In the modern era of mobile apps and inbound marketing, the public as a whole is moving away from the superficial world originally put forth by television. Most people would rather watch a video of a real person doing something interesting than a bleach-blond celebrity hosting an infomercial.
Tired of empty commercials and movie-star perfection, there has been an increasing emphasis on being genuine and transparent both at home and at work. So why then do so many people still whiten their teeth? The answer is usually for their careers.
We may be over perfection in marketing, but when competition is tight between coworkers for jobs, promotions, raises, and acclaim, every little bit counts.
1) White Teeth Make You Look Younger
Age matters a great deal in the workplace, though not always in the ways you might think. Many people feel that someone can't be safely trusted to run a department, manage a large team, or serve as a project lead without a certain amount of age and experience but, on the flip side, humans are naturally inclined to favor the young and healthy. Much of business is based on instinct and, instinctually, we see potential and strength in youth.
How do white teeth make you look younger? Almost everyone starts with fairly white teeth that slowly yellow as our tooth enamel ages and we stain our teeth with things like coffee, cola, and foods. Whiter teeth suggest that you've had less time to wear out or stain your enamel, thus the connection to youth.
2) Very White Teeth are Hard to Ignore
Have you ever been caught off guard by a blazing white set of choppers? Few people manage to get their teeth all the way to a distractingly gleaming white but when it happens, you gain an eerie sort of power.
Others will have trouble looking away from how white your teeth are and very white teeth will stand out particularly well on dark skin or lipstick if your goal is to enhance the somewhat hypnotic effect of impossibly white teeth in a negotiation or discussion at work.
People will remember you and your teeth and your name is more likely to pop to mind when they're thinking about someone to hand a new assignment or recommend for a promotion.
3) Increase Your Own Self-Image and Confidence
Many of the often mentioned perks of whitening your teeth involve how you will feel and act. There is definitely some merit to this as any change to your appearance that you're proud of can be turned into a truly effective confidence boost.
If you've been trying to smile behind your lips for years, a few whitening treatments can make you feel like a new person, free to grin widely at the world around you without fear that someone will comment on the color of your teeth except possibly to mention how nice and white they are.
4) Reversing Damage Done by Coffee and Cola
If you love coffee or cola, two of the most popular types of drinks in the country if not the world, then your teeth have probably been at least mildly stained by the habit of drinking dark caffeinated beverages. This can darken and yellow your teeth prematurely.
Fortunately, any damage done by bad tooth care habits of your youth (or even those you don't plan on stopping) can be reversed and repaired with a combination of tooth whitening and following the recommendations of your dentist.
5) Enhancing Your Appearance of Health and Strength
Finally, it's important to remember that the modern business environment is extremely competitive, even when everyone is being perfectly polite.
You compete for job positions with other applicants you never meet, you complete for raises and recognition with your coworkers, and you might even find yourself competing with a less than competent boss. In these battles of will, logic, and leverage, every little bit counts and yes, so does your tooth whiteness.
Just as white teeth tend to indicate youth, they also represent health and strength which can be used to subtly imply that you can outlast any competitors while maintaining great energy and a positive attitude.
Except for a few personal health goals, the reasons for whitening your teeth are mostly psychological. It can make you feel better about yourself, dazzle your supervisors and coworkers with confidence in your work, and even enhance your ability to subtly snarl at work rivals and scare them off with your gleaming white teeth.
If you're looking to get ahead in your business environment with whiter teeth or have a question about tooth whitening you'd like answered by a friendly professional, contact us today!
