Why Should I Smile?

There are plenty of reasons to smile. But there are times when you just don't feel like smiling. Maybe the burdens of the world have gotten you down. So, you read all of my posts telling you to smile, and you ask yourself: Why??

I have a simple answer: Because smiling will make you feel better. When you smile, even if you do not feel like smiling, you will feel better once you do. And when you are feeling better, you will make better decisions. You will also be open to opportunities and other people will want to be with you. Smiling, even when you don't feel like it, can literally change your life!

So let me conclude with this: The next time you want to frown, mope around and feel sorry for yourself, STOP! Try smiling instead. Not because you are happy, but because you want to be!

Once you've read this, do me a favor. Add something to the comments section letting me know if you have made yourself happy by smiling. Therefore, others will know that this technique really works! And most importantly: SMILE!!

Post your thoughts here:

Make A Difference Day

Make A Difference Day is Saturday, October 22. As I'm sure you are aware, I am a huge proponent of making a difference, with my gift of 56 sets of braces to underserved individuals in Metro-Detroit. Now you may not be in a position to make as large of a gift as I made. But I'm sure there is something you can give to the less fortunate of our community.

I have always found giving to be beneficial. When you give, it warms your heart. You are reminded how blessed you are. And that encourages you to do more great things. Whenever you give, God always seems to give you in excess to what you have given.

And gifting is not the only way one makes a difference. Taking pride in you work makes a difference, as I am blessed in the compliments I receive from my patients on how their beautiful smile made a difference in their life.

So my challenge to you is this: Use October 22 as the day you BEGIN to make a difference in this world. What a blessing it will be!!

Share with us what you are working on for Make a Difference day, Saturday, October 22.

Post your story in the comments here:

You Need the Edge

 

In this world, you need the edge. When you are competing for a job, you need the edge. When you are trying to land a huge contract, you need the edge. When you are attracting a new relationship, you need the edge. When you are seeking friends, you need the edge.

What is the edge? The edge is that little extra something that sets you apart from all the others. It can be knowledge. It can be charisma. It can be who you associate with. Or it could simply be a beautiful smile. When you smile, people trust your knowledge. When you smile, people see your personality. When you smile, people feel your warmth. So use that smile in all of your life activities. You will be amazed where that smile will take you.

So use that smile. And use that smile often. It will improve your life; trust me! And one more thing: If you feel your smile needs that extra edge, give my office a call!

If you would like to share with me an experience where a beautiful smile enhanced you life, I would love to hear from you!

Post your comments here:

Trust

On my blog we have discussed many reasons to smile. You would think that I've covered them all, but I have not even scratched the surface. Today, I want to talk about building trust. Trust is important getting a new job, closing business deals, attracting a new romantic relationship and many other interpersonal relationships. I'm sure you agree with me on that. But the question that then gets asked is this: How do I quickly build trust with another. That answer is simple. With a confident SMILE!

It may sound simplistic, but a confident smile will build confidence with another quicker than anything you can actually say. Look the person square in the eyes and smile. You will be surprised at the results you get with the confident smile. One of the best ways to have a confident smile is to have straight teeth. When you have a beautiful smile and a straight set of teeth, you know you are going to show them.

So are you ready? My office offers in-house financing, and of course, the first consultation is free. So don't delay. After all, how much in life are you losing by not having that confident smile?

Autumn Snacks

We are now at a time of year that is known for unhealthy snacks. Carmel apples, popcorn and candy make dentists cringe. It is a known fact that sugar causes tooth decay. Furthermore, most candy is detrimental to orthodontic treatment. I'm sure we explained to you what foods you need to limit and avoid when you have braces, but just to recap, let's discuss them again. Avoid these: caramel, crunchy peanut butter, gooey chocolate bars, hard candy and nuts, Starbursts or taffy, gummy bears (and their gummy friends), gum and popcorn. Also, you need to limit soda and sugary drinks, and be sure to eat corn chips one corn chip at a time. And that is for starters. All the many candies that are not on the list can also be harmful if eaten in excess, because the sugar build up between the braces and teeth can be detrimental.

Even if you don't have braces, excessive sugar is dangerous, especially for children. Along with the obvious tooth decay, excessive sugar can promote obesity, hyperactivity and lack of concentration in school. Because of this, I have listed some suggestions for the Autumn season.

1. Limit sweets. You and your children do not have to eat all of the candy, dessert and unhealthy snacks offered to you. As a family talk about selecting favorites and discarding the rest. You many think this sounds wasteful, but this is not nutritious food I am asking you to discard. It's basically toxins.
   
2. Seek fun, family activities that do not revolve around sweets. There are many other activities your children can participate in that do not include the constant barrage of candy.
   
3. Visit an apple orchard and then make healthy desserts with the apples. Not only does this promote healthy eating, but provides an afternoon of family fun.
   

The season of harvest is phenomenal. But I have seen the results of poor eating habits. And if you (or your child) are having braces, you are investing in your smile. Maintain that investment with healthy eating.

Celebrities and Braces

I have discussed the benefits of braces in previous posts. Braces improve your smile, which leads to higher income and better health. Today, let me talk to you about celebrities who have used braces to improve their appearance and, therefore, their lives.

Many celebrities have worn braces. Monica, Dakota Fanning, Drew Barrymore, Estelle, Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, Dwight Howard, as well as and Serena and Venus Williams all wore braces. Chelsea Clinton, just before her wedding last year, thanked her parents for having her wear braces as a child. As adults, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Cruise, Danny Glover, Barbara Walters, Chris Rock and Diana Ross all wore braces as an investment in their smile and themselves. Nicolas Cage wore a lower brace while receiving a Writer's Guild award in 2003, Cindy Crawford wore braces while filming a Pepsi commercial and Katy Perry wore braces in her video to her latest hit, "Last Friday Night". All of these individuals invested in their smile and, therefore, themselves. They knew that when the world saw them in braces, they would be portrayed as individuals who were willing to make a small sacrifice for a better life.

Why not make the same investment that all of these people made, and see where it takes you. Call my office today at (248) 569-8770 for your free consultation, and see what doors a health smile opens for you.

Smiling Will Make You Look Younger

Smiling will actually make you look younger! Does it sound hard to believe? Well there is truth behind that statement. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making us look younger. It is the equivalent to a face lift, without the surgery. Furthermore, when you smile, you look more attractive, and that will make people believe you are younger as well, because many people equate attractiveness with youth. But there is even more. Smiling not only affects how you look, it affects how you feel! And if you feel good, you take on less stress, and as well, will look younger. Smiling, therefore, is more important than ever.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you realize how much value I place in your smile. And it's simple: the quality of your smile is in direct relation to the quality of your life. That makes investing in your smile a wise choice. So take the first step to making that choice by calling my office at (248) 569-8770. You are not just investing in your smile. You are investing in the quality of your life.