Smile!
One of the greatest ways to boost our self-confidence is adopting the habit of smiling. When we smile at ourselves in the mirror, we feel happier and more confident. If we smile at people on the street, they smile back. This further encourages us to be bold.
But if our smiles are an embarrassment to us, how can we possibly flash a toothy grin at someone and feel good about ourselves? Unless we're as cocky as Austin Powers, bad teeth aren't going to do much for our confidence. Dental problems can prevent us from achieving our highest potential if we are always self-conscious about one of our greatest assets.
See your orthodontist.
When I was a little girl, I rode my tricyle down an enormous hill. On the way down, I lost control, slammed into the curb, flew over the handlebars, and bit the pavement. In an instant, I knocked out all of my front teeth.
This childhood trauma to my face caused countless dental problems. My adult teeth came in looking as if they belonged in a beaver's mouth, not mine. Other kids made fun of me and called me Bucky. My mother used to tell me to close my mouth when I chewed, but I couldn't get my lips around my protruding teeth. I was completely self-conscious about my smile.
Eventually, I saw an orthodontist. My teeth were festooned with braces, and I was given a contraption that I had to wear strapped over the top of my head and hooked into my braces. It included something that looked as if I were wearing half of a coat hanger on my face. Not only was it physically painful with this gizmo moving my teeth 24/7, but it was unbelievably humiliating to wear such a thing daily to high school. It did nothing for my confidence.
I'll never forget the day that the dentist removed those braces. My teeth felt incredibly smooth, and I was thrilled with my new smile. I went out into the world, no longer ashamed of my teeth. No one called me Bucky anymore, and I still receive compliments today on my beautiful smile. What a great confidence booster!
If our teeth are crooked, have gaps, or are uneven, we need to consult with an orthodontist. Even older people can wear braces, and we may be surprised to find that there are lots of options that are far less painful and embarrassing than what I went through as a teen.
Take care of your teeth.
I lived in Kentucky for a while, and when my brother came to visit, he asked me, "You know what you get when you put 32 Kentuckians in the same room?"
"What?" I asked.
"A full set of teeth!" he said with a chuckle.
If we want to feel confident about our smiles, we've got to take care of our teeth. Daily brushing and flossing are great beginnings, and regular trips to the dentist once or twice a year prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. If yellowed teeth are sapping us of confidence, the dentist can whiten our smiles.
Eliminate bad breath.
How many times do we meet people with such bad breath that we have to back up four feet just to carry on a conversation? This must certainly have a negative impact on their confidence when everyone they meet is backing away.
Bad breath can signal tooth decay or other intestinal issues. If people let us know that we've got bad breath, we need to have our dentist and our doctor investigate. Mouthwash alone can never cover up extreme cases of bad breath. The underlying cause must be resolved to eliminate the problem. When we are certain that we have fresh breath, our confidence increases.
God gave us beautiful smiles.
God describes man's perfect lover in Song of Solomon 4:2 (NIV). His desciption of her teeth makes it quite clear that we ought to take responsibility for our smiles. It reads, Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
God put it plainly that if we want to look our most attractive, we must have freshly brushed teeth, and none of them should be missing. So whether we have issues with misaligned teeth, cavities, yellowed teeth, or bad breath, it's time to deal with the problems if we want to feel more confident.
Today's Challenge
Stand in front of a mirror and smile. How do you feel about your teeth? If there is anything about your smile that embarrasses you, or you frequently close your lips over your teeth to hide them, do something today to work on improving the problem. Call a dentist or an orthodontist and consult with them about how to correct dental issues so that you can grin with confidence.
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