back and forth with the make-believe and unscientifically supported guesses, but one thing is certain when it comes to dentistry and communications skills. A great looking smile certainly enhances the conversation.
That point has to be free from scrutiny…but we welcome the inquisition.
The next time you have that big interview coming up, a stellar party, a big deal, or you just want to feel better about yourself when talking to friends and strangers alike…go see your dentist and shape up your smile!
